Starting from scratch - MT conversion

[10kman]

Hey all -

Been gathering info for a while about doing a BL MT conversion, and I decided on either a MGT, or an E-Revo.

I'm really keen on the MGT, I had quite a few nitro flavors over the years, bashers only though, and I really like the truck. And, I have a ton of spare parts sitting around for it, which is a bonus.

I like the E-Revo as well in theory, the videos look cool, nad there seems to be a lot of support for conversions.

I'm leaning towards the MGT though, but honestly wouldn't mind either.

The issue with the MGT is the tranny. I saw a few posts online where people have rigged up a center diff, which I would probably prefer over a tranny, just to keep it simple and also maintain reverse without extra parts. I emailed Mike regarding the issue and haven't heard back (only been about a day though), but I think he'd be the guy to help me rig something if need be. I just don't know if I'd be able to get that "holy shnikies" wow factor flip on it's lid power since it is such a big truck. I'm not current on the actual power output of some of the BL motors, but I can figure that out after I have the hard part done (tranny issue).

I really don't know much about the Revo, but have seen a lot of threads with conversions. Do people start with the new 3.3 chassis, and go from there, or do they find the 2.5's and use those for whatever reason? Is there a drop-in motor mount for either chassis options?

Just parallel processing some ideas while I wait to hear back from Mike. I'm ready to get something going though. I sold off all of my cars/trucks about a year ago, just to take a break from the hobby, but you all know how these things are, they call your name in your sleep. I have to start from almost nothing, so I can go with either option above. I'd prefer the MGT if I can get the power I am craving, but I just don't have a machine shop handy to figure out solutions quickly/neatly.

Thanks in advance,

10k

[BrianG]

Welcome to the forums!

I have no experience with the MGT, but the Revo is a fun truck to convert. The only challenge really is figuring out where to put stuff since the shocks eat up a lot of the space in the middle. The chassis is totally up to you. Some like the longer chassis and it offers more room for equipment and may tend to wheelie less. For me, the 2.5 chassis is fine.

Either way, you'll like the results I think!

[10kman]

Actually, sitting here thinking about this a bit more -

Could I just use the existing tranny, with the 2-speed, and a Forward Only Kit like I would normally do with it in nitro flavor?

I think the tranny is strong enough to handle anything thrown at it, and would let me keep using stock parts. I would just need to find a way to mount up the motor in a good place, with the spur gear on the side like it is.

Could I gear it appropriately to get the torque and power I'm craving (pinion options)?

This would require manual braking, which isn't a huge deal and actually I think I'd rather stress that little disc brake than my expensive ESC, especially with a heavy truck like that.

[riceman]

Hi 10kman - Welcome to the forum. I was very big into the MGT until recently getting into the LST2. Here was my attempt at an MGT converson. I tried to make my own mount and had terrible flexing issues with it. I finally had Mike mill me some diff mounts based on some drawings from Coolhandcountry had submitted to him a while back. She runs great now but I haven't run it much recently since switching over to the LST2.

Good luck with your build and please keep us posted on how it goes.

[10kman]

Hey Rice -

I remember seeing your post over there, I'm still toying with the idea of using the actual tranny in the truck so I have a 2-speed BL MGT. I think you'd have more room for a sturdy motor mount too, because you can put it where the nitro engine usually is on the chassis.

I think since the motor would be mounted with the shaft to the right, you'd have to run the motor in reverse for forward motion, which can probably be done with the radio settings.

I'd have to figure out the motor mounting, but I think it'd be "easier" doing it that way, rather than trying to do a center diff with non-mgt driveshafts.

This thing is consuming my entire brain, and I'm supposed to be working!

I did an MGT conversion. I didn't want to over complicate things, so I used all stock parts plus the forward only kit. I just opened up the tranny and pinned the oneway, to the second gear actuator (is that what it's called). Mine is first gear only because I wanted something to get crazy with. I got the smallest spur gear and have a 16 or 18T pinion with a 7XL. This thing is stupid. My son actually drives it up tree trunks and does back flips with it. He's also flopped it flat on it back and it bounces back onto its feet. I can't say enough about this truck as a play toy. If you want more speed, just go with the second gear and gear appropriately. Just make sure that you do set the slipper. If you get no slip, it will break the second gear shaft inside the tranny. We've done it half a dozen times. Good thing the shafts are cheap and easy to change. I used 1/4" angle to make a motor mount. The whole conversion took me about 5 hours to do.







