Overview
The Fastrax M1 17T Steel Pinion Gear (5mm) MOD1 is an essential upgrade component for RC enthusiasts looking to optimise their drivetrain performance. This precision-engineered steel pinion gear is designed for modular gearbox systems and represents a critical component in the powertrain of modern RC cars, trucks, and buggies across the UK RC hobby community. Whether you're a serious competitor fine-tuning your RC car for maximum efficiency or a weekend basher looking to improve acceleration and overall responsiveness, this genuine Fastrax component delivers the reliability and precision that serious RC hobbyists demand.
As a dedicated RC retailer serving the UK market, we understand that upgrading individual drivetrain components is often the most cost-effective way to enhance performance without replacing entire gearboxes. The Fastrax M1 17T pinion gear is manufactured to exacting standards, ensuring perfect mesh with your existing motor and gearbox setup. This pinion gear is particularly popular amongst builders who run Traxxas models, Axial crawlers, and other platforms that utilise MOD1 gearing systems. For anyone seeking ready to run RC cars or kits that demand performance upgrades, quality pinion gears like this are non-negotiable.
Fastrax has earned a reputation as a trusted manufacturer of RC option parts and performance upgrades throughout Europe and beyond. Their commitment to quality materials, precision manufacturing, and compatibility ensures that every component works seamlessly with your existing setup. This M1 17T Steel Pinion Gear is stocked at RC Model Shop because we recognise its value to our customers and its role in maintaining peak performance across a wide range of RC platforms.
Key Features
- M1 MOD1 Module Standard — This pinion gear conforms to the MOD1 (Module 1) specification, a universal standard widely adopted across RC car platforms throughout the UK hobby scene, ensuring reliable compatibility with a broad range of gearbox systems and motor installations without requiring specialised modifications.
- 17-Tooth Configuration — The 17-tooth count provides an optimal balance between acceleration and top speed, making this gear suitable for a variety of driving conditions and styles, from circuit racing to off-road bashers and crawlers that demand precise torque delivery.
- Steel Construction — Manufactured from high-quality steel rather than lighter materials, this pinion gear offers superior durability and wear resistance, particularly important during sustained high-speed running where weaker pinions can strip or deform under load.
- 5mm Motor Shaft Compatible — Specifically designed to fit directly onto 5mm diameter motor shafts, a standard fitting found on the majority of RC car motors across all major brands including Traxxas, Team Associated, and Axial platforms used throughout the UK.
- Precision Machined Teeth — Every tooth is precision-cut to exacting tolerances, ensuring smooth, quiet meshing with your spur gear and eliminating the grinding, noise and premature wear associated with poorly manufactured alternatives.
- Direct Replacement Option Part — As a genuine Fastrax component, this pinion gear serves as a direct replacement for worn originals or as an upgrade option to experiment with different gear ratios and performance characteristics on your RC model.
Technical Performance
The Fastrax M1 17T Steel Pinion Gear represents the level of precision engineering expected from serious RC drivetrain components. Steel construction provides substantially greater hardness and wear resistance compared to cheaper nylon or softer metal alternatives, crucial for maintaining consistent performance across hundreds of runs. The 5mm shaft diameter aligns with industry-standard motor specifications found on brushless and brushed motors across the full spectrum of RC cars, from tight-turning radius crawlers to high-speed buggies. The MOD1 module specification ensures that tooth geometry matches precisely with MOD1 spur gears, creating a clean, efficient power transfer with minimal backlash. At 17 teeth, this pinion strikes an excellent balance—fewer teeth than a 19-tooth would provide lower acceleration and top-end speed, whilst more teeth than a 15-tooth would sacrifice low-end punch. The precision-machined profile eliminates the micro-chattering and noise that indicates poor tooth contact, translating directly to smoother running and reduced vibration throughout your RC car's drivetrain. This component is ideal for upgrading tired originals or experimenting with different gear ratios to fine-tune your vehicle's performance characteristics for your specific driving environment, whether that's tight indoor carpet tracks, outdoor dirt courses, or rocky crawl terrain across the UK's diverse RC venues.
What's in the Box
- Fastrax M1 17T Steel Pinion Gear (5mm)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which RC cars and trucks is the Fastrax M1 17T Steel Pinion Gear compatible with? — This MOD1 standard pinion gear with 5mm shaft is compatible with a wide range of RC models including Traxxas platform vehicles, Axial crawlers, Team Losi products, and other RC cars that utilise MOD1 gearbox systems with 5mm motor shafts. However, always verify your specific model's gearbox specification before ordering to ensure compatibility.
- What is the difference between steel and nylon pinion gears? — Steel pinion gears like this Fastrax offering provide superior hardness, durability, and consistent performance over extended periods of heavy use. Whilst nylon gears are lighter and quieter initially, they wear more quickly and can strip teeth under sustained load, especially during high-speed running or aggressive crawling. For serious hobbyists investing in quality RC equipment, steel gears represent better long-term value.
- How do I know if my pinion gear needs replacing? — Signs of wear include visible tooth damage, grinding noises during operation, reduced acceleration, or difficulty meshing smoothly with the spur gear. If your RC car's drivetrain feels sluggish or noisy, a new pinion gear from Fastrax should restore smooth, efficient power delivery.
- What is a MOD1 pinion gear and why does it matter? — MOD1 refers to the Module 1 specification for gear teeth, a universal standard adopted across the RC hobby that ensures pinion gears mesh correctly with compatible spur gears. Using the correct module specification (in this case MOD1) is essential for proper power transmission, smooth operation, and longevity of both gears in your drivetrain.
- Can I use different tooth counts to adjust my RC car's performance? — Yes, pinion tooth count directly affects your RC car's acceleration and top speed. Fewer teeth (e.g., 15T) improve low-end acceleration but reduce top speed, whilst more teeth (e.g., 19T) increase top speed but decrease acceleration. Experimenting with different counts allows you to fine-tune performance for your specific driving style and track conditions.
- Is this gear suitable for crawlers, buggies, and trucks? — Absolutely. The 17-tooth configuration makes this pinion gear suitable across multiple RC vehicle categories. Crawlers benefit from the controlled torque delivery, whilst buggies and trucks appreciate the balance it provides between launch feel and cruising speed. Your choice of spur gear ratio will work in concert with this pinion to establish your overall drivetrain ratio.
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 FASTRAX M1 17T STEEL PINION GEAR (5MM) MOD1 FASTM1-175 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.
- Brand: Fastrax
- Model Number: FASTM1-175
- Product Type: Pinion Gear
- Module Standard: MOD1 (Module 1)
- Tooth Count: 17 teeth
- Material: Steel
- Shaft Diameter: 5mm
- Availability: In Stock
- Product Code: FASTM1-175
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.
