RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Those 550 gearboxes look completely sealed. Is it quieter than the usual open gearboxes?

A little bit quieter. On the otherhand, a fellow club member wanted to get a set, completely sealed properly it and actually put transmission fluid in it just like a transmission gearbox....

MichaelC wrote:A little bit quieter. On the otherhand, a fellow club member wanted to get a set, completely sealed properly it and actually put transmission fluid in it just like a transmission gearbox....

That's an awesome idea! Do those fit any tank? Where do I get them?

GAS MOTORS ARE THE STRONGEST ...Major Drawbacks in cost and noise though

AIR baby...the guy caught AIR

An old Tamiya clutch drive + an .049 motor would make a modern1/16th tank tear


ALPHA

jackalope wrote:

MichaelC wrote:A little bit quieter. On the otherhand, a fellow club member wanted to get a set, completely sealed properly it and actually put transmission fluid in it just like a transmission gearbox....

That's an awesome idea! Do those fit any tank? Where do I get them?

Yes indeed. Sounds like something fun to do, but you have to create an opening for adding and draining the fluid, as well as gasket of some kind to seal the drive shaft and also the gear shaft going in. You can get them at HobbyRaw and DKLM if you scroll back to the 1st page of the thread. I got mine pre-installed and we didn't dis-assemble them at our last meet. But since the Leo metal chassis also accepts regular Heng Long motors/gears, my guess is that you should be able to use the same mount as the stock Heng Long plastic bottom.

Michael, the output shafts would be easy to seal, however in looking at the pics it appears as if the motor mounts to the gearbox with the opening being the size of the motor and the motor slips into it does anyone know if this is the case? If it is then you would need to find motors that are sealed to hold any oil in, sealing the actual motor case to the gearbox is easy but any oil would leak out through the motor.

I MAY attempt to make my own sealed gearbox using a standard 4.1 hardened gearbox with the sealed bearings, those sealed bearing will also seal any oil inside so win win. All I would need do is make a top plate that will wrap around to the front and rear then use RTV sealant to seal it up.

As for servicing the fluid I'd say once its in there it should be good forever, the reason I say this is that newer cars transmissions aren't to be serviced till they hit at least 100,000 miles! Now that's 100,000 miles behind a 200-400hp engine in a 2 ton automobile! So if it can handle staying in there for 100,000 miles how long should it last inside a toy tank that weighs 20 or so lbs and is powered by a small electric motor?

Also I wouldn't use automatic transmission fluid as that stuff is like water, true you could use it and would be a MONUMENTAL improvement over being run dry but I'd go with 100% straight Lucas engine oil treatment. It clings to gears and is as thick as syrup so that should help minimize any leaking.

From what I understand gearbox oil adds drag to the gears (why there is a max fill level rather than completed full) and its there for gear shifting wear or reduce it.

As our gears don't shift then seems pointless using oil.

I am going to super cool mine in liquid Helium! Opps that will only eliminate electrical resistance! )

I wouldn't "fill" the gearbox rather only put enough in it so the lower gears would just sit in it. The gears will pick up the Lucas oil treatment and it'll transfer upward to all the gears teeth. This stuff is thick and is designed to "stick" to moving parts, not sure if you guus have the display over in the UK but anyone here in the states will know what I'm talking about that's ever gone into a parts store.

Ian, I know I know. This is just sound like something fun to do....... Don't know how much practicality there is for it.

jack, yeah, it would only be half full and not filled up completely. If you look at the interior shot I posted, the motor gear pinion is the only thing you see from the motor inside the casing so I think it is doable. I believe that photo is on the non-motor side, so it would be easy to seal the gear shaft as well since it is just the small opening.