New to micro crawlers - advice needed!

[ATJ4x4]

Hi all, I’m fairly new to micro RC crawlers, having picked up a Carisma MSA-1E Brat project and an FTX Mini Outback 1.0 on the cheap for a friend and I.

The Brat has proved really impressive with an upgraded ESC and servo, yet the FTX is something of a disappointment. The runtime is far worse, there’s no torque and the steering isn’t very responsive when you’re accelerating.

Any tips or tricks to improve it (ideally on the cheap) would be much appreciated, I’m hoping something as simple as a smaller pinion might perk it up a little! Some idea of part compatibility between 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 plus other brands would also be handy. If something breaks, it’d be good to upgrade it as we go. Many thanks in advance!

 

[spoo76]

Welcome, the quick short version is this...

Nearly all ring & pinion micro and mini crawlers using 1.0" wheels and smaller have an axle gear ratio of only 2:1. I assume due to the limitations in the overall size of the gear versus the small teeth for durability. The FTX Outback/RGT Adventurer/ECX outback are all identical.

Worm gear axle Micro crawlers like the Losi and SCX24 have an axle ratio of somewhere around 12:1 which is significantly more.

So for more torque and smoother low speed throttle control you'd need a significant amount of gear reduction, motor and electronics swaps help, as well as a bigger spur gear and smaller pinon, but a pinion and spur alone is not enough for the FTX Outback/RGT Adventurer/ECX outback.

The best bet is to swap the transmission for something with more gear reduction.
With some fab work people swap 1/10 servos as motors & transmissions, or even the V2 transmission from the mini Gelande (Not the metal transmission that looks like a transfer case, v2 has a plastic housing)

However, a more bolt in option that gives even more gear reduction is the transmission from the HobbyPlus CR-24,CR-18, and now used on the Atlas 6x6 and Katana 1/18. You can find the parts to assemble it on AsiaTees. If you also grab the skid plate it will be a near direct bolt in for about $20-$25. The only thing you will have to do is drill new holes to use the motor you have which is very easy to do. The best part is if you want even more gear reduction You can replace the HobbyPlus 54t spur gear with the FTX/RGT 64 tooth you already have if you also use a smaller 9t pinion for clearance. That combination will get you the most gear reduction available in a transmission excluding geared motor transmissions


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[spoo76]

As far as parts compatibility the ECX Barrage, RGT Adventurer, V1, and FTX Outback 1.0 are all identical.

The HobbyPlus CR-24 also sold under other brand names is very similar, Even parts that are not identical are very similar and may be swapped with little to no modification.
The CR-24 has different electronics with a nicer transmitter from Turbo Racing, the transmission with more gear reduction, axle housings that look more like a street truck, functional bead lock wheels, different tires (tires and wheels will swap) a more previously standard shorter 030 motor instead of the longer 050. The links look identical but they are slightly different lengths and the upper links mount in a slightly different position, the chassis rails are also very similar, But with different style shock mounts and a few holes in different spots.
Axle internals and of course gear ratios are identical, the housings and knuckles and carrier are different, but can be swapped around.

The FTX Outback 2.0 is just a rebranded HobbyPlus CR-24

The RGT Adventurer V2 is similar to all these other trucks mentioned, but the 050 motor is moved to the front And there's a transfer case where the transmission used to be. The extra room in the center allows for a lower floor so you can more easily use a full interior, and moving the motor up front gives a slightly better forward balance for getting up over obstacles, It also comes with a transmitter similar to the Hobby plus Turbo Racing transmitter but with analog dials instead of digital buttons, this transmission setup has much more gear reduction than the Barrage/FTX, but still less than the HobbyPlus CR-24/CR-18 and unlike the HobbyPlus transmission there's no easy way to add a larger spur gear for even more gear reduction.

The FTX 3.0 is just a rebranded RGT V2

For what it's worth there's also a CR-18 which is a slightly wider and longer version of the CR-24 with upgraded parts. The axle centers are the same, but widened with wider carrier hubs and rear lock outs, longer links and drive shafts made with a better fiber reinforced plastic, And the drive shaft universals are also now metal.
There's other improvements to it over the CR-24

There's also an FTX Outback 1/18 which is just a HobbyPlus CR-18

Now there's also a RocHobby 1/18 Katana which is basically a CR-18 with a really nicely detailed hard body, 050 motor, new tires and wheels, and the electronics and battery moved up front underneath a working hood

There also a FMS/RocHobby Atlas 6x6 power wagon based on the HobbyPlus CR-18 parts

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[ATJ4x4]

Many thanks for the replies, that clears everything up nicely! Sounds like the CR-24 gearbox swap might be the way forward initially. Is there any advantage to using the 030 motor from that rather than the 050 I already have?