540C Xl only works with 18T+ size pinions?!?!?

[zeropointbug]

Hi guys, I have received the rest of my parts from Mike, and built my truck. However, I bought a 15, and 18T pinion, although the 15T doesn't fit on it! The fins on the motor can bottom out on the tranny case before the gear mesh even gets close. Thanks! The 18T BARELY makes proper mesh with the 51T spur.

Does anyone else have any experience/trouble with that. This sucks!

At least the motor is only getting up to about 55-60C with hard bashing on driveway. It's way to fast though, right now i can't control it at speed with the POS TQ-3...other thread.