Monster Truck and Upgrade Gear Ratios?

rfnagel · #1 10-28-2004, 05:08 AM

Folks,

A question about the monster trucks gears: does anyone know the various gear ratios for the gears that come with the MT starter kits and the MT upgrade kit? Are the "official" gear ratios printed anywhere on the package(s)?

I'm preparing to do a major update to my parts availablility text file ( http://www.cmoo.com/~snor/weeds/parts_availability.txt ), and want to add the correct info for the monster trucks -

BTW, for lack of a better term, I'm assuming that the stock tires that ship with the monster trucks should simply be refered to as "factory tires", correct?

Namuna · #2 10-28-2004, 07:04 AM

Ahhhhh, so nice to see a fellow details oriented kind of guy!

I picked up the Hulk and Monster Patrols kits, along with the Motor/Gear upgrade kits a couple of days ago. Unfortunately no ratios are given, not on the kits, not on the upgrade kits.

All that is given, about the Motor/Gear upgrade kit is:
Green, Stock, 8,000rpm
Red, Performance, 14,500rpm
Yellow, Turbo, 18,000rpm
Orange, Racing, 21,000rpm

rfnagel · #3 10-28-2004, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Namuna
Ahhhhh, so nice to see a fellow details oriented kind of guy!

Hehe, yep, too damn much of a perfectionist for my own good LOL!

Many thanks for the info. I wish that RS would have provided the gear ratios, but at least with your descriptions, I'll be able to make the parts availability text file a bit more accurate -

BTW (OT), whatdo you think about the looks of the Monster Patrol MT? I'm debating either getting the Bigfoot or possibly the Monster Patrol model. I really hate Fords LOL, but the Hulk Chevy doesn't quite "do it" for me, what with those funny looking fists on either side of the vehicle LOL!

Although the MP truck looks real nice, I'm more of a purist, wanting a truck that looks like a regular truck (i.e. the MP truck has the wing/spoiler on the back of it).

Namuna · #4 10-28-2004, 09:01 AM

IMO, if it weren't a Monster Truck, I wouldn't have bothered picking up the Monster Patrol. The Shacks around me have only gotten in the Hulks and MPs, so I didn't have much of a choice. If/when my local store gets the Bigfoot in, I'll probably exchange the MP for it.

I'm of the same opinion, a big fat wing on a truck don't do it for me either...Now, the Hulk truck though, I LOVE (but I think you can guess why

)

rfnagel · #5 10-28-2004, 09:10 AM

Thanks for the info -

Hehe, yeah, I can see why you like the Hulk truck LOL -

I suppose I prolly will get the Bigfoot when the time comes (and of course, also the upgrade and tire kit) -

wolfrocks5 · #6 10-28-2004, 09:46 AM

Hi, The gears are green stock 24:1,red performance 20.8:1, yellow turbo 18.3:1 and ornge racing 16.2:1 hope this helps

Namuna · #7 10-28-2004, 11:04 AM

Yup, my bad...Upon further inspection of the Manual that comes with the Monster Trucks, it details the ratio of the gears.

So, for easy copying/pasting...

Green, Stock, 8000rpm, 24:1
Red, Performance, 14500rpm, 20.8:1
Yellow, Turbo, 18000rpm, 18.3:1
Orange, Racing, 21000rpm,16.2:1

And I have to admit, the more I drive the Monster Patrol and look at it's big wing (in proportion to it's fatty wheels)...I'm actually coming to LIKE it!.

rfnagel · #8 10-28-2004, 12:00 PM

Thanks for the info, guys! -

-

rfnagel · #9 10-29-2004, 01:50 AM

Still going blindy here (as I haven't bought one yet), but I was attempting to do a few calculations for an upcoming version of my ZipZaps Speed Calculator Utility (to add support of the monster trucks).

Based on the specs for the gear ratio and motor RPM, and going by the blurb on Radio Shack's web site about the scale speed of the monster trucks ("Scale speed of 70MPH"), I came up with the following figures (using formulas from my ZipZaps Speed Calculator Utility):

Code:

Tires: Stock Factory Monster Truck
Green Stock Motor: 8000 RPM
Green Stock Gears: 24:1
Stock Scale Speed: 70 MPH

MotorRPM / GearRatio * TireCircumference / 12 * 60 / 5280 * Scale = ScaleMPH

8000 / 24 * TireCircumference / 12 * 60 / 5280 * 64 = 70
TireCircumference = 24 / 8000 * 70 / 64 * 5280 / 60 * 12

TireCircumference = 3.4649472 inches (???)

TireCircumference = Pi * diameter
Pi = 3.1415926 inches
TireDiameter = TireCircumference / Pi

TireDiameter = 1.1029269 inches (???)

The thing is, the tire diameter that I calculated (based upon the above calculated tire circumference) seems a bit too large based upon my formulas and using Radio Shack's so-called 70 MPH scale speed spec LOL! Would you happen to have a micrometer that you could use to measure the tire diameter for me LOL? -

Are those MT tires actually over an inch in diameter?

Namuna · #10 10-29-2004, 09:02 AM

Sorry man, all I've got is a digital caliper. It's only good to .001". Not as 'precise' as a micrometer.

hehe, I don't have the Monster trucks with me (they're at work). When I get home tonight I'll get you the details.

rfnagel · #11 10-29-2004, 10:03 AM

Many thanks for the help -

Actually, the caliper would be accurate enough, as I'm simply trying to determine if the tire diameters are even close to around 1.1 inches.

It's just that from the pics that I've seen of the MTs, over an inch seems a bit largish for the actual size of the tires.

If you're measurement is anywhere near 1.1 inches, I can safely assume that my calculations are accurate -

Namuna · #12 10-29-2004, 10:24 AM

I was actually bein sarcastic with the comment about the Calipers not being accurate enough! When you're talking about little R/C cars, getting down to anymore than .01" of an inch is a waste of time.

While I'll have the exact numbers tonight, I am at work now and did put a ruler against the tires and they're right at 1 1/16th (1.06") inches. So ya, they're pretty much right at 1.1" (if you round up).

rfnagel · #13 10-29-2004, 02:22 PM

Many thanks for the info! Sounds like the MTs have some pretty decent sized tires -

Hehe, yeah, I know that anything smaller than .01" is a waste of time, but my Zaps speed calculator's wheel circumference constant (for the regular and SE Zaps) is 1.73228 inches LOL!

Precision, my man, precision ROTFLOL!!!

(Edit) P.S. Hehe, not bad cipherin' since I don't have one of these beasts yet! -

Namuna · #14 10-29-2004, 02:40 PM

Do what you gotta do...But you MUST get a Monster Truck!!! And get the Motor/Gear upgrade too (for only $6.99 for the upgrade kit, ain't no reason NOT to!).

I really need to take a vid of this thing in action, I'm not talkin about running across the floor...Where I work the cubicles are all lined up and connected, and we're all basically slobs with papers and magazines all over.

...It's a TON of fun to drive the MTs over pretty much all the different obstacles!

The ZZSE is what's to get when you want a sweet ride with decent precision in steering...The ZZMT is what you get for PURE FUN!

Did I mention, GET IT!!??

Namuna · #15 10-29-2004, 02:43 PM

Heck, I even ordered a mini-wagon so I can do Truck Pulls!!!
http://store.yahoo.com/radioflyer/1minclaswag.html