Unlucky or design flaw ...

[KnightAzul]

Hi,

I have a Thunder Tiger TS-4n and would like to know if the following situation should be considered just bad luck, or a design flaw to which (I hope) there might exist a tried and tested workaround!

I have only used the car about 6 or 7 times since new, on a flat generally clean parking lot. On my last outing a small stone got stuck in the teeth of the small drive pulley which provides traction to the front wheels. The small drive pulley is the one at the back end towards the engine, connected by a belt to a larger drive pulley at the front connected to the front wheels.

The net result was a chewed up belt which will need to be replaced.

Is this common? Could this have been avoided by installing some sort of guard? Replacing the belt does not seem to be an easy job!

KnightAzul

 

[GilBeQuick]

That's common with any belt drive system. With a belt drive it's always a possibility to get a pebble in your pulley. This is the reason many people now get shaft drive systems instead of belt drive.
It's all luck of the draw man....I've had 2 belt drive's and only gotten a pebble stuck in it once in a couple years of street/parking lot racing. A buddy of mine has gotten pebbles in his probably 4 or 5 times.

 

[Diver6127]

I would say yes on both counts. Belt drives are more prone to getting chewed up from stones. Bad luck because you picked up a pebble. Most serious racers go for the belt system. Bashers usually go for the drive saft system, just as Gil said.