BTW, there are only 6 friction pins in the slipper, using only half the available holes. Get another set and use all 12 holes.

[BrianG]

The trouble with most two speed auto-shifting transmissions (which I'm assuming the MGT uses) is that there is a OWB on the first gear. This means that you won't be able to use motor braking and motor reverse. So, you'll have to use disc brakes with a servo, but I don't know about reverse. Not sure if this applies to the MGT, but it's something to think about...

I should have explained the purpose of pinning the oneway to the second gear actuator. I actually put the whole tranny shaft on a drill press and drilled three holes through the actuator into the one way and tapped the holes 3mm and put screws through the holes. I then filled in around the holes with jb weld. It is all very solid and after over a month of torture, it hasn't moved. All of this sevred to lock the shaft and all gears on it, so I now have motor breaking and reverse without the reverse plumbing. I'll have to try to pull the shaft and snap a pic. I'm just not wild about pulling everything apart just to take a pic. The shaft and gears are still accessible and replaceable, should the need arise.

[10kman]

Nice truck up there, that's what I was picturing in my head. Isn't the low-gear really low for your setup, or is it still plenty fast for your needs?

I really would like to have a 2-speed, if I can make it last anyway. I bet having 14+ cells banging into 2nd gear isn't going to be pretty.

Don't worry about a pic, I have had many MGT trannies apart and know what you mean. Plus pulling it out isn't worth it just for a picture, they have schematics on their site that work as well.

[Serum]

You can simple use a Y cable on the brake servo/controller to use the mechanical brakes.

For some advice on the conversion you are planning to do;

If it's your first brushless vehicle, i would convert what you've got'. that way you've got a perfect reference to decide what you want, nitro or electric.

Since you have got lots of spares for the MGT, i would convert that MGT before getting a revo. You can learn from your conversion, and build it back to nitro if you do not like it. (i don't think that will happen though) and there is always room to get a revo, you know..

[10kman]

It's not my first brushless vehicle ever, but right now I have nothing to put towards the project other than a bunch of spares for the MGT.

I had a Lehner 5300 in a TC3 for top speed runs with a Schulze controller way back, and also had one of the first Novak systems in my T3 truck. Way nicer than brushes, and they sound cooler too when they wind up.

I'd like the disk brake to be my stopper, so the Y-harness would be ideal. I disable reverse on the ESC, and the radio will take care of moving the servo anyway right, to actuate the brake?

[Serum]

Yes, that's about it. Some servo's can be programmed no to follow the throttle to WOT, but the same stuff as used on nitro's can be used on the electric.

Sorry, i meant; brushless MT's. A brushless 1/10th is something different than an MT. more power.. :)

[BrianG]

About the brake: yes. Or, if you have an AUX channel and channel mixing on your radio, you could use that instead of the Y harness.

[riceman]

Originally Posted by BrianG

About the brake: yes. Or, if you have an AUX channel and channel mixing on your radio, you could use that instead of the Y harness.

This was what I was thinking and went that route on my LST2. I had to upgrade my radio though to one that was capable of the third channel miixing. Not an inexpensive otpion if your radio doesn't already have that feature.

If I had it to do over again, I'd go the route that you guys are talking about just to try it, with the mechanical brakes. I did what I did because the MGT that I got didn't have all of the parts to it. It was a stripped roller and I was really not familiar with the MGT as a whole. I used what I had. The way that I did it, keeps things really simple though. Fewer things to break or go wrong and when they do, it's really easy to fix.

My MGT is plenty fast for running on big tires. It isn't stable enough for any more speed. As it is, it's almost fast enough to run on a track. I built it for my 8 year old and I really don't want him having anything that weighs about 13lbs going very fast. LOL