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Vintage Optima Turbo Gears

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 2:26 am
by Beagle
Hi,

I'm new to the forum and hoping somebody might be able to steer me in the right direction!

I'm currently in the process of bringing back to life my old Beagle RC car from the late eighties, which is essentially a Maplins clone of a Optima Turbo. I believe its exactly the same.

One of the things I wanted to do on this project was to upgrade the old motor, speed conroller and battery to something more modern. I have done this by installing a 2S lithium power pack along with a Crazepony sensorless brushless motor (5200kv) and ESC. In hindsight I believe this is part of my problem, as the power from that motor has given me gearbox issues with chewed up gears. Going forward I think if I can't replace the gears for metal ones, I may need to replace the motor with something a bet less angry, or maybe program the ESC to output less power (if thats possible).

Anyway, onto my initial problem. I'm now at the point where the gear on the differential is chewed and needs replacing, and the external cluser gear is also not in a great state so probably needs replacing.

So.....these vintage parts appear to be like hens teeth but the "re-issue" version of the Optima Turbo appears to have parts (including that differential) readily available. Will they fit? Also, are metal gears available? I expect not.

Would I need to replace the gearbox housing with the re-release optima turbo version?

Any help much appreciated as I'm currently very stuck!

Images as follows (sorry I couldn't work out how to embed them in the post!)

https://ibb.co/LSBZXp6
https://ibb.co/KqDLLdp

Thanks

Re: Vintage Optima Turbo Gears

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 7:06 am
by coxbros1
I think if u bought a rere gear case and all the rere gears/shafts/slipper etc it would probably fit.

Re: Vintage Optima Turbo Gears

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 7:15 am
by Beagle
coxbros1 wrote: Mon Feb 15, 2021 7:06 am I think if u bought a rere gear case and all the rere gears/shafts/slipper etc it would probably fit.
Thanks coxbros1. Now to work out exactly what I need, and how much its going to cost.....maybe I could start by just purchasing the housing to see if it fits the chassis.

Re: Vintage Optima Turbo Gears

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 7:25 am
by coxbros1
Beagle wrote: Mon Feb 15, 2021 7:15 am
coxbros1 wrote: Mon Feb 15, 2021 7:06 am I think if u bought a rere gear case and all the rere gears/shafts/slipper etc it would probably fit.
Thanks coxbros1. Now to work out exactly what I need, and how much its going to cost.....maybe I could start by just purchasing the housing to see if it fits the chassis.
good idea! U might want a little tamer "sensored" motor combo too! lol

Re: Vintage Optima Turbo Gears

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 12:30 pm
by Beagle
Hi Derek,

Is there a controller/motor you would recommend for this that won't break the bank? I want it to be reasonably quick, but not stupidly so that it doesn't shred the gears!!

Thanks again

Re: Vintage Optima Turbo Gears

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 5:37 pm
by TheDiamondOne

Re: Vintage Optima Turbo Gears

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 7:32 pm
by coxbros1
i concur with "the diamond one"

Re: Vintage Optima Turbo Gears

Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 3:03 am
by Beagle
Thankyou to both ^

Re: Vintage Optima Turbo Gears

Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2021 6:53 am
by Beagle
Sorry, next query.

Does anyone know where I can get (3d printed maybe?) the gear that is attached to the rear diff?

Basically this one (on the right):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/OT-27-Rear-Gear-Diff-Halves-Set-Kyosho-Optima-Javelin-Turbo-Optima-Salute/402672750312?hash=item5dc12a8ee8:g:jyoAAOSwnGJWTTVw

Re: Vintage Optima Turbo Gears

Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2021 6:18 pm
by Sparbolt
All of those parts can be replaced with ones from the Vintage Series Optima, you get a slipper and 48 pitch gears....

Re: Vintage Optima Turbo Gears

Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2021 7:05 pm
by Coelacanth
I personally wouldn't go as stout as a 10.5T motor for a vintage Optima, without a good bit of bulletproofing, and definitely not the chain drive. The chain stretches. I assume the Beagle uses a chain and not a belt? Also, the Beagle parts, though mostly interchangeable with the Optima as it was a clone, has inferior plastics. A better brushless combo I'd recommend that's a significant pile of bills cheaper, is one of the Leopard Toro 60A ESC combos. I would go with the 13T combo, or 12T but you'll want to dial down the punch on either setup. I have the 12T in my modded Optima Mid-converted-to-RWD-Mid, it's very smooth and plenty of power.

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/SkyRC-Leopard-1-10-Brushless-Motor-ESC-Combo-Program-Card-60A-V2-3000KV-13T-USA/181816072961