Transmission - Two-Speed & Shifting

Your transmission's shift point really needs to be adjusted for racing. With high-revving engines, set mine it  to shift at a higher RPM. Most tracks will have some sections with a tight corner and then a short run-up to the next jump. If you are still in second gear, then you will have a hard time accelerating and hitting the jump at the proper speed. You want your truck to be in first gear for those situations.

Alternatively, some guys actually disable first gear and race their truck in second gear only. This is good if you have an engine that produces tons of low-rpm torque, but not much high-RPM horsepower. Experiment to see which works best for you. You can experiment easily just by adjusting shift point screw.

Shifting issues

OK, your MGT is not shifting from first to second gear. What could be the problem, you ask? First off, start by looking at some of the basics. Most times, not shifting from 1st to 2nd gear is due to improper engine tuning, but it could something else.

Here's a good page on tuning for power: http://www.rchobbies.org/cars_eng-tuning.htm. Make sure your tune is good before proceeding.

1. Did you set the CB/spur gear mesh between the gears correctly?
   If they are too tight, then it won't rev up.

2. Is the clutch nice and clean?
   You mighta got oil on it when you had the engine out and it's now slipping.

3. Is your exhaust all nice and tight?
   If it's loose, the backpressure won't build and make power when it comes "on the pipe."

4. Is your carb linkage working properly?
   Take the air filter off and work the throttle trigger on the TX with engine off. You should be able to see the carb opening all the way.

5. Tune the engine?
   You usually need to re-tune a little between day-to-day running.

6. Loose slipper?
   If the slipper is too loose, well, tighten it!

7. Have you messed up the adjuster screw, or perhaps loosened the wrong screw?

8. Is the brake dragging?
   It is most likely one of those things above. But if it's not one of those things, then read on, the solution is at hand here, guaranteed.

Tighten the slipper ALL the way, just to be sure and eliminate that possibility. Next, make sure there are no loose wheel nuts or stripped wheel hexes. Also, I would take the clutch apart and make sure it is in good working order, nice and clean with good bearings. Once in a great while there is something wrong in tranny too. Assuming you are tuned and making good power, and that you've checked the above items, then I would recommend you try adjusting the black screw in increments of half-turn. If you end up going more than two full turns and still get no results, then it's probably time to yank the tranny and check inside. It's tough to see the screw. Use a good flashlight to look in there and make sure you are moving the correct screw.

Taking the tranny out is no big deal. If you've never done it, then now is a good time to learn. Get a digital camera and take pics as you remove pieces, that way you'll have something to remind you how it all goes back together. Dis-assemble the tranny and eventually you'll get to the shifter. Here's a pic:

There's a small spring-loaded arm on the underside of the shifter (see the pic below). Make sure it is completely free and not sticking. Adjust the black screw so there is a small amount of effort required to move the spring. There's a pic below which shows the adjuster screw in place, with about one thread exposed. This is a good starting point and will almost always be very close to optimum shift point.

Also, make sure the silver set screw is TIGHT (and set on the flat spot of the shaft) and use some loctite if it has been loosened. If it has been loosened by mistake, then the shifter will never shift.

Use the black screw to adjust the shift point.

Some guys (including me, actually) think they are turning the black screw, when actually it is just the friction of the driver tip in the hole. In other words, they never really turned the screw at all, LOL. Just a thought.

From Team Associated

The below text is from the AE web site:
http://www.teamassociated.com/racerhub/techhelp/tech_mgt.htm#FAQ

"Questions and Answers about the MGT 2-Speed

My question to you is which screw is used to adjusted on the 2 speed. I don't want to adjust the wrong one and have my 2 speed fall apart.

You will be adjusting the black screw. Your manual says this in Section 8. If you adjusted the silver screw, take the silver screw out and make sure it's screwed onto the flat spot on the #25016 two-speed shaft. If it is not, the two-speed will not work properly. See your manual if you need more info.

I am on my 5th tank and it won't shift into second gear. What do you suggest doing?

After only five tanks of fuel your engine is not broken in. If your truck was shifting during the first couple of tanks you were running the truck too hard to start with. You will want to continue breaking in the engine and loosen the two-speed adjustment.

Does the shifting to second gear makes an audible sound?

You will hear a change in engine note as the engine note drops slightly before picking up the revs again."

< Back