Traxxas sure knows how to make an easy job into a hard one! Seems when they tapped the holes for the setscrews, they didn't do it all the way to the bottom of the hole. There was no way I could get the setscrew to seat on the motor shaft. I had to get out my tap set and chase the threads so it would work. Sure would have really sucked to do the change at the track and find out it couldn't be done!

Anyway, got that done and set the gear mesh with the spur gear. That adjustment went far easier than I thought. A couple of test pulls with the stock tires showed stupefying torque (expected with a 20:1 reduction!), so it was time to hang the big tires back on the beast.

A quick romp outside proved that the 14t pinions was just what the doctor ordered. 1st gear takeoff was strong, with easy wheelies. 2nd gear actually did something this time as evidenced by the truck haulin' butt and the eerie/frightening whirr/buzz of the tires. I'd definitely be getting the heck out of the way if I heard this thing coming!

It's a little bit slow on acceleration in 2nd, as was expected. Proves the gear calc I used is pretty darn accurate. I really don't do much high speed stuff when I'm out at the parks, so this is a good setup. Looks like these will be fun to play with after all. Only drawback is having to redo the pinion swap/gear mesh if I want to go back to stock tires.

Sleebus