Overview
The Traxxas Spur 86-tooth (48-pitch) (for models with Torque-Control slipper clutch) TRX4686 is an essential performance tuning component for serious RC enthusiasts in the UK who demand precision engineering and reliable drivetrain performance. This high-quality spur gear is specifically designed for Traxxas models equipped with the Torque-Control slipper clutch system, making it the perfect upgrade or replacement part for dedicated RC hobbyists looking to optimise their short course trucks and other compatible vehicles. Whether you're running a Traxxas Slash HD XL-5, Slash VXL-3S Brushless, or Slash Extreme HD VXL, this genuine Traxxas component delivers the durability and performance characteristics you expect from the industry-leading manufacturer.
Traxxas spur gears form the backbone of your RC car's drivetrain, directly influencing how your model accelerates, reaches top speed, and performs under load. By selecting the right gear ratio, you can fine-tune your RC vehicle to match your specific running conditions, whether that's maximising acceleration for tight technical courses or achieving higher top speeds on open tracks. The 86-tooth configuration represents a carefully engineered gear ratio option within Traxxas's comprehensive selection of 48-pitch spur gears, allowing you to experiment with performance tuning and discover the optimal setup for your driving style and track conditions.
For RC car UK enthusiasts, whether you're a weekend basher, a competitive racer, or someone looking to maintain peak performance in your brushless RC short course truck, having genuine replacement spur gears on hand is essential maintenance practice. The TRX4686 is an OEM Traxxas spare part, ensuring perfect compatibility and the engineering integrity you need for reliable performance session after session.
Key Features
- 48-Pitch Precision Engineering — The 48-pitch specification ensures compatibility with Traxxas's complete drivetrain ecosystem and delivers smooth, reliable power transmission with minimal backlash, which is critical for consistent handling and acceleration response across all driving conditions.
- Torque-Control Slipper Clutch Compatibility — This spur gear is specifically engineered for models equipped with Traxxas's Torque-Control slipper clutch system, which protects your drivetrain from damage during high-load situations and provides intelligent clutch slip management to improve handling and reduce wear on mechanical components.
- 86-Tooth Configuration — The 86-tooth count represents a balanced gear ratio option within the Traxxas performance tuning range, offering you a middle-ground setup that can be fine-tuned further by experimenting with alternative tooth counts to achieve your desired acceleration and top-speed characteristics.
- Performance Tuning Flexibility — Traxxas's complete selection of 48-pitch spur gears allows you to experiment with different gear ratios, meaning you can adjust your RC vehicle's performance characteristics to suit different track layouts, weather conditions, and driving styles without requiring major mechanical modifications.
- Genuine OEM Traxxas Part — As an authentic manufacturer component rather than an aftermarket alternative, this spur gear carries Traxxas's quality assurance and engineering standards, ensuring perfect fitment and reliable performance in your compatible RC model.
- Durable Construction — Built to withstand the stresses of RC racing and bashing, the TRX4686 spur gear is manufactured from quality materials selected for durability and longevity, reducing the frequency of replacement and providing excellent value over extended use.
Technical Performance
The Traxxas Spur 86-tooth (48-pitch) spur gear (model TRX4686) represents the engineering excellence that Traxxas has built its reputation upon in the RC hobbyist community. This component is crafted with precision manufacturing to ensure exact tooth profiles, consistent pitch spacing, and tight tolerances that result in smooth meshing with your pinion gear and minimal noise or vibration during operation. The 48-pitch specification indicates the gear's tooth spacing standard, which is universally compatible across Traxxas's range of compatible models including the Slash HD XL-5 (available in green, red, blue, and orange variants), the Slash VXL-3S Brushless Short Course Truck (available in red, fox, and green colours), and the Slash Extreme HD VXL Brushless Electric Short Course Truck (available in green, red, and fox finishes). By selecting an 86-tooth spur gear, you're choosing a mid-range configuration that balances acceleration response with top-speed potential—lower tooth counts (such as 82-tooth) would provide faster acceleration with a lower top speed, whilst higher tooth counts (such as 90-tooth) would trade acceleration for higher maximum velocity. This flexibility in gear ratio selection is one of the most powerful performance-tuning tools available to UK RC enthusiasts, allowing you to optimise your brushless RC short course truck or other compatible model for specific track characteristics. The spur gear integrates seamlessly with your vehicle's Torque-Control slipper clutch, which intelligently manages power delivery under high-load situations and helps protect your entire drivetrain system from sudden shock loads or mechanical damage.
