Associated Factory Team 18T 48DP Aluminium Pinion Gear 3.2mm Shaft AS1336

Overview

The Associated Factory Team Aluminium Pinion Gear 18T 48DP represents a precision upgrade for serious RC car enthusiasts across the UK. Whether you're competing in club races or pushing your RC buggy to its limits, this Factory Team hop-up component delivers the reliability and performance you need. Machined from premium 7075-T6 aluminium and hard-anodised for exceptional durability, this pinion gear offers a perfect balance of lightweight efficiency and long-lasting performance that will keep you on the track without compromising on speed or consistency.

Designed specifically for 1/8 scale RC cars and compatible with any motor featuring a 3.2mm shaft, this 18-tooth pinion works seamlessly with standard 48DP spur gears to create a dependable drivetrain system. The Factory Team specification means you're getting genuine Associated quality—the same gearing used by competitive racers and backed by decades of RC engineering expertise. If you're running an RC car in the UK and looking to replace worn or standard pinion gears with something that offers improved durability and quick identification on the track, the AS1336 is an excellent choice for weekend bashers, club drivers, and serious competitors alike.

This is a genuine Associated spare part that transforms your RC car's drivetrain performance. The hard-anodised finish protects against wear and corrosion, extending the life of your gearing significantly compared to standard options. For anyone serious about maintaining peak RC car performance, upgrading to these precision-engineered pinion gears is a worthwhile investment that will pay dividends in consistency and reliability.

Key Features

• Factory Team Hop-Up Specification — This pinion gear is engineered as a genuine Associated Factory Team upgrade component, meaning it meets the exacting standards used by professional and competitive RC racers, giving you access to race-proven technology for your own RC car.
• 7075-T6 Aluminium Construction — Machined from premium-grade 7075-T6 aluminium alloy, this material offers an ideal combination of lightweight efficiency and superior strength, reducing unsprung weight in your drivetrain whilst maintaining structural integrity under load.
• Hard-Anodised Finish for Extended Life — The hard-anodising process creates a protective oxide layer that significantly resists wear, corrosion, and tooth degradation, ensuring your pinion gear maintains precision engagement with your spur gear for thousands of running hours.
• Two Set-Screw Holes — Dual set-screw mounting points provide secure, redundant fastening to your motor shaft, preventing slippage during aggressive acceleration or high-torque situations and ensuring consistent power delivery to your drivetrain.
• Laser-Etched Tooth Count — The tooth count is precisely laser-etched directly onto the gear for quick visual identification, eliminating confusion during setup changes and allowing you to swap gearing ratios instantly without guessing or measuring teeth.
• 48DP Pitch Specification — Compatible with standard 48-diametral-pitch spur gears, this gear maintains perfect mesh with common RC car drivetrain components, ensuring smooth engagement and optimal power transfer across your entire transmission system.
• 3.2mm Shaft Compatibility — Designed for motors with a standard 3.2mm (1/8-inch) shaft diameter, this pinion fits a vast range of modern RC car motors, making it a universal upgrade for most competitive and recreational setups in the UK RC market.

Technical Performance

The Associated Factory Team Aluminium Pinion Gear (AS1336) delivers measurable performance improvements through superior engineering and material selection. At 18 teeth with 48DP pitch, this pinion is sized for mid-range acceleration and speed balance, making it ideal for both on-road and off-road RC cars that require responsive throttle response without sacrificing top-end velocity. The 7075-T6 aluminium material is one of the highest-strength aluminium alloys available in the RC hobby, offering an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio that reduces rotating mass in your drivetrain. This weight reduction translates directly to quicker acceleration, improved handling response, and reduced strain on your motor and ESC during hard cornering and aggressive driving. The hard-anodised coating creates a wear-resistant surface that maintains precise tooth geometry even after extended running sessions, preventing the tooth degradation that occurs with standard pinions and ensuring consistent power transmission throughout the gear's service life. The dual set-screw holes provide absolute security against shaft slippage, critical when running high-torque brushless motors or pushing through technical terrain. For UK-based RC enthusiasts running competitive setups, this pinion meets the same manufacturing tolerances and material specifications as components used in national-level RC racing, delivering genuine performance benefits that justify the upgrade investment.

What's in the Box

• Associated Factory Team Aluminium Pinion Gear 18T 48DP
• Set-screw hardware for mounting to motor shaft

What You Need to Complete

• RC car with 3.2mm motor shaft
• Compatible 48DP spur gear
• Motor with 3.2mm shaft diameter
• Appropriate tools for gear installation (hex wrench for set-screws)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What RC cars is this pinion gear compatible with? — The AS1336 is compatible with any 1/8 scale RC car featuring a motor with a 3.2mm (1/8-inch) shaft. This includes popular models from the Associated range such as the B6, B7, T6, TC7, and RC10 series, as well as many other manufacturers' vehicles that use standard motor shafts. Check your specific model's motor specifications to confirm compatibility, or contact our team at RC Model Shop on 01543 577278 for guidance.
• How is this pinion gear different from standard gears? — Factory Team pinion gears offer several advantages over standard options: they're machined from premium 7075-T6 aluminium rather than lower-grade alloys, hard-anodised for extended wear resistance, designed with precision tolerances matching competitive racing standards, and feature laser-etched tooth counts for quick identification. The hard-anodised finish alone extends gear life significantly by resisting tooth wear and corrosion.
• What is 48DP and why does it matter? — 48DP (48 diametral pitch) refers to the tooth spacing standard for the pinion and spur gears, determining how they mesh together. The 48DP specification means this 18-tooth pinion is compatible specifically with 48DP spur gears. Using matched DP ratings ensures proper gear engagement, smooth power delivery, and prevents premature wear. Mixing different DP ratings will cause poor mesh and drivetrain problems.
• Will upgrading to this pinion gear improve my RC car's performance? — Yes, there are measurable benefits: the lightweight 7075-T6 aluminium reduces rotating mass, improving acceleration response; the hard-anodised finish maintains precise tooth geometry longer, ensuring consistent power delivery; and the precision Factory Team tolerances optimise mesh with your spur gear. These improvements are most noticeable in competitive racing environments where consistency is critical, though all RC enthusiasts benefit from the extended service life and reliable performance.
• Is this suitable for beginners? — Whilst this is a genuine Factory Team upgrade suitable for all skill levels, beginners should ensure they have basic mechanical knowledge or guidance for gear installation, including understanding how to properly tension the pinion mesh with the spur gear. The installation itself is straightforward, requiring only basic tools to tighten the set-screws onto the motor shaft.
• What motor shafts does this fit? — This pinion gear is designed exclusively for motors with a 3.2mm (1/8-inch) shaft diameter. This is a standard specification for most modern RC car motors, but verify your motor's shaft size before purchasing to ensure compatibility. Some vintage or specialty motors may use different shaft sizes.
• How long will this pinion gear last? — The hard-anodised 7075-T6 aluminium construction provides exceptional durability, easily outlasting standard pinion gears by several times. Lifespan depends on driving intensity and maintenance, but you can expect hundreds of hours of reliable performance under normal racing conditions. The hard-anodised finish resists tooth wear that causes slippage and poor mesh, maintaining consistent performance throughout the gear's life.
• Can I use this with any spur gear? — No, this must be paired with a 48DP spur gear. Using different diametral pitch combinations will result in improper mesh, causing binding, slippage, noise, and potential damage. Always confirm both pinion and spur gears share the same DP specification.

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 ASSOCIATED FACTORY TEAM ALUM. PINION GEAR 18T 48DP 1/8"SHAFT AS1336 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.