Arrma Vendetta Gearing Guide — FDR, Pinion & Spur Chart

Arrma Vendetta RC Gearing & Optimization Guide

Optimizing your gear ratio is one of the most effective ways to balance speed, torque, and electronics longevity in your Arrma Vendetta 4X4 3S BLX (Speed-Run Street Car). The relationship between your pinion gear (attached to the motor) and your spur gear (attached to the transmission) dictates how hard your motor has to work — and on a 1/10 on-road speed-run street car platform with a 2.92 internal transmission ratio, even a single-tooth pinion change shifts your final drive ratio by 3-5%.

The Arrma Vendetta is the 1/10 3S sibling of the Infraction — a lower-cost entry to on-road speed running. Stock Vendetta trims trap in the mid-60 mph range but the platform is regularly modified for 80+ mph with pinion changes and higher-C-rate LiPo packs.

Speed-Run Aerodynamic & Tire Notes for the Arrma Vendetta

At the extreme top-end speeds a Arrma Vendetta is capable of, foam and rubber tires begin to balloon under centrifugal load, growing the effective rolling radius by 10-20% and quietly re-gearing the truck taller than any pinion change on the bench. That ballooning heavily strains the motor because your true FDR drops the moment the tires expand, so tracking motor RPM spikes with a data-logging ESC is far more reliable than trusting a static rollout number. Aerodynamic lift also becomes a real factor over long straightaways — the front end goes light, traction drops, and the motor sees less load spikes but higher sustained RPM, which is what actually kills rotors on speed-run passes.

🛠️ Essential Tools Required for Gearing Changes

Hex drivers (1.5mm, 2.0mm, or 2.5mm depending on the Arrma Vendetta variant)
Paper strip (for setting precise gear mesh)
Infrared temperature gun (crucial for monitoring motor heat after each run)
Threadlock (for the pinion gear grub screw)
Pinion gear puller (recommended when swapping gears on a hot motor shaft)

📋 Comprehensive Gearing & Temperature Guide

1. Understanding Pinion vs. Spur Gear Adjustment

Changing your gears alters your final drive ratio. Installing a larger pinion gear or a smaller spur gear increases top-end speed but increases the load on the motor, causing it to run hotter. Conversely, a smaller pinion or larger spur increases torque and acceleration while lowering top speeds and keeping your motor cool. On the Arrma Vendetta, this trade-off is amplified by the fixed 2.92 internal ratio — small external changes have a direct thermal consequence.

2. How to Set a Perfect Gear Mesh

Improper gear mesh will quickly strip your spur gear or bind your drivetrain.

Loosen the motor mount screws slightly.
Place a small strip of standard notebook paper between the pinion and spur gear teeth.
Press the gears tightly together and tighten the motor mount screws.
Roll the paper out. The paper should have clean, crisp crinkles without ripping.

Recommended Pinion & Spur Chart

All combinations use a 50T 48-pitch spur. FDR is calculated as (spur ÷ pinion) × 2.92 internal ratio.

Pinion	Spur	FDR	Typical Use
13T	50T	11.23	High-bite carpet / tight indoor
15T	50T	9.73	Tight outdoor clay / technical
17T	50T	8.59	Balanced club racing
19T	50T	7.68	Open outdoor / high-speed
21T	50T	6.95	Open outdoor / high-speed

Understanding Pinion & Spur Gears

Stock Vendetta uses a 15T mod-0.8 pinion / 50T spur. Speed-run modifications typically move to a 17T-19T pinion; anything larger requires a lower-Kv motor or the BLX 100 ESC will thermally shut down.

Rollout Targets

Vendetta rollout with stock slicks sits near 3.4 inches per motor revolution. On smooth asphalt, actual rollout jumps once tire ballooning kicks in above 55 mph.

Motor Temperature Management

The BLX 100 in the Vendetta is smaller than the 6S BLX 185 and runs hotter under sustained top speed — cap runs when the motor hits 185F (85C).

⚠️ Critical Safety & Temperature Warning

Always use an infrared thermometer to check your motor and ESC temperatures during a run. RC electric brushless motors should never exceed 160°F (71°C). Exceeding 180°F (82°C) risks permanently demagnetizing your motor rotor and frying your Electronic Speed Controller. If your Arrma Vendetta is running above these thresholds, you must "gear down" by installing a smaller pinion gear immediately, improve airflow with a larger motor fan, and inspect the drivetrain for binding.

Calculate a custom FDR for your Arrma Vendetta

The link below opens the calculator with Custom / Other Chassis pre-selected, the Arrma Vendetta's internal ratio of 2.92 and its recommended battery of 3S LiPo (11.1V) already set — just plug in your pinion, spur, motor, and tire to see top speed, runtime, and FDR for your exact setup.

Open calculator with 2.92 ratio + 3S LiPo (11.1V) preset →

Arrma Vendetta 4X4 3S BLX (Speed-Run Street Car) Gearing Guide