Converted my XL now need some input

[Gee]

Looking for thought/comments/option I may have overlooked.

Quick rundown of the situation:
I have a couple of Savage(s). An XL and a X SS. I decided to convert the XL to brushless due to more battery room and I have already upgraded the diffs to use the cen ring and pinion gear. So the XL diff ratio is 2.88. I picked up the KD motor mount for 20 plus shipping. Drilled a hole mounted it and threw 2 3s batteries in the rear under the motor and that was it. Now it time to do some transmission stuff on them.

I had the 3sp tranny in and yesterday blew out a couple of the gears. What I am thinking about doing is replacing the broken gears and using it in the X SS and taking the 2sp from the SS and using this gear
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=HPIC0905&P=K
to lock it into a single speed tranny. The SS I will contunue to piss off the nieghborhood running a nitro engine. So it should benifit from the 3sp.

The XL I have setup to run the MMM and a 2200kv motor on 6s. The gearing I had in it was 14 and 16 pinions using a 52t spur. Trying out varius tire setups from the 40's moab to some truggy tires so far. It looks strange with small tires so I will stay with the larger ones if I can. The conversion just didn't feel right with the way the tranny was. To much slop I guess or something. Just a different feel from some of my others but I should get it tuned in.

So if I proceed with the 2sp tranny locked down using the gear linked above. The Cen differentials and a similar spur pinion gears. Should be okay or will I be entering the crawler contest this spring with it. Are there other gear/tranny setups that I don't know about that I should consider?

Thanks for the input.

I haven't taken the 2sp tranny out of the SS yet. It looks the same, Is is the same transmission case as the XL?

[JThiessen]

Can't you just set up the tranny gearing like the Flux comes with? I was under the impression they were the exact same tranny cases, the flux just doesn't have all the gears in it.
I've been kinda looking around for a center diff setup to put in a Savvy. Haven't looked a whole lot yet - waiting for Finnster to find it first!

[Finnster]

Originally Posted by JThiessen

Can't you just set up the tranny gearing like the Flux comes with? I was under the impression they were the exact same tranny cases, the flux just doesn't have all the gears in it.
I've been kinda looking around for a center diff setup to put in a Savvy. Haven't looked a whole lot yet - waiting for Finnster to find it first!

lol...

Now I have 4WS, it turns like it has a CD. That hunt is up to you now. ;) Serum and Daf had some really nice custom parts from Mike to make a CD Sav. I thought there was going to be an update and maybe some parts for the store. IDK tho, its been a while and Mike is so busy.

A slipperential Sav would be cool, but gearing would be a b1tch.

[Gee]

I don't know this is the first I've dealt with the savage tranny. I've done some reading leading up to the conversion. I found that part due to Lincpimp recommending getting it instead of all the flux parts or what ever. Just need that one I guess. I'll look some more at the flux tranny. I had visions of a center diff while in the shower today. I was trying to think of a way to set one up. Shower was too short so....

[JThiessen]

I'd trust Linc's input on your gearing - I was just guessing on the compatibility of the tranny parts.

I checked Dafni's thread, and unfortunatley, his pic site is down or something: http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20384

Mike DOES have a file to make the mount he used, so that is an option.

I looked at BITHEADS thread on his HFX/Brimstone build and he used a Hellfire CD with an aftermarket Tamiya motor mount. Not bad....post 24 is where he talks about the mount.
http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18633

He also mentions something in his thread that I found interesting, but being new to Savage, I'm not sure what it means. BitHed add some "new" savage part that allowed him to lower the roll center. Seemed to be something in the upper arm attachment. Anyone have any more insight into what this is?

I guess Finnster answered your question.....

[Finnster]

When I converted mine, I just bought the a 2spd nitro Sav tranny and threw the same Flux idler in there (cheaper that way at the time, $15 for tranny and ~$7 for the gear vs ~$35 for flux trans on ebay.) Also, if wanted, you could put thier new HD idler gear in. Its 39T vs 44T for a diff range of gearing.
I went thru all the part #'s a while back, and its all the same as the 2spd, except for the idler. There are alot of parts to change if you were to start from the 3spd (also why I did what I did.)

Personally I have the Cen gears, 44T idler, 43T spur and currently a 16T pinion. 40 series mashers. ~17:1 IIRC. This is on a 1100kv 1521 on 8S. So far gearing seems about right.

I'm not building it for top speed. It may do mid/low 40s I think. Dunno as I haven't really tested it on a spd run. Plenty fast for this big monster IMO.

[Gee]

Thanks for the input guys. Got some gears coming in the mail for the trannys. There's some damn nice savage conversion in this forum. Nothing mine comes close to touching, but I do have a one of a kind esc mount that should set mine apart and justify a picture or two. Oh, and a one of a kind led light mounting scheme.....

The first version was just a used piece of lexan that had a bunch of holes already drilled into it. I secured the esc to it using velcro and a zip tie. The lexan was zip tied to the rollbar. I did up another one that looked a little better and cuts some sections out if it so there would be a little better airflow around it. I also ordered the traxxas mount for the esc and I am using it with this new plate. I am no good a symetrical stuff so no two cut out will ever look a like if I am doing them. I took a thin piece of lexan and screwed it down to the motor plate in the xl for the batteries. 2 3s 5000s fit inside the xl chassis under the motor. I got a large vecro belt that hold them secure and have some door/window weatherstripping that is like foam tape that I stick on my lipos to protect them and also give a little when they are synched down.










Added some led lights that are a little unique in which they are secured to the chassis. I used some of the rockers from the revo and secured them to the bulkheads where the tie rods would normally be screwed into. The screw holds them securely to the chassis and allows the led part of move with the arm.













If I had planned ahead or knew the rockers would work so well I would of dyed them black. Still will next time they are off or whatever.

[coolhandcountry]

I didn't care for the 3speed tranny for had to take it apart to adjust the 3rd gear shift.
It worked great other then that.

[JThiessen]

Traxxas parts do have a purpose in life!!!

Not bad Guy. Those MMM mounts are sweet though. I bough a half dozen of them last time I ordered from Tower.

Is that a slash shell?

[Gee]

It's a pro line desert rat for the slash. Pretty much the same though. Hard to tell the difference between them and the stockers. I think there is one other with the same design. I like the way it looks on the XL. Turned out pretty good. Here's a link to some better pictures of it.

http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/c...0XL/?start=all


I put the HPI flux gear in the 2 speed tranny this weekend and installed it in the XL. Great improvement. There isn't that slack or slapping into gear going on anymore. Maybe I never noticed that noise when I running it nitro. Actually I am sure it ran a little smoother with the clutch and rpm range of the nitro engine then it does with a brushless setup.

I replaced the broken gears in the 3sp and will use it in the Savage SS and nitro engine. As far as the 3sp in conversion, I agree I don't care for it. The slack it has and the shift points create some problems when they kick in. With the smaller width of the idler and other gear (can't remember the name) it is definatly a weak point. The added plus with the 2sp locked down is reverse. With the turning radius of XL and 40s tires reverse is a real nice added addition.

[coolhandcountry]

Weak spot I found on my savage was the reverse gear.
I had 6s with a 2250 10t on a 3 speed savage.
I only ripped he shaft to reverse into 2 pieces.

I agree on the way it works though.
Doesn't seem as smooth as could be.