BL Revo tranny - DIY

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by Cadtech

...I am working on locking the connection between the drive dog and forward output gear (5395) by pinning or screwing these two together. This would eliminate the drag of the shift yoke in the drive dog, and tighten the drivetrain.

Yeah, nice write-up! Couldn't you just get the FOC? Yeah, it has a few other parts you won't need, but contains the important sensor cover, output shaft (lightened), and output gear.

Originally Posted by BrianG

Yeah, nice write-up! Couldn't you just get the FOC? Yeah, it has a few other parts you won't need, but contains the important sensor cover, output shaft (lightened), and output gear.

I could, but what fun would that be?:027:

Actually, the store bought FOC doesn't address the issue of locking the second gear to the Primary clutch. Which means you can't use the motor to reverse the geartrain, correct? (I haven't seen a Revo FOC installed, so I don't know). Do you keep first gear in the tranny with a FOC installed?

My other rationale was to try this as if I had zero budget (there are always folks who save all their pennies for new motors/controllers, and have nothing left for anything else). Usually, this quickly degrades to me building/milling some elaborate piece that costs 50 times what a store bought piece would - but that is one of the most enjoyable parts of this hobby for me...
...building parts!
Fortunately, this is a pretty simple conversion that requires no extra parts to purchase. Wouldn't even need a tap if you were to drill/pin/epoxy the parts together.

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by Cadtech

I could, but what fun would that be?:027:

Actually, the store bought FOC doesn't address the issue of locking the second gear to the Primary clutch. Which means you can't use the motor to reverse the geartrain, correct? (I haven't seen a Revo FOC installed, so I don't know). Do you keep first gear in the tranny with a FOC installed?

My other rationale was to try this as if I had zero budget (there are always folks who save all their pennies for new motors/controllers, and have nothing left for anything else). Usually, this quickly degrades to me building/milling some elaborate piece that costs 50 times what a store bought piece would - but that is one of the most enjoyable parts of this hobby for me...
...building parts!
Fortunately, this is a pretty simple conversion that requires no extra parts to purchase. Wouldn't even need a tap if you were to drill/pin/epoxy the parts together.

Ok, I guess it would be less fun.

The FOC doesn't even touch the first and second gears at all. It removes the sensor gear (the one with the crenellations), reverse idler, dog gear, shift fork, and reverse output gear. The forward output gear is replaced with one that pins directly to the output shaft. Oh, and the output shaft is replaced as well. You get a few other odds/ends like a plug to cover the shifter hole, a cover for the OptiDrive sensor, and a blank cover for the OptiDrive itself. When I did mine, I removed first gear and the associated bearings and added the wide ratio gear set so the final gearing was closer to an E-Maxx. This thread explains exactly what I did and it works well. Posts #23 and #25 are the ones you really want to read.

Hey just an FYI, you don't need the one way back on there as a spacer, I have been running mine for a while now without and it works fine.

This mod works exactly the same as the hub I milled to replace all of this, basically you are locking up the second gear to the shaft instead of the clutch doing it. If you reassemble correctly the gear will be held into place on the shaft and won't slide, the shaft is turned down at the end and won't slide further into the bearing than it is supposed to. You can lock the tranny in either forward or reverse and it will work, I have my locked in reverse and the motor is just setup to go the other way.


Good work around dude!

Originally Posted by BrianG

This thread explains exactly what I did and it works well. Posts #23 and #25 are the ones you really want to read.

Been there, read it. You were the inspiration for me to try this method! I liked the idea of using the Revo, but was skeptical of the durability of the epoxy, especially on the nylon gears. Time will tell if any of our methods have durability issues.

Originally Posted by b0gh0s

Hey just an FYI, you don't need the one way back on there as a spacer, I have been running mine for a while now without and it works fine.

Yep, thanks. I figured that out too, after putting the tranny halves back together for the umteenth time. Was pretty obvious, but obvious is always the first thing ya miss, eh?

Originally Posted by b0gh0s

This mod works exactly the same as the hub I milled to replace all of this, basically you are locking up the second gear to the shaft instead of the clutch doing it.

I like your machined part! Very well done.

And locking up is what this is all about. It basically creates an E-maxx tranny out of the Revo tranny - but allows for all other stock Revo drivetrain parts to be used, and no chassis mods need to be made. Others looking to convert a Revo can use what they have, without buying another trans.

Thanks to you guys for the kind words, and for the information/inspiration!

[JThiessen]

Nice Job Cadtech. I think I'm going to use this method on my second e-revo. I've already got my first one cut up and disected too much to be used with anything but an emaxx tranny. I'm one of the no bling guys that dont feel comfortable dropping 300 bucks on the Gmaxx frame.

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by Cadtech

Been there, read it. You were the inspiration for me to try this method! I liked the idea of using the Revo, but was skeptical of the durability of the epoxy, especially on the nylon gears. Time will tell if any of our methods have durability issues.

Hopefully both of our approaches will work great. BTW: the epoxy is rock-hard. It makes a solid sound when I tap on it with a screw driver, almost like knocking on a piece of aluminum, just a little more dull. When I had my tranny apart trying to figure out how to lock 2nd gear, I thought about somehow using screws to connect the gears, but was afraid I'd weaken them with the holes and screws. I guess the only bullet-proof method would be to create a new gear that is a combination of the 2nd gear and that other one, or something to that effect.

It's neat how several people can come up with so many different ways to achieve the same result.

Originally Posted by Cadtech

And locking up is what this is all about. It basically creates an E-maxx tranny out of the Revo tranny - but allows for all other stock Revo drivetrain parts to be used, and no chassis mods need to be made. Others looking to convert a Revo can use what they have, without buying another trans.

That's exactly what I was after: using more stock Revo parts. Mike was extremely helpful in getting some of the custom parts I needed (like the drive
shaft) but it would oh so much easier to use what's out there already. I don't mind modifying the chassis and fabricating parts, but if one of those parts break, it's not like I can run to the LHS to get a replacement, I'd have to re-fabricate another. Ugg.