Issues with "brakes" when crawling

[Tundra]

Hey folks,

I have a question about "brakes" in my Tundra. I understand that when the remote control transmitter is in neutral the truck should "brakes" by the gear. Lately i found that we i am doing downhill run my Tundra still keep going down even when the transmitter is in neutral (at the 2nd Gear). I found that it will only stop when i shit to the first gear. Is it normal?

[Arcocustom]

There are no brakes on the High-Lift drive train. Down-shifting will give a braking effect when driving though. The brakes on your truck are the natural drag of the brushes on your motor. Most crawler motors use heavy brush springs to increase this drag effect. Crawlers will also use an ESC with an adjustable drag brake. An electronic drag brake will prevent the truck from rolling on an incline when off the throttle. Drag brakes are automatic and slow the truck and hold it simply by letting off the throttle.

Now if you are going down a hill and you shift, during that shift, the gear you are in must be un-coupled with the drive dog before the next gear can be engaged. Then the shift fork will slide the drive dog over to engage the next gear. The gears ride on bearings and will allow the transmission to freewheel when changing from one gear to the next, because the drive dog isn't meshed into the next gear. Properly adjusting the trim on your servo and using a shift gate on your transmitter will help you position the shift servo and avoid freewheeling the transmission when you return the shift/throttle stick to "neutral". You want your transmission to be engaged in second gear when the shift/throttle stick is centered by the return springs on the transmitter. Yours sounds like it is in-between 1st and 2nd gear when the shift/throttle stick is returned to the center. Try using the trim on your transmitter to adjust the shift servos throw.

[Tundra]

thanks!

Can u share which ESC has the electronic drag brake function? I use a Futaba MC330CR. It has been working great at the beginning but lately i found that it is not very responsive when i pushed the throttle backward.

Just one more question is it the expected behaviour that the wheels are locked when the truck is in Gear 2 neutral. Just that when i adjusted the trim on my Futaba ATTACK transmitter i still found the truck moving when i pushed on flat ground. (when i pushed the truck, i can feel it hit some resistance but then when i push a little bit harder then it just let go) May be i should disasemble the truck and re center the gear shift servo. Are those 4 channel transmitters with digital trim adjustment better?

[Arcocustom]

Novak Rooster Crawler Brushed ESC (http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXSFR0&P=ML)

Tekin FXR Forward/Reverse Brushed ESC (http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXPNV6&P=ML)

Castle Creations 1/10 Mamba Max ESC (http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXUTA3&P=ML)

These are the 3 most popular ESCs. The Novak is the easiest to use and is very beginner freindly. It also comes as an ESC and motor combo.

The truck will freewheel in-between gears. When the tuck is in gear the electric 540 motor offers some rolling resistance, but will turn when force is applied.

[Siggy]

Totally agree with Arco! :thumb: These ESC's are TOP rated.

I've used much of the FXR for my Scale Rigs and Rock Crawlers. The strength of the drag brake is awesome and with the small footprint the FXR was the all-time favorite of Rock Crawlers. Unfortunately, the FXR had a some cases of the ESC failure in 2009 -- a few reported cases of the ESC smoking. However, the problem may have been resolved, as I have not heard any more cases of such. I still use them and I do love em.

I also have Castle Creation's MambaMax, Sidewiders, and Mamba Monster. These ESC are very reliable and do BL Motors. However the drag brake hold on an incline isn't as good as the FXR. BUT the latest version of the CastleLink Programs allows users to easily set a more effective drag-hold brake.

Holmes Hobbies released late last year released a Rock Crawling/Scale Rig ESC called the HH Torque Master BR XL. This is becoming a favorite among the Rock Crawling/Trail crowd as the hold/drag brake function is said to be Great. A waterproof version is also being offered for those planning to have them into all-terrain scale rigs.

I have read some good things about the Novak ESC but have not had the chance to try them.

All 4 come from the best in the Industry, take a pick and use with confidence. Their Customer Service guys are really Cool! Hope this helps buddy.

[QIK-RX4]

I have 6 Tekin FX-R's in all my rigs. I cant speak enough about how good they are. The reason alot of people were smoking them was the internal BEC doesnt like powering big arse servo's pulling alot of current. Hence why people run external UBEC's. Easy as to tune and they are the smallest around. I picked up a hobbywing UBEC for $7 on evilbay.

I have used CC's mamba max and i watched my jeep roll down a hill with 100% drag break on... It didnt stay in there long after that.

Cheers,
Rob.

[Siggy]

I have used CC's mamba max and i watched my jeep roll down a hill with 100% drag break on... It didnt stay in there long after that.

Cheers,
Rob.

Castlelink updated software seem to have fixed it. :)

[Arcocustom]

Castlelink updated software seem to have fixed it. :)

My sidewinder micro rolls backwards on steep inclines. I wonder if there is a new software fix for my ESC.


I have 6 Tekin FX-R's in all my rigs. I cant speak enough about how good they are. The reason alot of people were smoking them was the internal BEC doesnt like powering big arse servo's pulling alot of current. Hence why people run external UBEC's.

:agree: Tekin speed controls are the way to go. I have 4 of them and they all work great! The BEC in the FXR does get hot when crawling, so you must run an external BEC.

[Siggy]

My sidewinder micro rolls backwards on steep inclines. I wonder if there is a new software fix for my ESC.

Yes it looks like :) I quote:

" was having issues with a sidewinder micro, drag brake wouldnt go above 100% and the crawler mode would work either, but now...

WOooooOOOOOOHOOOOooooooo!!!!

Its like someone stuck a screw driver in my motor, that thing holds fast.

Thank you Castle Creations

New Sidewinder Micro software and the new Castle Link software means no more rollin at the wrong time"

reference:
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2301979&postcount=82

[Arcocustom]

^^^ I will have to check that one out then. :)