RCBasher.com - HPI Wheely King Suggested Mods and Hop-Ups

Wheely [sic] (hwee-lee) -noun: A stunt in which the front wheels of a vehicle are raised so that the vehicle is balanced momentarily on its rear wheels
King (king) -noun: a person or thing preeminent in its group or class

Wheely King Suggested Hop-Ups - Want It Fast or Slow?

[Wheely King Info] [Wheely King Hop-Ups] [Wheely King Mods]

The Wheely King is a lot of fun even bone-stock, but like anything else it can be improved. There are different things possible depending what direction you want to go: crawling or speed! I've got to be honest and tell you I really don't have any particular experience with speeding up the Wheely King. Sure, the standard speed hop-ups apply and I'll mention them, but how to make the WK handle those increased speeds is another matter.

Want Speed?

The stock Jolt electronic speed control can handle down to a 20-turn motor, so replacing the stock 27-turn motor with a 20-turn is a cheap way to get started on your quest for more power. Re-gearing the truck will help take advantage of the new-found power and turn into a higher top speed, but you'll sacrifice some low-speed torque to achieve it. Oh, and be sure to maintain proper gear mesh to keep friction to a minimum.

As with any electric vehicle, quality battery packs will help with both power and run-time. Oh, and consider softer tires with foam inserts as well. They won't help with speed, but they'll give more traction thanks to the softer compound as well as increased pliability and reduced bounciness.

Beyond that, however, you're starting to get into some money. You can step up to a lower-turn motor but you'll need a new ESC to handle it, the combination of which will probably cost you $70+ for a 15-turn setup, and the lower the turn count you go, the more it'll cost. Another step in the speed direction would be going to lithium-polymer (Li-Po) batteries. They're much smaller, lighter, and more expensive than Ni-Cad or Ni-MH, but you get higher voltage and longer run-times (and you'll need a dedicated Li-Po charger for them, too). Next, you could step up to a brushless system but be prepared to spend some decent money on it. Probably around $130+ for a motor and speed control. The ultimate would be the Li-Po batteries along with the brushless setup. NOW we're talkin'!

Speed Summary:

re-gear - $10
quality stick pack - $30+
15-turn limit ESC - $40+
15- to 19-turn motor - $30+
Li-Po battery pack - $50+
brushless motor/ESC - $100+
wheels and tires - $45

Want to Crawl?

If your desire is to turn your WK into a crawler, the possibilities are nearly endless! I've got a Test and Tune page that lists and links to some suggested modifications and I'll keep adding more as I perform them on my truck. Remember, this is for "casual" crawling and climbing. If you're considering competitive crawling, be sure to check out the rule book and perform your modifications with the class rules and limits in mind.

Stage 1 Mods

switch to Dean's connectors - $5
convert to 4WD - $30
lock the diffs - $15
extend the wheelbase - $20
re-gear - $10
rotate suspension mounts - $0
stronger steering servo - $35

Stage 2 Mods

soft tires with starred foam inserts - $30
wheels for the new tires - $25
4-wheel steering - $60
axle-mounted steering servo(s) - $25
high-turn motor - $20

Stage 3 Mods

gear-reduction unit - $25
brushless crawler motor/ESC - $130+
Lithium-Polymer (LiPo) battery pack - $50+

Feedback is always welcome, please click the "Contact Me!" link if you'd like to leave some.