Just Got a NEw Traxxas Rustler

[E-Revonut]

Stay away from the vxl combo, it's a rip off, unprogramable and doesn't leave much room for expanding. A SW is much better but I'd still stay away from the combo. The motors in either combo will run very hot, heat is an enemy and the motor won't last long. A SW esc and a Medusa 36-50-3300 motor ordered from RC-Monster will cost about $185, about $20 more than a VXL combo, $40 more than a SW combo. The Medusa setup will outlast the Rustler and will perform much better. While saving up for the system keep an eye out for deals on here from Members and on ebay. You may find a used esc and motor for much less. Anyway you go an 8 cell Nimh pack will work, I wouldn't expect more that 35MPH on a fresh charge, but that will fade very quickly, eventually you will go LIPO. Lipos are lighter, way more powerful, and even with equivalent Mah the lipos have about a 30% longer runtime. Save up and buy the right stuff the first time! Ask around, you won't find a better motor for the money than a Medusa.

[lincpimp]

I would not waste any money on a better brushed motor...

If you pick up a decent 2s lipo, it will make quite an improvement with the stock traxxas xl5 esc and titan 12t. You will need a low voltage cutoff, like a li-saver, or novak smart stop.

Keep in mind that you can sell the xl5 esc and titan... Might get 30-40 bucks.

Used sidewinders are easy to find, I got 3 of them one week for 50 bucks each. The medusa suggested is a good motor, but you can find used vxl motors pretty cheap, and used cc motors can be had cheap too. It all depends how budget you want to go. At 35 bucks a month, you may just want to play with what you have. That would barely cover my breakage costs...

Originally Posted by lincpimp

I would not waste any money on a better brushed motor...

If you pick up a decent 2s lipo, it will make quite an improvement with the stock traxxas xl5 esc and titan 12t. You will need a low voltage cutoff, like a li-saver, or novak smart stop.

Keep in mind that you can sell the xl5 esc and titan... Might get 30-40 bucks.

Used sidewinders are easy to find, I got 3 of them one week for 50 bucks each. The medusa suggested is a good motor, but you can find used vxl motors pretty cheap, and used cc motors can be had cheap too. It all depends how budget you want to go. At 35 bucks a month, you may just want to play with what you have. That would barely cover my breakage costs...

can I use a sidewinder esc with a vxl motor?

[lincpimp]

Originally Posted by fredrc

can I use a sidewinder esc with a vxl motor?

Yep, you will need to solder 4mm connectors on the traxxas motor, and possibly shorten the wires a bit... Any sensorless motor will work with the sidewinder. You can even run a brushed motor on the sidewinder.

Sweet! Then I could sell my xl-5 for money!

[lincpimp]

Originally Posted by fredrc

Sweet! Then I could sell my xl-5 for money!

Or trade it for magic beans...