Villain Info Not EX

[Jrs750]

Hello everyone, What do you guys and gals recommend for motors for the Villain NOT an EX without having to change my ESC just got into R/C Boating. I have 3300GP packs my next thing is some props.

[cooleocool]

Hmm... There is quite a bit you can do. My brother just asked me that about his 7.2v Villain.

What are you looking for by up-grading? That will help me recomend what parts you will want to get. Are you running six or seven cells right now?

Happy boating,


-Tom

[Jrs750]

I'm running 6 cells pack I dont know if I can run 7 cells with the stock ESC. I plan to get Carbon Fiber Props.

[cooleocool]

Okay, I am not one to suggest motor upgrades because the Stingers are pretty nice motors that last forever (relatively speaking). They are closed end bell motors and only require a drop of oil on the bushings ever once in a while. If you went with into open end bell territory as I call it, you open your self up to frequent comm. cuts and brush changes which, IMO, are not fun for a RC boat. I like to go down to the water and drive. I don't want to worry about if my motors need work.

Now, up-grades... CF props will be good! Traxxas recommends gearing down to 12-tooth pinions (14-tooth pinions are stock), but... If you get a motor cooling kit you can run the stock gearing so that you can get even more of a speed boost. I recommend the cooling kit that a guy sells on eBay. They have more coils for the motor cooling and bigger diameter tubing. All of that together makes your cooling system more efficient. Search eBay for Traxxas villain and it's called a special water cooling kit or something to that affect. It’s way better than the Traxxas kit from what I've been told.

Now, since you will probably be buying the props from Steve at Offshore Electrics you might as well get some up-graded u-joints. I forget where they are on his site, but he states that they work for the Villain in the description. They are quieter which means less friction. The difference in performance is not noticeable, but you do notice a huge difference in sound. My Villain EX is quieter than my brother's 7.2v villain.

Do you have a Villain IV or the newer 7.2v?

Happy boating,


-Tom

[Jrs750]

I guess I will stick with stock motor for now, i have the new Villain 7.2 I was going to get the EX but the person I spoke to at Traxxas said to me that if I was not racing it the 7.2 will be ok.

[cooleocool]

He was right even though the Villain EX is not even close to a race boat. It makes a good personal boat, but the hull design is not good enough for racing.

You could use seven cell batteries with your stock ESC btw. It's water cooled and a seven cell is within its limits. Anyway, for now just get the props on there and see how it is. If you still want to go faster you will probably have to get seven cell batteries or better motors. The Xl-10M esc has a limit of 20 turns with dual motors, but people have ran 19's before, but I don't know. I like the work free stock motors and will not suggest going beyond the ESC's limits just to cover my butt.

[Jrs750]

What do you guys think about Brushless motors has anybody try them on the Villain 7.2?

[cooleocool]

I am dead set against brushless motors in a Villain. It would be a waist of money. You'd be better off buying a nice race hull with a single BL system. Be sides, after around 30mph the Villain cannot handle at all. Some people still do not agree with me and go BL anyway. I'm waiting to here what they say when they find out that their boat is undrivable because it is massivly over powered.

[Jrs750]

Whats the RPM on the stock motor on the Villain 7.2?

[cooleocool]

There you go...

http://www.rccaraction.com/articles/...e_stocker2.asp

[kraz]

Yeah don't upgrade your motors yet..

Props, and seven cell batteries will give you a really nice gain

[Jrs750]

Ok you guys are telling me that I could run 7 cells, isn't this 8.4 volts when this boat is 7.2 volt, the stock ESC could handle 8.4 and the motors?

[cooleocool]

I think so, but maybe not. Now that I think about it that dual motor limit could also make the user limited to six cells. I will have to look at my brother's manual some time.

[Jrs750]

Thank Cooleo, I'll check my manual also I just ran this boat for the second time today, it was pretty cool big croud watching my my boat out there on the pond at our local park.

Ok what about the Props, I was thinking Carbon Fiber, are they good? Is there a difference from CF and Copper?

[cooleocool]

Get CF. Copper is over kill in my opinion for the Villain. Plus CF props do not need any work like copper props do.

[Jrs750]

Ok, so you recommend CF pros, is there a paticular size that I should look for, I went to Offshore Electric website and they have different size props.

[cooleocool]

Steve sells a CF prop kit for the Villain. Get that! It's down the page a bit...

[Jrs750]

Ok guys one more question, What's the deal with Battery packs, I see these GP3300 mah and others that just say 3300mah, Whats the difference on a 6 pack? they are both 7.2 volts so whats the big deal with GP and NOT GP?

[cooleocool]

GP is a name brand. Non GP, Sanyo, IB, and so on are genaric cells. They are a waste of money. Stick with the name brand cells...

[Jrs750]

So both batteries actually do the same job? I just asking because on Batteryspace.com they have 3300 mah for $18.75 that pretty dam good if they do the same job as a GP.

[Jrs750]

On another post it looks like KRAZ has them on his boat if you look at the picture really good

[cooleocool]

The batteries will do the same thing, but they will not do it as well or effecently. Name brand batteries are the only way to go in my opinion. You're just wasteing money on anyother battery. Name brand cells like GP's will have more runtime, less resistance, more voltage, and they will last a lot longer (number of charges). Radio Shack sells GP3300 six cell packs for $25ish right now. They are the best battery for the money right now.

By the way, what charger do you have?

[Jrs750]

I actually have 2 chagers one is a DuraTrax IntelliPeak Twin Pulse Charger and the other is a Astro Flight AC/DC Digital Peak Charger.

[cooleocool]

Okay... Then you're fine. Just making sure that your chargers can charge Ni-Mh cells.

[batjerk]

Sanyo and IB are brand names. Generic would be a cell with no name on them. Such as the batteries that Dynamite and Venom market.

The difference is that the brand name batteries: GP (Gold Peak), Sanyo, and IB (Intellect Battery) will yield a higher average voltage per cell and lower internal resistance. This translates to better power delivery ― they can source more current than can lesser batteries ― and longer run times.