Mamba Monster Motor Malfunction?

[brijar]

I've been at college for a couple months now and have met a fellow with a nice truck. It's the newer E-Maxx, but he put a Savage transmission (XL I think. 3 speeds with no reverse) and a Mamba Monster (he says the 2200KV one) system in it and runs it on 6s (Thunderpower, I think) lipo. It's a very nice truck, esp with the General Lee body.

I've never seen a Mamba Monster in person before (I have a Mamba Max in my Rustler), so I was quite surprised to turn the spur gear on his truck and find that it turned like there was a rock in every tooth of the gear. I noticed he had his gear mesh set very tight and I thought the jerky turning was due to that. Today I got to turn it with the pinion loose on the shaft and it's as smooth as butter. The motor shaft, however, seems to have a heavy magnetic resistance, unlike my Mamba Max 5700 and my Feigao 9L. Is it just because it's such a higher quality of motor? Or is there something wrong/different about it? And how many poles does it have? I'm not really sure what the poles of a motor means (I think my Mamba is a 3 pole?).

Thanks,
Brijar!!!