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DIRT-READY DRIVETRAIN
The LST’s drivetrain is so unique that we have to look at each component separately. It’s built from the ground up for monster abuse. See for yourself.
HIGH/LOW GEAR SELECTABLE TRANNY. The tranny is a highly engineered unit with a high- and lowrange gear set. The transmission uses a combination of machined-steel and hard-anodized-aluminum gears—no plastic gears. Everything down to the shifting forks is made of heavy-duty materials. The lowrange gears give the truck the ability to easily climb and crawl over obstacles; it’s truly impressive to see this beast rock-crawl. The high-range gears get the truck moving at a good clip, but there isn’t any sacrifice when it comes to low-end snap. Even in high gear, the truck still wheelies off the line. The only bummer is that the high/low settings cannot be accessed on the fly via the radio. To select high and low, you must turn the selector knob on the tranny. It’s easy; but you do have to stop the truck and lift the body to the side to access the knob.
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A clutch-type 2-speed is mated to a unique, adjustable high/low transmission. To switch between high and low, simply turn the shifting knob on top of the transmission. |
RADIO-OPERATED REVERSE GEAR. It’s amazing that Losi was able to engineer a reverse system into such a compact transmission design. A separate servo and your radio’s third channel operate reverse on a constant-engagement tranny. Simply wait until the truck has fully stopped, flip the third-channel switch on the radio and back up. The transition from forward to reverse is very smooth; we didn’t notice any clunky action.
CLUTCH-TYPE 2-SPEED. A standard-issue, clutchtype 2-speed sits at the end of the transmission shaft, and it’s easy to get to after you’ve removed its protective shroud. It’s adjusted just like any average 2-speed: two setscrews allow you to adjust the shift point. The back of the assembly is exposed, so if you run in really loose dirt with a ton of small rocks, keep an eye on the plastic spur gears. Team Losi has recognized the potential for dirt to get into the works and will soon offer a protective rear cover.
ADJUSTABLE SLIPPER CLUTCH. A big truck like this needs a beefy slipper, and the LST doesn’t disappoint. A combination of three pads and two discs rests inside a very compact slipper cage. With three pads instead of only one (or even two), the slipper can better absorb punishment and keep going. Removing a rubber plug on the outside of the 2-speed shroud gives you quick access to the slipper-clutch nut.
SEALED DIFFERENTIALS. The LST comes with sealed bevel-gear differentials in the front and rear. The gears are heavy-duty, CNC-machined steel; you won’t find cast-pot metal gears in this truck’s drivetrain. The diffs come packed with grease from the factory. That is fine for bashing around, but if you plan to race the truck, you can fine-tune them with heavier or lighter silicone fluid.
REBUILDABLE DRIVESHAFTS. Heavy-duty, chromeplated, rebuildable universal driveshafts connect the tranny to the front and rear bevel-gear diffs. Similar units are used between the diffs and wheels. DUAL-DISC BRAKE. Mounted on the front of the tranny, a dual-disc brake unit with drilled steel rotors and padded steel calipers provides ridiculous braking power. There’s nothing especially new about the brake’s construction; Losi just got it right! The truck stops on a dime.
RUBBER-SEALED BALL BEARINGS. Monster trucks live in the dirt, which tends to eat bearings. All monsters should have rubber-sealed bearings because they are the only type that is truly sealed.
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