What's in the Box
- Traxxas 86-Tooth Spur Gear (48-Pitch) TRX4686
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a spur gear and why do I need to understand gear ratios for my RC car? — The spur gear is the larger gear in your RC vehicle's main drivetrain, working in conjunction with a smaller pinion gear to transfer power from your motor to the wheels. The ratio between these two gears (determined by the number of teeth on each) directly controls how quickly your motor's power is transferred to your wheels, affecting acceleration and top speed. An 86-tooth spur gear paired with smaller pinion gears creates different overall ratios, allowing you to fine-tune performance. For example, if you're running on a tight technical track where quick acceleration is more important than top speed, you might choose a lower tooth count spur gear. Conversely, on an open track where maintaining higher speeds is advantageous, a higher tooth count would be beneficial. Experimenting with different gear ratios is one of the most effective ways to optimise your RC short course truck's performance for specific conditions.
- Which Traxxas models is the TRX4686 86-tooth spur gear compatible with? — The Traxxas Spur 86-tooth (48-pitch) TRX4686 is specifically designed for Traxxas models equipped with the Torque-Control slipper clutch system. Compatible models include the Slash HD XL-5 1:10 2WD RTR Short Course Truck (available in green, red, blue, and orange), the Slash 1:10 2WD RTR VXL-3S Brushless Short Course Truck (available in red, fox, and green finishes), and the Slash Extreme HD VXL 1:10 2WD RTR Brushless Electric Short Course Truck (available in green, red, and fox variants). Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual to confirm compatibility and to identify which gear ratios are recommended for your specific model, as different vehicles may have different optimal setups depending on their motor type (brushless or brushed) and ESC configuration.
- How do I know if I need to replace my spur gear? — You should inspect your spur gear regularly for signs of wear, including stripped or broken teeth, visible cracks, or damaged tooth edges. If you notice unusual noises coming from your drivetrain, experience slipping or inconsistent power delivery, or see visible damage to the gear teeth, it's time to replace your spur gear. Over time, repeated use—especially in competitive racing or aggressive bashing—can cause gear teeth to wear down or chip, reducing drivetrain efficiency and potentially causing further mechanical damage if left unchecked. Keeping spare spur gears of different tooth counts allows you to both replace worn components and experiment with performance tuning without downtime.
- What is the Torque-Control slipper clutch and why is this gear specifically designed for it? — The Traxxas Torque-Control slipper clutch is an intelligent mechanical system that manages how much power is transferred from the motor to the wheels. When your RC vehicle encounters resistance (such as hitting an obstacle at high speed or getting stuck), the slipper clutch automatically reduces the load on the drivetrain by slipping slightly, which protects your gears, bearings, and other mechanical components from sudden shock loads that could cause damage. This spur gear is engineered to work seamlessly with this system, ensuring smooth power transfer under normal conditions whilst benefiting from the protection offered by the slipper clutch during high-load situations. This combination of technologies results in a more durable and reliable RC vehicle, especially for serious UK RC hobbyists who push their models hard.
- Can I use this spur gear on other RC brands or models? — No, the TRX4686 is specifically engineered for Traxxas models with Torque-Control slipper clutches. The 48-pitch specification is shared with many other RC manufacturers, but the specific tooth profile, gear bore dimensions, and Torque-Control clutch interface make this gear exclusive to compatible Traxxas vehicles. Attempting to use this gear on incompatible models could result in poor fitment, noise, wear, and potential mechanical damage. Always verify compatibility with your vehicle's manual or contact the manufacturer before purchasing replacement drivetrain components.
