Novak.. Your opinions. Please Read and comment

[Colinevan]

I just want some advice on what other fellow racers would do in this situation.

I have been using Novak products for a long time now, and have recently had another episode of a GTB failure. CML have been helpful as per usual, but i feel a little hard done by.

First of all i think its important to list a few of the failures on the Novaks Gtb range of brushless combos, and indeed what was replaced and what wasnt, as to build up a pic of what iv had.

1 - GTB speedo replaced under warranty as over heating - approx 6 months old. With very little use.

2 - Brand new purchased GTB and 4.5r (UK sourced ) - returned under warranty after 10 mins running after bizarre beahviour - Motor was repaired as the Rotor had cracked.

3 - New purchased GTB 5.5r (Uk sourced) for my 2wd car ran 3 times in 6 months - and another speedo failure - released the smoke. CML had this for 3 months for testing. I also returned a Novak lipo cut off as they wanted that. As I wasnt racing 2wd, i was in no rush but eventually asked them to sort it out. After not hearing anything, i contacted them, and it was found out that either royal mail had lost my item or it was lost at cml. CML were good and replaced with a factory recon GTB with LIpo cutoff - so i said they didnt need to replace the cut off switch which i had bought seperately and also returned to them.

4 - The above speedo and motor were wired into car and lasted all of 1 race.. Motor failure, i simply borrowed another motor to get me to finish my days racing. I return motor to CML. - 2 months later, i chase the matter up and was informed that my claim had been rejected due to the fact that it had none novak parts in it. I mention at this stage that i had been supplied this as a waranty replacement 2 days ago. - Motor repaired and returned.

Now at this stage, i was racing maybe once a month (if that) and had to sell my 2 wd car as funds were not good.
Last year I bought a cat sx and used the GTB above and newly repaired motor for 2 meetings and hit problems.
Basically the speedo would get incredibly hot in under 1 minute, and the motor would not turn at all. I approached a few Novak drivers for them to have a look at it, and we tried different motors, receivers etc etc and could not get it to turn at all.

Whole lot returned again, I also retruned with my other spare motor to allow for testing and after 3 weeks, im told i have to buy a replacement as it is just slightly over its warranty. I explain that it has been used for less than 3 meetings ( ask anyone at southport and bury as iv practically not raced all year ) and i feel very dissapointed that i now have to buy more equipment when personal circumstances should really encourage me to sell all my rc gear as money is not good at the moment.

Now, heres the sting in the tail for me, If i have to buy a new gtb fair doos as they say, however it also comes with a limted warranty. Chances with me are i will use it 3 times, in that .. and with my luck.. Bang im in the same situ im in now.

Last thursday i spoke back with CML, and i explained that i wasnt happy. Im not angry about these things but feel that i have had nothing but bad experience. Everything that iv had replaced has been not new but re con gear and its never been up to scratch. I was told my motors were perfect as they were very little used, and that the speedo was now functional, but sometimes stuck at certain points, but i could race with it. I asked would it be good enough for racing and the honest answer was no. There was 3 of us that tried everything to get it to run at racing, and trust me it wasnt moving at all. CML could not repair or replace this as he cant replicate the fault. I was told i would get a receipt for it and my motors woule be returned monday/ tuesday but alas theyve not turned up as yet.

What other warranties are there for rival brushless speedos... are they all the same.

What would you guys do in my situation, I seem to have had nothing but problems.

Has anyone had similar experiences, would you buy more Novak gear?

Thanks

Col.

[Scouser]

Hey mate, I didn't realise that you had gone through so many!! I remember two of them going but jeez, that's a long list!!
I can only tell you about what I have experienced. The Nosram stuff I have raced week in week out has been perfect apart from one mysterious incident where one of the speedos just decide to stop working. I rang Mirage and had a brand new sealed in box matrix Evo '07 on the doorstep within 48hrs. I can't comment on the Novak stuff as I have never owned one but I do know that I needed a new ESC this week and I just bought another Nosram.
I hope you get this sorted dude, we need to see you back racing!;)

[Colinevan]

Cheers John..

To be honest there is more, i just cant remember lol.

Iv also bought a few new ones and sold them. My old Trf501 that eddie bought was the only 1 that was perfect.

Iv enen got 1 original ss 5800 combo somewhere that give up the ghost.

