Yesterday,I tried my R/C outside,in about 1 cm of snow.Equipped with a "Sears" 12 volts cordless drill battery pack in the trunk (I removed the small box,only 1 scew).For 3/4 hour,I jumped over brick,tried some "loss of control",alot of spinning...in short,I had fun.Just check the true voltage.I think less than 15 (digital)volts=happiness,power and durability.

Have you got any pics of how you wired in that battery

That's funny! I just did the same test with a DeWalt 12v cordless drill pack! As you found, it's quite a bit faster, and more powerful, too. Bit of a pity about the speed- I don't want more speed for crawling, but I think the only thing we can to for more torque WITHOUT the speed is to change motors- and I don't think anybody here's managed to pull that one off successfully, there'd be alot of butchery involved...

I tore my gear boxes down completely yesterday to check out how to regear them, and while I was at it replaced the motor wires with heavier ones to try to eleminate any voltage drop. I also added a fret to each motor. I think Ill try to change the pinion this weekend if I can find one at the local hobbyshop. also added a set pf headlights on a switch to discharge the battery so it will charge better. I want to try the bigger battery but all I have is 18V tools and I dont think the pcb will hold that much extra power.

Sounds awesome,45 min. can someone please post a pic of the wiring.
I really don't want to fry anything,but i have 4 good 12 volt batteries.

Charles, please do keep us posted on the regearing effort. 18 volts is a risk I'm unwilling to take with the stock electronics, and the board you put in probably won't accept it either. One question though-
What's a fret?

These are pics of my first tests of using a drill battery to increase the power/battery life of mine. I just used a couple small plugs soldered to the ends of a piece of wire plugged into the socket in the battery pack housing. I've since made it permanent by wiring in a 12v pack made from cells from a laptop battery pack, but I still connect it the same way.

Would a 12v out of the nylint 1/6 crawler work?

Great pics!I now understand how you wired in the battery.You confused me when you started talking about the flux copaciter!???????????
In the battery ,which terminal is the positive?
Is it the copper one?

Oh ya,I've got 12 volt dewalts.Will they work without frying anything?
Thanks appreciate the help!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watch492, read posts above. I'm USING a DeWalt 12volt...

BTW I think DeWalt oughta sponsor me- Not only is my 'crawler powered by DeWalt, but my I rewired my 5-year-old's Power Wheels Z71 pickup to run on DeWalt 18-volt packs a couple years ago!!!

Using Sears 12 volts,but inside...

Another pic.

That's cool! Do you have to cut the zip ties to charge the battery? Also does it seem to make it top heavy? I've considered battery upgrades but don't want to drastically change the excellent balance it has stock.

Sorry toystory,I realize what you said but it was a 9.6 in the 1st picture.
Somebody said they used part of a laptop,is that reallt neccesary?

No,I do not remove the battery.Find Brunovmax on this site and you will see other pictures.For chargin,I use the terminal that plug in the Battery case of the R/C.And I made an adapter to the charger,with permanent alligator clips.And for the weight,the rear springs are the original,but 2 spires cut.Front springs are softer.

Sorry I spelled it wrong Toystory its {fet Field effect transistor} its a part you wire to the board or motor to increase power to the motor. I stole a couple off of another drill motor They look kinda like a M&M with wires attached lol.

I just stuck in my dewalt 12 volt this afternoon. When it is at full charge, its around 15 volts. It ran a lot better, except its top heavy. It really chewed through the snow. After about an hour, the voltage from the pack as down to about 9 - 10 volts. Then it didn't run any better then with the 9.6 volt pack (getting stuck, rear axel lag, ect.).

Overall, it worked great! It didn't burn anything up.

Charles- The part you're referring to- Isn't that called a capacitor? My electronics knowledge is a little foggy... And- has it made an appreciable difference?