VXL ESC issue - need help - please

[schofield]

rustler- specks- VXl brushless 23/90 on 7 cell 4600 - 30 series badlands.

she has run great for the past few months - but recently the esc and battery connector (traxxas plugs) have been getting hot, and she is stuttering like the signal is lost (steering still works), not really cogging but more of a no go - to full reverse - then stop. that sort of thing. do i need to gear for the warmer weather. if i let her cool down she will go again but for a short while. i have not taken a heat reading, just didn't have my temp gauge with me. But it is not to hot i cant hold on to it. the battery still has plenty of juice because when she goes again she back up on her rear wheels. any ideas?

[BrianG]

A hot battery connector tells me that it is either dirty, pitted (from the hookup arc), loose, or any combination of these. Check the actual contacts and clean if possible. If that doesn't work, replace them.

[schofield]

would that over heat the esc and have it shut down? or act weird

[BrianG]

Well, it would certainly explain the hot connectors. And if the ESC is getting sporadic power because of poor contacts, then it too can act weird. Poor contacts have higher resistance, and when current starts to flow, introduces resistance, which causes the voltage to the ESC to drop substantially. This could cause it to stutter, cogg, "reboot", and other odd anomalies.

[schofield]

reboot - yes i forgot about that, when it started i unplugged the battery and plugged it back in and the LVC was on and i would have to turn it off again. over and over.

[schofield]

you guys are awesome

[BrianG]

lol, it's all just common sense when you know how these things work.

I'll tell you; I just have an AAS degree in electronics, and despite the fact my carreer has nothing to do with electronics, even that low of a degree has proven invaluable in troubleshooting all sorts of things.

Let us know how things turn out. I'm curious to see what the issue really is.

[schofield]

i have it sitting right next to me at work here. i will check in a few minutes. need to knock out a few photoshop files

[schofield]

looks like that could be it, my plug has worn down bars, heres a pic

[BrianG]

Yeah, replace it...

[schofield]

brian - thank you for your help, i changed the plugs and no more heating up of the plug, or weird esc. upon replacing some rear drive shafts today i found that 3 out of the 4 rear bearings were all scratchy and not being a good bearing. this friction in my drive train has been adding to my problems, i changed out the bearing and she back on the road.

[BrianG]

Cool, glad you gt it sorted out. It's amazing how one teeny problem can cause all sorts of trouble isn't it?

And yeah, drivetrain drag certainly wasn't helping the issue.

[schofield]

well i ran i today for almost a full pack (broke a tie rod) and it stuttered and shut down again, and was hot. no temp readings. do i need to gear down for the hotter weather? but that would be the motor overheating right?

[BrianG]

Well, if it's as hot in VT as it is in Iowa, ambient temps can certainly play a role. So yeah, I'd gear down a little.

[schofield]

probably not quite as hot but a good 15-20 degrees hotter then a month ago.