How to reduce gearbox noise?

[Rad_Schuhart]

Hi! I ve just ran for the first time the asiatam black steel two speeds low profile gearboxes inside my Asiatam Panzer IV, and it makes A LOT of noise. Waaaaaaaaay to much. Much more than my panzer III with heng long steel gearboxes.

I know some pleople preffer the brass ones just because that, but do you know any way of reducing that noise?

Thanks!

[jarndice]

I would suggest you ensure the mounts are as firm as you can make them although a nylon washer between each screw and the mounting plate may help absorb the vibration, do check if the frame of the gearbox is secure and do lubricate the gears with something like a Lithium grease.
Shaun.

[tao]

Not sure what kind of sound system you have but with a FRS 8 speaker and TBS with small amp the engine sounds totally drown out the steel gears. Like in Charlie Brown..Linus said when their car makes funny sounds his father always takes in to the garage..Charlie Brown said..when our car engine sounds funny my dad just turns up the radio:)

[Rad_Schuhart]

Im using a IBU2 Pro and a visaton speaker, and its hard to heard the board's sound unless I drive the tank at an ultra slow speed.

If I run the gearboxes in the air are quite silent until I install in the gearbox mounting plate.

So yeah, I will try with all what you said. Probarbly the best way to keep the gearboxes quiet is the nylon or silicone washers.

Thanks!

[wibblywobbly]

I have black steel gears in a few of my tanks, and apart from a slight drone I can hardly hear them? Have you tried taking them out, removing the motors and checking that they spin freely? It may be that they are binding somewhere. If they are, get some valve grinding paste and use that to bed the gears together. Remember to wash it all off afterwards though, as otherwise the compound will keep removing metal. The horrible HL white metal gears can be made to run smoothly with this stuff.

I also use mototcycle chain lubricant on my gearboxes, it contains solvent, so you just spray it on, the solvent takes the grease down into all of the bearing surface and then evaporates. Its designed to stay on a motorcycle chain that is moving at a vast rate of knots, without flying off, as no self respecting motorcyclist wants oily stuff all over the wheels and frame.

[jarndice]

I completely agree about the motorcycle chain lubricant although just about now he who must not be named would remind you to be aware some chain lubes attack plastic, and that is good advise.
You also should give some thought to fitting a cover over your gearboxes to prevent any splashing over the electrics, a trip through some builds on the Forum will help in making one.
Shaun.

[Max-U52]

You also should give some thought to fitting a cover over your gearboxes to prevent any splashing over the electrics,
Shaun.

Excellent advice, and very easy to do, Rad. I'm pretty sure you've seen the "down and dirty gearbox shields" from sheet styrene, right? If not let me know and I'll send a link. I have to go to the LHS today for more thin sheet styrene to make splash guards for the new IR asp tank. I think what you need will be a lot like the ones I did in my Stug, which also has the low/low gearboxes like yours.

[mike1268]

I completely agree about the motorcycle chain lubricant although just about now he who must not be named would remind you to be aware some chain lubes attack plastic, and that is good advise.
You also should give some thought to fitting a cover over your gearboxes to prevent any splashing over the electrics, a trip through some builds on the Forum will help in making one.
Shaun.

Motorcycle chain lube should never attack plastic. Modern chains are made with rubber O rings and X rings which would also be damaged by such a substance.

[jarndice]

Mike I am no chemist, but the motorcycle chain and its components are all in motion so that the release agents in the lube will not build up on any part of the chain BUT that is not true of the plastics surrounding the gearboxes in the hull of a 1/16 RC Tank.
Oh and my excuse if I am proven to be speaking hogswash again, Is that I was quoting He who must not be named
Shaun.

[mike1268]

haha, there is very little movement in a chain O ring/X Ring. In fact, when you put a chain together, you coat the O/X ring and the open link in lube. It wont harm plastic ... lol

Also, there are no warnings on chain lube about not getting it in fairing. Could you imagine the biking community going nuts because chain lube has ruined their fairing ..... lol