shaft drive vs Belt Drive

[Nitroaddict]

I am getting ready to replace my current touring car with most likely either a NTC3 kit or a Rs4 SS. How come my entry level streetforce GP is belt driven, the entry level 4-tec is belt driven, then the midlevel cars such as HPI and AE run shafts. Yet, once you move up to the Mugen, Serpent pro models, they are all belt driven again. Which is better?

BTW, here is a link to my current pics( Lotus Elise w/ Lights)
https://www.rcnitrotalk.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=595&thumb=1

 

[NCNitro]

It all depends on what you want to use it for, where you want to race it. I prefer a shaft drive because I only run mine on parking lots and streets, not your cleanest surfaces. One tiny rock or pebble can get in your belts and strip them out in an instant. If you are going to only race on nice clean tracks, then it won't matter. I am not sure of the performance benefits of a belt drive over shaft, sorry. BTW the new HPI RS40 will be a belt drive too, and they are selling this as their new race edition.

 

[Candyman]

The running philosophy there is that shaft drive is more fluid. There is less resistance and it's much smoother. I'm not sure how much proof there is. I have read a lot about how the drivetrain of the NTC3 is perhaps the smoothest in the biz. But yes, most all of the race bred rides are belt. I guess they stick with it because it works. And actually, the new HPI R40 (which is a purpose built nitro racer) is going to be belt. So I don't know if there is a huge difference in general. One HUGE advantage to the shaft drives is that they don't get toasted by rocks. Pebbles and stuff love to shred belts. But the shafts are resistant to that. That's why I like it. I watch others with belts getting hung up and having to fix them all the time. But my shaft drive keeps rolling.

 

[x_789]

From all the RAce guys I know they say that Shaft drive spins up slower and is not as responsive. Also that talk about the phsics of the belts at high speed bla bla bla...

What it boils down to is that most racers run Belt for some performance advantage and for bashing most people go with Shaft drive for durability because of the things metioned above.

As to why some lower end cars including the TRX having belt drive I would say this is for a price point issue belt drives are cheaper to make than shaft drives. a belt is a lot cheaper than a shaft. X

 

[Nitroaddict]

thanks for the answers so far - I plan to use the car for mostly bashing, but once my abilities as a driver are at a higher level, I most definitly plan to race it for fun, locally. Sounds to me that shaft drive is the way to go then, eh?

I dont think that someone of my experience would notice the difference in performance.

 

[x_789]

Man I would go to the track were you plan to race and check out what the guys there are using. I have heard some guys bitch and moan about getting shaft drives saying they just can't be compeditive with them. So I would definatly head to the track and scope what you will be running against before droping the cash...X

 

[Nitroaddict]

there isnt a track near me - but 2 different hobby shops here in orlando set up nice parking lot races 2 times a month. that was where i was planning on racing. I have only been once to watch but from what i saw, most cars there were HPI Rs4 RTRs. There was also one mugen seki.

 

[x_789]

Ok well thats good info .. If most guys are running hpi if that is what the LHS stocks a good set of parts for then Go with that ... That is always something to keep in mind unless you plan on have enough parts to rebuild a car in your box. Always try to run something with good parts support at your lhs...X

 

[Nitroaddict]

there is no track locally where i live in orlando. There are 2 hobby shops that have parking lots races once a month. I've only been once to watch, and it seemed that most racers there were running Rs4rtr's

I am VERY SORRY about the double post - didnt think I posted it right the first time. please delete the second one if you are an administrator.
Thanks

 

[mjime714]

OK, here is my $0.01.

belts are prone to snap because of rocks (it is totally easy to tell if this happened). Shafts dont usually break or snap, but they do bend (not as easy to see).

Belts are pretty cheap unless you own a serpent. Shafts are a tiny bit more expensive, but they dont need to be replaced as much.

HPI rs4 3 ss was really not bred for race out of the box, but the NTC3 is a proven winner with the right setup.

The SS is a lot cheaper than the NTC3 and can be built to be really competitive.

Some points to consider and correct me if I am wrong on any point. I do not own a shaft, but I post these points from what I have read and seen.

 

[NCNitro]

Yeah your right mjime714, but you are much more likely to shred a belt in a parking lot race than you are to bend a shaft. I have crashed hard a few times and still have not bent a shaft.

If you plan on racing in a parking lot definately go shaft, and as X mentioned see what parts the hobby shop stocks, nothing sucks more than sitting around waiting for a part to be ordered.

 

[Nitroaddict]

I am lucky to live in orlando with -count em- 6 quality hobby shops all within about 30 minutes of me including Superior Hobbies, which is only 5 minutes away. They mostly all stock HPI and AE, but the HPI seems to be the dominant car at the LHS's. I am leaning towards the AE because I currently have an RC10GT RTR and it seems to be VERY good quality. I am concerned however about the fit of my current .15 velocity engine that I want to use from my Durtrax Streetforce GP. If my current engine will fit, then the NTC3 will be almost the exact same price as an Rs4SS. Anyone know if any engine will fit the NTC3?

 

[kurzo]

the only thing with shaft drive is that it has a tendency to torque steer, and there is some initial power loss due to the fact that you have to rotate the shaft!

 

[joneser4u]

shafts are the only way to go in my eyes, I've had a belt drive and got rid of it solely because of stripped diff housings and broken belts!never experianced a problem with the shafts!:flamer:

 

[kwong2001]

lol, this thread is so old. How long have you had your ntc3 nitroaddict?

 

[Nitroaddict]

kwong - i have only had it about 7 months - but i use it alot!!! prob had about 10 gallons of fuel through it. BTW - i just got that Golden horizons chassis that u have! i actually wore mine out!

 

[kwong2001]

Yeah, mine looks like poop now too. It's scratched really bad.

Got a question, on yours, are the motor mount screws larger than the kit version? Cuz mine are and that pisses me off cuz I have to use their motormount

 

[Skipper]

I would prefere Driveshafts definatly over belts, why?

Easier to maintain
More durable than a piece of rubber
More room in the car
More performance out of a Diff
And tuning

It just seems a belt drive is something to break. Go with a driveshaft, much better in my book