One of the most important areas of RC is making sure you have your gear mesh set properly. While it's important, it is one of the most difficult items for those new to RC to understand and to get properly set. Every time the motors is removed for servicing we see even experienced racers struggle to get the gear mesh just right.

If the gear mesh is too loose, it can cause stripped gears. Too tight of a mesh can cause poor performance, excessive bushing/bearing wear, motor overheating and in the worse cases, motor failure. This is why getting it set properly is important. Follow along as we give you a simple way to get your gear mesh set just right.

Mount the motor in your car or truck. While we show an offroad truck in these examples, the same process is used for any RC car or truck.

[IMG-LEFT]http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/attachment.php?attachmentid=12968[/IMG-LEFT] Put a small piece of notebook paper between the spur and pinion gear, position the motor so the pinion and spur gears pinch the paper snug and then tighten the motor mount screws.

Pull the paper out from between the gears (with the wheels off the ground). The paper should pull from the gears without tearing. If it tears, the mesh is too tight and you need to try it again.

Take a close look at the clearance between the pinion and spur gears. The gears should just barely have clearance between them but yet not be too loose as to allow the gears to strip. After you use the "paper" method a few times and see what the proper clearance is between the gears, you will be able to adjust the gear mesh without using the paper.

We also have a video (http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/attachment.php?attachmentid=12971) that shows you how to adjust your gear mesh using the "paper" method. For many it's easier to get an idea of how to do something by viewing a video. This video was supplied by DuraTrax and is part of the video supplied with the DuraTrax Envader offroad truck.

Good luck and happy racing!

There is also a video available at http://photos.hobbytalk.com/showphoto.php/photo/7872/cat/552

End of article. Your comments are welcome.

Now does that work on 64 pitch also or is there another way to adjust the mesh on fine gears, because the teeth are finer and closer together.

What works for 64 is holding the pinion and moving the spear there should be very little play(Very very little play), really all I do is just keep messing around with it until I find what works,
CD

I found out if you mesh too tight you will not have any play between your spur and your pinion.I adjust mine to where i can just bearly move my pinion back and forth while engaged with the spur. Good Luck

I found out if you mesh too tight you will not have any play between your spur and your pinion.I adjust mine to where i can just bearly move my pinion back and forth while engaged with the spur. Good Luck
that is I said but you worded it alot better then I did

This how I do it on 64 pitch oval pan car. If I will be using 40 tooth pinion, I setup for 41 tooth. Tighten motor screws, remove 41tooth pinion and replace with 40tooth , your ready to go. Do the same for all other pinions. Setup for 1 tooth bigger than what you will be using for the race and you will be good to go. There will be enough mesh between pinion / spur. Hopefully you have enough pinion gears that you need, plus it will be better if you use the same brand of pinion/spur. Good luck. Go fast, turn left. :dude:

when you say "very little play" how little are we talking?

when you say "very little play" how little are we talking?

you should be about as thick as a strip of paper that is why hankster was useing the paper as a guide to how far apart they are

This how I do it on 64 pitch oval pan car. If I will be using 40 tooth pinion, I setup for 41 tooth. Tighten motor screws, remove 41tooth pinion and replace with 40tooth , your ready to go. Do the same for all other pinions. Setup for 1 tooth bigger than what you will be using for the race and you will be good to go. There will be enough mesh between pinion / spur. Hopefully you have enough pinion gears that you need, plus it will be better if you use the same brand of pinion/spur. Good luck. Go fast, turn left. :dude:

This is the best way I've found. Being as old as I am, my eyes are going.

Just remember when you put it tight against the spur do not push the pinion too tight, just snug.

I have never stripped a spur doing it this way.