TOPIC:

Does anyone know how big of a motor I can use with my stock Blackfoot speed control? I have some extra motors but I don't want to burn it up.

Thanks

Rob

Roarnracin@charter.net

When you say stock, you mean the 3-step mechanical speed control with the seperate resistor?

The biggest obstacle to faster motors in the Blackfoot (and lots of other Tamiya cars TBH) is the lack of gearing options - it's really set up for a 27 T silvercan motor, but a 23T Tamiya "Sport Tuned" motor (or similar motors with a decent amount of torque) will give you a 30% increase in speed on the stock gearing ... you could go with a 21T or even a 19T, but at that point, because the gearing is too tall for the motor to ever hit peak revs, it will be no faster than a 23T, and will overheat in the process.

....& of course the lack of strength in the Blackfoot gearbox (How much power is related to how brave you are or how many spare gears you have). Electrically, as long as the MSC is clean & in good condition, it will control far hotter motors than the gearbox & wiring can handle (You'll find the solder will melt on the back of the MSC & this will be the warning sign that you just crossed the sanity limit), BUT with greater amperage, the more arcing (& more aggressive arcing) there will be as the blade sweeps over the different speed plates of the MSC, which will eventually eat it away. As the MSC's condition deteriorates, there will be more heat & arcing & the situation goes bad rapidly. The low speed resistor is also a weak point - When racing, we used to connect the resistor terminals together to short it out & hence prevent damage. Means you only have on & off speed wise though, & you don't want to linger with the stick less than full throttle or it'll melt the thinner resistor wires. Oh, & watch the rear arms & hex driveshafts - really hefty motors will pop the shafts &/or twist the arms & split them (Especially in a spin-to-grip scenario). If your just after some entertainment, cheapest/safest option is find a lino floor & bung some water on it, the outcome is similar to use of high powered motors, & good times will be had by all!

Thanks for all of the info. I am putting a Thorp set in it. I have some motors laying around maybe I will go with the Sport Tuned.

Thanks

Rob

I am running both my Monster Beetle and Blackfoot with Technigold motor's, the MB with an MSC and the Blackfoot with a Novak NESC-4. They get warm, but not hot A Sport Tuned will be fine, but as said above, with the lack of gearing options you have to be careful with other motor choices.