TOPIC:

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum place but anyway. I have a Fox with a vintage Trinity Gold Monster Horsepower motor. The motor needs new brushes and springs. Does anybody know where to get any (besides Ebay). Are the old style brushes kind of universal? I have seen a bunch on Tower Hobbies that look like they will work but I'm not 100% sure their dimensions are correct.

Looks like you're not the first to ask this... more questions on the net than answers.
Maybe the best thing to do would be to send a message to Team Trinity themselves...

TC wrote:

I thought I was the only one with that motor! I have the "1987 World Champions" stock motor installed in my Frog right now. It's only on its second set of brushes, ever. It still runs great. I discovered that I can't find replacement brushes for it, since today's stocker brushes are a different shape.

yeh most old brushed motors use the same brushes[open endbell motors].
Most 1980-90's motors were based around the MABUCHI or YOKOMO style open endbells.
I'm guessing you need to re-tune the COMM aswell if it needs brushes??
I would just check with some R/C car friends or a local hobbyshop.

OR just junk the motor and shop around for something NEW.
Brushed motors are wayy cheap now. By the time you find some brushes and springs, your almost into a new motor any ways.
Friends give me their old brushed motors all the time.
TRINITY are awesome motors!
BUT not bashing on yours, but its from like 1988-89?
VINTAGE is for sure! lol

I think you can get some good 24-19 turn motors in the USA for $20 or so new.
TRINITY or REEDY in the 27-19 turns will be wayy more power then most any FOX will ever need.
They[FOX] have a PUSH[handling] in the front ends...meaning they dont turn too well to begin with.
And YOU will just end up breaking the front chassis halves[in the front] where the arms mount anyway if you get too crazy with over-powering the chassis.
I'm glad your not trying to go BRUSHLESS BTW!
You would just end up trashing thru gear-set after gear-set in your Tamiya FOX!
And gears don't come cheap!
I used to sell NIP sets for $45usd!
If you want to FULL RACE-MOD your FOX, you might aswell just go BIG TIME and spend some crazy cash $$$$ on a 'HOT TRICK' FOX-full race red-chassis'.
I used to race them[FOX], now your looking at $300 or so on ebay USA for a good one!
A HOT TRICK used MIP or THORP ball-DIFFS, THEY might hold up to a good BRUSHLESS motor.
Ciao

I'm interested in keeping that motor for nostalgia more than anything. I am planning on a custom mod of the gearing of the Fox anyway, when I'm done it will be Bulletproof (at least compared to the current stock set up). I am replacing all the plastic gears with metal and putting a ball-diff in with dogbones instead of the hex stlyle axle's in it now. I'll probably wind up using the Trinity in my Blackfoot. I just use that to trash around anyways.

If you're planning to go with a hot motor, you'd be better off with a geared diff. Ball diffs only resist slipping by friction (ie how tight they are), that's why they became popular - easy way to a limited slip diff. If you're going to go with metal gears, I'm guessing it's because you plan to stick more beans through it than a plastic gearset would stand, & if that's the case, a ball diff definately won't cope. Motor-wise, I've found the "Epic" canned ones give more power for the same number of turns than others I've used (To do with the lay-down brushes being able transfer more current, being in contact with the comm for longer per segment, plus the stack is lightened for better acceleration)

Just to add, if you get stuck for brushes & aren't concerened with having the proper thing, it's possible to trim down a set of bigger ones (eg power tool ones). They easily sand to size with a bit of 320 grit wet-n-dry paper, best done on something flat like a piece of glass. Be gentle though, as they're really soft & you might take too much off, plus they can crumble. It would also be worth skimming the commutator, if you know someone with a comm lathe (Makes them run smoother & faster)

Actually, I will not be running that motor in my Blackfoot. I recently found the specs on that Trinity Pure Gold 18 turn motor. That thing runs a max of 37,000 rpm. The torque was always just about right for the Fox and for my needs that is plenty. Seeing as how I will not be racing this Fox build (I'm totally afraid of breaking something), I think I will just stick with the Trinity. I have came across plenty of brushes on EBay and plan on purchasing every set I can. Also, eventhough I do have a front stabilizer, I don't think it would handle that great with much more power running through it. BTW, I just got a Thorp Dog Bone style differential off Ebay. It wasn't cheap but I had to get it, those just don't come along every day now.