Running a Kyosho Optima brushless?
 

Hi,

does anyone have experience with using a brushless set in an old Kyosho Optima?

Mine is the original one but with a full ball-bearing set and a OT-74 from a Turbo Optima.
It still has the standard chain-drive

I'm on the way to get myself a new ECU and motor so if it works, why not a brushless set? Still, I'm not interested in ruining the gearbox/gears/chain-drive.

Thankful for creative comments and information based on experience with an Optima or equivalent (Javelin etc.). Used brand, type, turns etc.

Best Regards

optama
 

i would like to know too

Running the Optima on std chain with ANYTHING over a 16T motor is likely to stretch your chain and render it useless, would recommend either sticking above 17T or get yourself the Belt drive option set W-0105, I have used the belt drive option with a HARD pinion gear with a 6.5T brushless system which runs fine, just dont be slamming from forward to reverse constantly and you will be fine, worst will happen is stripped spur gear (about £10 for a set) or broken belt (unlikely but only £5 to replace).
Cheers

Hey, I'm thinking about running my Optima too. Do you know where I can find a hardened final pinion?

Ebay but you can expect to pay upto £30 for them as they are rare and those that run these need them, hence the price is high as everyone bids on them. Could do with getting some made in hard alloy they would sell like hot cakes lol.

Thanks for the info...
 

Hi tamkyo-RD!

thanks for the information. I have a Pro Stock 15T motor from Yokomo lying around so I think I will test that one. I will just try not to push it to much (if that is possible)

You don't happen to have a Belt drive option set W-0105 lying around waiting for a new owner?

Have a nice evening

/P

I stretched my chain back in the day with a set of 1400 scrs and a 17 double!

God knows what brushless would do.

Hrm....
 

... this means that my 15t engine might do the same from your point of view?

Best regards and thanks for the info.

Have tried it out now with 15T - First test passed
 

--/--

Optima
 

Yes i do happen to have a NIP Belt drive set for Optima, but you wont like the price lol.
I also found a NIP hardened pinion in my spares box if anyone needs it.

Send me a personal mess please!

Eerrr dont you mean a personal message!

Yes, that is exactly what I wrote. I don't reckon price discussions to be something which should be discussed here. Maybe I'm wrong...

For a belt drive conversion the expensive option is to get hold of the Option House conversion kit which are ridiculously overpriced.

The cheap way is to just take the diff cases and belt out of a used short wheelbase Mid and sell the rest of the parts off, the rest of the buggy wears out before the belt drive does. Just swap the belt and diff cases over. The full conversion includes a small pulley to take up the small amount of slack in the belt, but it isn't necessary.

Also don't bother spending a fortune on a hard final pinion, use the Ultima plastic final pinion. You need the pinion and counter gears from the UM-1 Ultima gear set and the layshaft from UM-5 gear shaft set.

My bashing Optima has been running with these setups for years with a 13 turn brushed motor in it.

Thanks
 

Hi Terry,

now that is what I call great information. Thanks a bunch.

Best regards

Optima belt-drive upgrade in progress
 

Hi,

I have now bought all items needed and I'm waiting for delivery.

New diffs (from a Stinger MK II NIB kit)
OT-89 belt
Ultima UM-1 & a UM-5

Looking forward to making the upgrade

Mounted and ready for a test drive...
 

(Primarily @ Terry.sc, or someone else who can answer the question)

Hi,

yesterday got it all together. Still I have one question. What have you done with the UM-5 gear shaft? This is a different design from the original Optima shaft with the E4 E-ring on the opposite side from the gear-box. Did you do some special here with some large thin washer between the housing and the E-ring to keep it in place?

From my understanding it is actually not needed as it is kept in place by the middle gear on the other side.

could make sense though only to keep the dirt outside right?

Regards

Peter