My custom Caster EX-1(first post) - RC-Monster Forums

el tomaso · 10:41 AM

I have a caster EX-1 that I have really enjoyed, and the twin hard case batts was practical since I started with 1/10 buggies and had batts.

Now that I know 8th scale is my thing and I needed new batteries, I wanted to be able to use one large and CHEAP battery. I also wanted mech brakes, and to go from 4s to 6s.

So instead of my castle 2650kv I have bought a lightly used Mega 22/30/2 1770kv, to be used with a mamba max pro.

I used parts from the zx-1 to make rear brakes, to be used along with some motor brakes. For servos I used tekno mounts, important to get steering servo as far forward as possible to keep the battery weight forward. Battery tray is also tekno rc.

So here are the pics:

el tomaso · 10:41 AM

How do I make the pics apear bigger? Horay, I did it!

Thomas G

ANGRY-ALIEN · 02.11.2010, 11:21 AM

Welcome to the forum... nice buggy man, but I have a little concern... do you have enough shrink wrap to insulate your motor wires?... Or are you using clear wrap there?

Alien

reno911 · 02.11.2010, 12:01 PM

Good to see another caster here, we run in the limited category. Then again this forum is mostly conversions not actual e-buggies. But I am glad to see that you have upgraded to the aluminum chassis supports, the plastics are crap and eventually turn your ride into a taco. Mine turned into a taco after the rear broke for the last time and now I am waiting for the EX-1.5 parts to be released.

What suspension are you running?

el tomaso · 02.11.2010, 12:28 PM

Yeah I know about the motor wires, I haven't driven the car yet due to heavy snow here in norway. The snow is what gave me the time to convert this car to a single batt, mech brake car

I will update when I have tried the car, though I think it might be a month or two before there is any chance of that.

Thomas G

el tomaso · 02.15.2010, 12:17 PM

I found a newly plowed and relatively dry astroturf football-field nearby, and finally got a new charger for my 6s lipos. Hopefully I will get to try the car today, or tomorrow

I can't wait!

Thomas G

el tomaso · 02.15.2010, 05:46 PM

I was at the football-field just now bashing and just testing the car, and boy was this a sweet ride, I really loved the brakes

.

The thing that ended my long awaited ride was the gearing, it was obviously off with the motor getting hot too fast. Batts and MMP was not even warm, but I only drove for like five minutes.

I geared for 44mph using the TSE, 12/44. I have a 10t and a 14t pinion, TS would be 36mph and 50mph.

I hope I'm under geared, because I wasn't getting very high speeds. I just don't know

Any comments?

Thomas G

_paralyzed_ · 02.15.2010, 06:18 PM

grass always makes motors run hot, is the astro turf long enough to be causing drag? The lack of top speed also makes me think this.

If you can't find a smooth surface and continue to test on the astro turf I'd try the 10t pinion next

reno911 · 02.15.2010, 06:34 PM

Are you gearing for top speed or good running temps? If your looking to run good temps I would say gear a few teeth higher and try testing on some groomed dirt or asphalt. Somewhere where the motor will take a load. The caster is heavy, well at least mine is, so you'll be trying to find a happy medium. Mine usually got warm at around the eighth or ninth minute in a main. Maybe topped at 150 or 160 on the motor after completing the race. This was with the MMM 2650 and 30-10-70 with 16/48 on 4s. Top speed was around 45-50 mph.

Most of my higher temps where on the motor and still are. I could gear higher and mess with the throttle input on my MMM but this set up gets the job done for now. If your still getting hot temps on the motor after gearing higher you may need to program your MMP to a lower throttle amount.

What is your current diff set up?

el tomaso · 02:17 AM

I can't drive anywhere else for a month atleast, so astroturf it is until then. Besides, I probably will get kicked of the field the first time they see me there anyways.

The turf is not causing any drag, its worn flat. There is very little traction/grip(not sure on the right word here), since its the turf is so worn and damp. I spin around with just a little steer and a blip of the throttle.

I really am having a hard time deciding which way to go here, everything is new. 6s, new motor, the "turf".

My diffs are f5 c7 r3

Thomas G

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squeeforever · 02.16.2010, 03:39 AM

I'd say try the 14t pinion. A hot motor/cool esc/cool batteries = not enough load on the motor.

el tomaso · 02.16.2010, 06:13 AM

I tried the 14t, and the motor heated up even more, so did esc and batts. Was fun though with those speeds

Trying 10t next, and if the temps are okay I'll buy an 11t.

TG

el tomaso · 02.16.2010, 07:35 AM

Thanks for your help guys!

Finally, 10t was IT

Temps were better, acceleration(sp?) was extreme, AND speed was actually not much less

I was starting to worry about this little Mega, but it seems I got a lot of motor for my ~70 dollars!

To further lower motor temps I changed the timing from 5 to 0, changed the punch control from 70% to 100%, and also remembered to lower the brake amount to 20% after installing the brake servo, that being the point of the mech brake after all.

Only problem now is that I had to remove the front chassis brace to get a good mesh with the 10t. I will have to make other stiffening arangements

Thomas G

reno911 · 02.16.2010, 02:39 PM

I flipped the top steering plate and put the brace on the other side of the driveshaft.

el tomaso · 02.17.2010, 07:20 AM

I know about that mod, but it won't fit with my servo placement. I took a rear upper arm from a truggy, and fastened that to the steering plate and the centre bulkhead thingy. Should do the job.

I am going to try a 9t pinion with 10-15 timing today just to see if that gives better performance than 0 timing and 10t. Worth a try.

Thomas G