NTC3 2-Speed Trouble

[Bash_N_Thrash]

All I can say is :flaming: $%@*

I cannot figure this thing out. Heres what I've done so far.
1. Installed two speed as per instructions contained in package and manual. Settings for screws are:
a. Middle screws with balls under them, just tight enough so shoes dont slop on shaft, and not too tight to separate shoes.
b. Screws with springs. Started at 3 1/2 turns from fully tightened (as per instructions).
2. Tried running car and could hear no shift. Loosened clutch screw (with springs) 1/4 at a time till I was about 4 1/2 turns out. Still could not hear shift.
3. Returned scews to 3 1/2 turns out and tightened 1/4 turn each run till about 2 1/2 turns out and still no audible shift.
I have a T-Maxx, when it shifts there is no mistake. I cannot tell what this car is doing. As per reading others posts I have tried to tell what gear my NTC3 is starting in. Seems like first gear to me as it has about the same take off power as with the one speed. Top speed seems about the same also. I have taken the 2-speed apart and re-installed it as per instructions to make sure I didnt miss anything the first time. No luck so far. If anybody has any suggestions, like what starting point for adjustment screws, or what increment to adjust them in or out that would be helpfull. Also should I be hearing a nice pronounced shift like other 2-speeds? Or is it very subtle? Maybe its working and I just dont know it :loser: . Thanks for any help guys.

 

[Nitroaddict]

what engine are u using? for the most part - the NTC3 2speed is pretty easy to heare shift - but MUCH EASIER to hear when u dont use full throttle. Tighten both screws (make sure u are tightening the right ones, its the screws that go in at an angle, the black ones) all the way, then back out both to 2 turns. acclerate at about 70% throttle, and listen for the shift. if it isnt shifting, then open the screws 1/8 at a time, they are very sensitive. again, try this at 70% throttle or so, as the car is much easier to see and hear shift this way.

 

[Bash_N_Thrash]

My engine is the AE .15 that comes with the RTR. I have it tuned what I think is really good. I will try the 2 turns out suggestion. The instructions that come with the optional 2-speed say to start at 3 1/2 turns. I guess at that its probably stuck in 2nd gear huh? When I am checking it I run it from slow to WOT at a slow and steady pace. Mostly I run it at about 3/4 throttle. No luck yet but I'll keep trying. Could tire grip have anything to do with it not shifting? I run it in a slippery/dusty parking lot thats wide open. Thanks for the help.

 

[Nitroaddict]

Originally posted by Bash_N_Thrash
Could tire grip have anything to do with it not shifting? I run it in a slippery/dusty parking lot thats wide open. Thanks for the help.

That could have something to do with it, but i highly doubt it.

its tough for me to help you without being there, as i need to hear the car running, and see how it accelerates, to be able to tell what its doing wrong. sorry i havnt been able to help you comepletly.

 

[Bash_N_Thrash]

its tough for me to help you without being there, as i need to hear the car running, and see how it accelerates, to be able to tell what its doing wrong

Thats cool. Just jump in your vehicle or on an airplane and cruise right on up here to SLC and help me out.:jk:

Actually you've been a great help, everybody on this board always is. Thanks and I'll keep at it. I'm sure I'll get it eventually.

 

[Nitroaddict]

bout the only other thing i can tell ya, is that i had some tuning issues with my tranny, when i built my NTC3 kit. i noticed that SMALL changes made a huge difference. Changing the screws as little as 1/4 turn would make it go from not shifting into second at all, to starting in second. maybe that will help. you'll figure it out though.

 

[Bash_N_Thrash]

Ok, I finally got some time to get out and try this thing. I started the two speed clutch at 2.5 turns out from fully tightened. I adjusted in 1/4 turn increments for 7 times. So I ended up at 4 1/4 turns out. I still did not hear any shift occur. Maybe its just too subtle to hear. The car seems plenty fast and has good power at take off. Maybe it is hifting and I just can't tell. I just want to hear the thing shift. I tried varying the speed from a slow start to a full pull on the trigger. I have taken the thing back apart to make sure I built it right. I can't see anything wrong. I feel like such a :n00bie: . Well I guess I am a newbie in a way to on road. I just bash with the thing in parking lots and up my street. Any more suggestions of things to try.

 

[ld3driver]

well, no satisfactory answer... so I can try

(sorry for the mistakes, I'm french)

I have a OFNA LD3, which is, as you may know, very similar to ntc3.
I had the same problem : the second speed didn't shift, whatever settings I can try with the screws...
but I found why....

1. first, you can always hear the shift : if you hear nothing, the 2nd speed doesn't shift.

2. if you are deaf, just verify the top speeds : 2nd top speed is very very different from 1st top speed !

3. ok man, so why the 2nd speed doesn't shift ? with my ld3, here is what I have noticed : when the fuel tank is nearly empty,
you noticed the engine goes faster. In this particular situation, and only in this particular situation, the 2nd speed shifts ...
So, I have a OS 15 CVX engine , which is only 0.68 HP.
My answer is that my engine has not enough power to shift...

4. do I need to buy another engine ? Of course not, and the solution costs nothing : the springs inside the shoes are too strong. The solution is to find springs softer than those that came with your kit. So , the shoes can separate at lower RPM, and the second speed can shift, that's all !!!

5. I think the problem shouldn't occur with an engine over 1 HP, but unfortunately, I don't have one yet....

give me your opinion...

 

[robriguez]

I had the same problems and I found that the factory settings just didnt work for me at all. The clutch shoes were jus too far from the housing to "grab". I adjusted both set screws so that the clutch was 2mm from touching the inside of the housing. Set the shift screw at 2.5 turns out and she worked first time. Went out about 60 feet at WOT and WHAM...Second gear. VERY noticable. Made some more adjustments to keep the shift point in the power band and now she sifts like a dream.

 

[Bash_N_Thrash]

So are you saying I should adjust the screws in the center of the shoes with the BB's under them so the shoes are closer to the bell? I thought of doing that but I didnt because the instructions say to adjust the screws to the point where the shoes are snug on the shaft flat part but does not separate the shoes. If I adjust the center screws the shoes will separate, but they will get closer to the edge of the bell. Maybe thats been the whole problem. I have never actually heard the thing shift so it probably hasnt yet. I look forward to giving this a try. Thanks.