Kraken Vekta 5 direct drive
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Looking forward to your thoughts on the difference.
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I’ll let you know by the weekend . They said I’ll get more power . Plus their third generation vekta 5 comes with direct drive now .
John Parks
Print my own
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I bought this to, haven't installed, curious to hear your thoughts
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I’ll let you know .
Ninth Island RC
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Also interested in your thoughts. I have the VESLA, which I'll be running on 8S w/ 800kv motor (as opposed to 12S w/ 650kv). I know the DD is 53T, whereas the stock spur is 57T.
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Tomorrow is the big day . I’m running the direct drive with a ESP 34 cc motor . So let see how it works .
Subbed
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I ran it today . Let me say this . The direct drive plus ESP 34cc motor and Taylor rc wheel extenders . It ran like a beast ! More power to the damn ground . Big difference to the slipper clutch to me . I don’t want a slipper clutch in this truck at all . I raced a Losi 5t 2.0 . Let it take off before me and beat it . Regardless with out the 34cc … it’s worth it .
Well, I just donated $50 to Kraken to get one in the mail. You convinced me.
Ninth Island RC
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Thanks for the update. I know you're running gas, and I'll be running electric, but I'm having a 'good' feeling that the DD could be added to my Phase 3 list...or, I just might have to "extend" the list, to include a Phase 4.
Today, on my VESLA.5 SBK, I got the pinion installed, started working on the body, and bound the Rx to the Tx...plus, I finally found the box with the wheels/tires. The ESC firmware was updated, programmed, and calibrated to the Tx. All that's left before "maiden run" is to finish the body, attach body to cage, center the servo via sub-trim, and sweet servo endpoints. If I have time before heading to work tomorrow afternoon, I'll try to get more of the body finished. The rest will have to wait until my next day off. If course, while I'm working on finishing the VESLA.5, I'm also building a 1/28 GL Racing LMP2 chassis. Talk about "different sizes" (the LMP2 chassis could possibly fit inside the VESLA.5 transmission case).
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Im running gas and had two sets the rear desparado tires from my you baja on it . Plus Taylor rc wheel extenders . It ran like drift car . The direct drive handled the power with ease . No flipping over on cornering . Now I’m going to install a Taylor rc 35 cc . The ESP 34cc is good . But I’m going with the 35 . Already ordered my wrap . It’s almost finish . I
Now I’m thinking about going direct drive too! I saw Taylor has a kit you can grab that gives you a few gearing options. I’m not sure what to pick to maintain the speed I have or go a bit faster. I’m on 19p/57s (it’s the stock spur so maybe it’s 56) running 8s
https://taylorrc.co.uk/products/blackbone-kraken-vesla-drive-gear-set
I am not sure if the Blackbone will work on the Electric Layshaft. Others may know already or just send Detroit an e-mail.
I got the full conversion kit for my gasser and worth every $$. No way my OBR 34 will break it. Good thing is if the Electric Layshaft works it is only a Ben Franklin but has Gearing option till your head hurts.
https://www.detroitperformancerc.com/product-page/blackbone-kraken-vesla-drive-gear-set
Ninth Island RC
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I'm wondering the exact same thing. But, instead of emailing Detroit, I emailed Taylor. In my email, I asked what parts, specifically, would be needed for electric, including whether the stock layshaft can be used, whether the TAYLOR VESLA BLACKBONE Gear Layshaft is needed, or whether a different layshaft is needed.
Ninth Island RC
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Evidentially, it's looking as if the Backbone solution probably can't be used with those running electric. I'm still trying to get 'confirmation', one way or the other. I'm guessing the gas & electric layshafts are different lengths, and Blackbone only makes a layshaft with the gas length. Does anyone have both layshafts, so that their lengths can be stated?
No Electrical here but Blackbone Gasser Layshaft. +/- for Sh*tty Tools
Ninth Island RC
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First, understandable about the 'tool'. For my first digital caliper, I bought a cheapie at Home Depot. What I have now might not be "the best", but I also don't feel like spending $200-300 on a single tool I mostly use for RC. The first was around $15 (which I still keep as a backup), while the current one (which also came with a calibration certificate) was around $50-60.
Second, thank you for the photos with measurements. That might help...but, I have a couple questions about the 128.85mm in the first photo. It's obvious where the 'starting' point in that photo is...but, where is the other end of that measurement (ie. the other end of the layshaft, the 'inside' end of the measurement in the second photo, a different point)? If the measurement isn't any of those, then what is the distance from the starting point of the first photo (ie. the end that's inside the transmission case), to the 'inside' point of the second photo (which, I'm assuming, is where the spur gear rests against)?
Things is, even though the gas layshaft is longer than the electric layshaft, if it positions the spur gear approximately the same distance from the other end, then it might still be able to be used, even if I were to have to drill a hole through the clear plastic spur gear cover.
It's too bad that the Taylor spur carrier can fit on the stock Kraken layshafts If the Taylor spur carrier could fit on the Kraken layshaft, then my 'problem' would be solved.
Can someone point me in the right direction to figure out where I should be with gearing? Im 19/57 now on electric and want to go direct drive, but have no idea what the new gear ratio will do as far as speeds. I kinda like how my rig runs now and would hate to lose speed to go direct drive.
Direct drive kit from kraken comes 25p/51s and I could always pick up other gears from saga.
TIA
Direct drive kit from kraken comes 25p/51s and I could always pick up other gears from saga.
TIA
Ninth Island RC
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First, by switching to the Kraken Direct Drive, you won't lose speed. Quite the opposite...you'll gain a LOT of speed. The stock 57T/19T has a gear ratio of 3:1. The 51T/25T combo of the DD gives you a gear ratio of 2.04:1, which is a 50% speed increase in the spur/pinion. However, that doesn't necessarily equate to a 50% increase in the vehicle's speed, as other factors (including vehicle weight) play a part in max speed. Realistically, by switching to the DD, and using the included 25T spur, you'd probably see something more in the line of a 30-35% (maybe even 40%) speed increase...tho, those percentages are just off-the-top-of-my-head guesses. To determine actual shows increase, you'd want to use an online speed calculator.
If you read some of my recent posts, you'll understand that it is for this very reason that, whole I do want to switch to a DD, I don't really like the Kraken option, and having been trying to come up with an 'alternate' solution. Sure, you could install the 57T spur from the DD, and use a smaller pinion (for example, the 19T you already have)...but, in using the 51T spur, I don't know what the "useable" pinion range is. Because of the smaller diameter of the 51T spur (compared to the stock 57T), this will force people to use a larger diameter range of pinion gears. That's why Kraken is, essentially, marketing the DD upgrade as a "speed option".
It looks like we're both trying to achieve the same thing...switching to a DD option, without increasing max speed (or, at least, as minimal am increase as possible)...but, so far, all my searching, as well as my emails to/from Kraken & Taylor, haven't yet produced any successful results. I don't want to discourage you, as I'm still trying...but, it's starting to look as if we might be "stuck" with the slipper. Unless, that is, Kraken comes out with a DD that has a 54T or 55T spur, or Taylor releases an electric layshaft compatible with their spur carrier.