Brushless ride on quad

Hawk Tuah · 10 May 2014 at 23:36

Not strictly car related, but it's got wheels...

I've been planning an upgrade for my son's ride on quad for a while now, and today I finally got round to installing it.

I'd already uprated it to a 12Tx2 brushed motor with a 7.4v lipo, but I had a spare brushless motor that I wanted to try to make work. The complication was translating a simple on off switch into a modern esc.

I ended up using a relay to switch between two servo testers. One set at neutral, and one set at a forward speed. It means I can set the quad at a slower speed if I someone a bit less mental than my son wants to use the quad.

Anyhow, here are a few photos of todays efforts.

I think the look on his face in the last photo says it all.

Hawk Tuah · 10 May 2014 at 23:54

Hawk Tuah · 11 May 2014 at 00:45

86JR said:
Is it only me who found it hilarious when he fell off?

I chuckled myself. Glad he was alright though. I'm amazed he didn't face plant the wall straight after.

Hawk Tuah · 11 May 2014 at 08:14

fornowagain said:
Just awesome. Any chance of a parts list (inc gears etc) to make a single speed version for my littlun?

A brushed version was much easier. Battery, switch, motor. The only hard part was modifying the gearbox to take a larger diamater motor and finding the right pinion. It's not 32pitch unfortunately. It's about 48pitch, but that's not a perfect fit.

Hawk Tuah · 6 Dec 2014 at 20:32

Begbie said:
Forgot all about this thread!

I quite fancy getting one for my nephew. The quick ones are pretty expensive though. Do you have a list of parts etc? Might have a go at building one

Hi, if you look at the parts, it's actually pretty ridiculous. Most of the expensive bits I had spare from an RC car build that I put back to stock for my son to drive.

The original quad cost £40.
The motor and ESC cost £80
The heat sink cost £~7
The battery cost £25
The on/off > analogue > digital circuit cost about £15 to put together.
The pinion cost £8

It was ridiculous power to put through the gearbox. I've had to replace it, as if you don't let it run, it easily strips the plastic gears.

Doing it with just a brushed motor and decent nimh was still a decent upgrade.

amigafan2003 said:
WHat kind of LVC do you have for the batteries? Obviously don't want to run lipos too low.

All built into the SkyRC Toro ESC.

Hawk Tuah · 6 Dec 2014 at 21:24

Oh, and here is his modified ride on car.

Updates include;

Audio install (amp, speakers and ipod dock)
Front DRLs and Led main beams
Rear light
Battery upgrade (3 x stock capacity)
Rebuilt front end with pneumatic / bearing wheels and steering dampener.
12v car horn (muffled!)

Last Xmas he completed a 5k fun run driving the car, alongside my wife jogging. It made it the whole way no problem.

I still haven't figured how to convert the rear axle to take the pneumatic wheels.

Hawk Tuah · 6 Feb 2015 at 20:07

snips86x said:
That looks brilliantly quick but not sure that his casual cruise onto the road was a good idea!

It used to be a main road, but was shut off decades ago, so now is a quiet cul de sac. No cars to worry about.

alx said:
Any chance of a 4WD upgrade?

Would cost a fortune. No chance.