- How often should I replace my spur gear as part of regular maintenance? — There is no fixed replacement interval, as gear lifespan depends on your running conditions, driving style, and maintenance practices. Casual weekend bashers might only need to replace their spur gear once or twice per year, whilst competitive racers running multiple heats every week may need replacements more frequently. Regular inspection is the best practice—if your gear teeth look sharp and undamaged after each running session, you can continue using it. However, keeping spare gears of different tooth counts on hand is always recommended for both maintenance purposes and performance experimentation, allowing you to fine-tune your setup without waiting for replacement parts to arrive.
Why Buy from RC Model Shop?
RC Model Shop is a trusted UK RC retailer and authorised dealer for all the brands we stock, including Traxxas, ARRMA, Losi, FTX, Hobbywing, Spektrum and more. Based in Walsall, we have a physical store where customers are welcome to come in, view products and purchase in store. Whether you are a seasoned competitor, a weekend basher, or just discovering the world of RC for the first time, our team of experienced RC enthusiasts is here to help you find the perfect setup and provide ongoing support. Order the Traxxas Spur 86-tooth (48-pitch) (for models with Torque-Control slipper clutch) TRX4686 today with confidence, knowing you are buying from an authorised retailer with genuine products, expert knowledge and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Shop online or visit us in Walsall — we look forward to helping you get the most out of your RC experience.
- Manufacturer: Traxxas
- Part Number: TRX4686
- Model Number: 4686
- Spare Part Type: Drivetrain Spares
- Gear Type: Spur Gear
- Tooth Count: 86 teeth
- Pitch: 48-pitch
- Compatibility: Torque-Control slipper clutch models
- Compatible Models: Traxxas Slash HD XL-5 1:10 2WD RTR Short Course Truck (green, red, blue, orange); Traxxas Slash 1:10 2WD RTR VXL-3S Brushless Short Course Truck (red, fox, green); Traxxas Slash Extreme HD VXL 1:10 2WD RTR Brushless Electric Short Course Truck (green, red, fox)
- EAN: 0020334468604
We want to make sure your delivery goes smoothly, so here are some important details about our service:
- For orders above £120, we offer delivery to most mainland UK addresses. For orders under £120, we can still deliver to Northern Ireland and the outlying isles, as long as the item can be sent by Royal Mail, weighs less than 30kg, and fits within 61cm × 46cm × 46cm. Some highland and remote areas may carry an extra delivery charge as couriers often apply surcharges in these locations. If you live in one of these areas, feel free to contact us before ordering so we can confirm the delivery options and costs for you.
- Most of our products include delivery in the price. If your order is under £90, a small delivery fee will apply but do not worry this will always be clearly shown at checkout before you complete your purchase.
- Depending on what you choose at checkout, your order will usually be delivered either the next working day or within 2 working days. For next day delivery please place your order before 2:00pm. Orders are dispatched Monday to Friday only. Some items may take a little longer and if that is the case we will always show the expected delivery time on the product page.
- If your order includes items with different dispatch times we will normally wait and send everything together once all items are in stock. If one of the items is going to take a while we will give you the choice either wait for everything to arrive or let us send the available items now and deliver the rest later. It is up to you.
- We use trusted delivery partners to make sure your order gets to you safely and on time. We use DPD for next working day deliveries and Royal Mail for the 2 day option.
- As soon as your order is on its way we will send you a tracking number by email. If you provide your mobile number at checkout we will also send delivery updates straight to your phone so you can keep an eye on progress.
- If a product is marked as "Dispatched within 3 working days" delivery usually takes around 3 to 5 working days from when your order is placed.
- For customers in Inverness and other parts of the Scottish Highlands deliveries can take up to 2 working days even if you select next day delivery as couriers do not currently offer a guaranteed next day service to those areas.