Photo: Avid RC (source)
The MachLite idler gear from Avid RC targets an area 2WD buggy racers watch closely: drivetrain inertia. Part number AV10257-N, this 54-tooth gear for the Team Associated RC10B7 weighs 3.34 g on the scale, 24% less than the kit gear.
A MachLite idler gear slimmed down to 6 mm
The whole trick is in the gear face width. Avid RC went from 10 mm to 6 mm, a clean cut that removes material where it barely works at all in stock classes. The result is a noticeably lighter gear whose pitch diameter and module remain strictly identical to the production part: no gearing settings need revisiting, and fitting is a direct replacement for part ASC71216.
Less inertia, a drivetrain that responds faster
Reducing the rotating mass of a gear train means reducing the energy that has to be spent on every acceleration and every reapplication of throttle. On a Team Associated RC10B7 run in stock or spec, where available power is capped by the rules, that kind of gain is felt immediately out of hairpins and through tight sequences. Avid RC is explicitly aiming at those classes, while stating that the part keeps enough material to handle the power of a modified motor.
Self-lubricating material and precision machining
The gear is cut from a self-lubricating engineering plastic, a classic choice at Avid RC to limit friction against the output gear without having to grease the drivetrain. Machining is claimed to be perfectly true, which avoids tight spots and torque variations over a full revolution. The gear works with standard 10x15x4 mm bearings and remains compatible with Team Associated B7.1, T7 and SC7 transmissions.
Availability and price
The 54T MachLite idler gear is offered at 16 dollars on the Avid RC store. An inexpensive optimisation part for anyone looking to claw back a few tenths on an RC10B7 without touching the rest of the chassis.
🔗 See the product page at Avid RC →