How to stop little rocks from ruining my gears?

[echelon6]

Why do chassis designers feel the need to have holes just beneath spur/pinion gears and the flywheel? The most vulnerable parts...

My rig is relatively new and already its locked up once cos of some pebble getting in between gears, now some tooths are clearly chipped quite deeply and the spin is not as smooth as before.

Can I put masking tape over these holes? Is this a bad idea for some reason? Any better way to stop rocks from reaching the gears?

 

[h8z2luze]

Well I'm guessing its a buggy, truggy, stadium truck, or something that can be bump started.. The holes are there for non pullstart motors to use a starter box (or bump box) I suppose you could put some kind of tape over it. It wont hurt anything as long as you don't use the bump box to start it. Id use some high quality tape so it doesn't peel off and get stuck in the spur gear or anything.

 

[Brushlessboy]

Thats right. Its so you can use a starter box on the flywheel.
Some 100mph tape wont hurt anything except what you will find is the rocks will get in from other areas anyway and will get stuck to the tape and gradually build up.........
You could just not drive on little rocks...

 

[h8z2luze]

I have a rc10gt I use a starter box with and I haven't had this problem...

 

[echelon6]

Well its an onroad so its very low to the ground. I'm driving on smooth carparks, but I don't think its within my power to sweep a carpark clean before every bash. So masking tape is my best bet? I'm actually concerned of all the gunk that would be stuck down there eventually so it might be more of a hassle than its worth. Anyone else do this?

 

[Dave63]

There's nothing wrong with sealing your gear drives as good as possible to prevent tooth damage due to debris. I wouldn't suggest tape, as it can peal off too easily, and the sticky side over the hole will allow dirt to stick, then be released later as the glue weakens.

On my one car, I fround a small piece of lexan with a "bubble" in it, enough to fit over the bump-wheel, and hot glued it on. It's taken a few shots to it but still held out pretty well. I made another one from Lexan as well, by simply folding it into a "V" and sealing the ends.

It seems no matter how good you seal out the dirt, some always manages to get in there, but it keeps out the big stuff.

 

[echelon6]

Great idea Dave thanks

Sry I'm relatively new, what is Lexan? is it shell material? Where can I get some?

 

[Dave63]

Lexan is the clear plastic, in most cases, your RC car's body is made out of. You can buy sheets of it at the hobby shop.

You can keep your eyes out for a good bubble shaped piece from anything that's vacuum sealed f(the packaging) from the store, like toys, batteries, etc......

Those preformed shapes come in handy for a lot of different things, and get tossed in the trash.

I love freeeeeeeeeeeeeee stuff, like that.

 

[echelon6]

thanks for the idea, I'll give it a try

 

[zinkerone]

To take the tape idea a little further (even though you seam to be going the plastic route)... you could tape over the hole from both sides to avoid getting rocks on the sticky side