:cry:

[JJ The Boat Wizzard]

The New LRP Shpere TC Spec Hes A 25Year Warranty Witch They Honnor As My M8s Blew Up After He Incorrectly Geared His And They Replaced It Within A Couple Of Days

[N7ELA]

I blew 3 GTB's at worksop a few weeks ago and now run a borrowed LRP. I had all sorts of thermalling problems with the novak and had to run 2 power caps.

I am going to buy an LRP sphere now as they are miles better than novaks. I dont even need to use a fan on the LRP and it doesn't even get that hot. I also know they do honour their 25 year warranty claims and reasonably quick too...

[dimblum]

This is odd. Me and my friend have been using Novak GTB's for nearly a year now with zero problems. We race 3-4 times a month and run practice almost every Wednesday. They have both had a lot of use.

Most of the racers at our track also use GTB's and have not had any problems with them??

Could there have been a bad batch of them that went out at one time??

[bert digler]

This is odd. Me and my friend have been using Novak GTB's for nearly a year now with zero problems. We race 3-4 times a month and run practice almost every Wednesday. They have both had a lot of use.

Most of the racers at our track also use GTB's and have not had any problems with them??

Could there have been a bad batch of them that went out at one time??

i think the bad batch was between 2006 and 2009:lol:

[Wraggy]

sounds like you have been unlucky to me
i ran 2 novak GTB's & motors last year in Regionals, National & euros 2 & 4wd and they have never missed a beat ... never over heated or anything.
i ran LRP the year before that and blew 4 speedo's and destroyed 1 motor. so it seems they all go at somepoint and maybe at the end its down to personal preference

[carlin]

I had lots of problems with the Novak 5.5L.
First motor i had, it didnt move & it melted the soldering inside. The motor was red hot couldnt touch it at all. I sent it back to CML was very helpful, NOVAK sent it back saying i have got the motor to hot & gearing was incorrect. Which my opion & someone who very experience sponsored racer said it was b#@!"ks.
I got new motor off cml even though i still had to pay for it.
It was placed in the car gearing was set at advised in the car from Novak & few drivers said that should be right.
It went round the track once packed up again, same as the other one did soldering melted.
I will never buy one of those motors ever again, i have spoken to few ppl they all said had similar problems even few top drivers & they stopped running the Lightweight moved back to R versions.
Most annoyed that cost me stupid money for 20secs running use :thumbdown:

[paulc]

yeah sounds abit unlucky that ive been running lrp speedos for around 3 years and only had a couple of problems in that time

carn't comment on the novak speedos but i've been using the novak motors for about about a year with the lrp speedo and they've both been faultless :thumbsup:

paul

[Dazzler]

My experience is that out of six I have owned, I have had no problems at all with the exception of severing a couple of sensor wires on one motor. After a bit of open motor surgery, it was back up and running perfectly (a bit fiddly though). I only use the standard profile (5 is the one), Some people must have all the luck and others have none... Yours seems a particularly sad story.
The one I have in my touring car I have had for atleast 2 years..
It is just a shame that the sensor wires were / are not easier to replace.

[Welshy40]

Im no Novak fan but in my B4 it works perfectly. Ive only had the accelaration changed to aggresive but thats all I have done. Works fine with my 6.5 and 7.5

Maybe best to write direct to Novak and get them to give you a totally new one instead of going thru CML.

Still I would seriously recommend staying clear of Novak and get an LRP as everyone is stating the obvious here, the waranty stands for a long time.

[DCM]

it may be a 25 year warranty, but I bet there are still clauses in it too.

It sounds like you have been extremely unlucky, or you are the recurring theme, either way, not nice, when you are only running a small amount.

[super__dan]

Not that this will make you feel any better but other than the very first one I ever had which on its very first outing I wired up backward, I've never ever blown a motor or speedo in 2 years of running Novak Brushless motors and speedos. I personally think they are the most reliable performance brand out there, you have been very unlucky though.

[Chrislong]

I'll echo Dans words. I blew one when I wired it backwards and one went at random at Kidderminster a couple of years ago but nothing since. Ive never had a motor fail ever, the ones I use range from 3 to 2 years old, nothing newer.

But Colin, going from your experiences, I would say the wise move is draw a line on this chapter. I hear good things about the new Speed Passion ESC and there motors are also very good.

[Benh]

I have been running GTB's for 3 years. Never had a problem until this weekend. Had a motor that I didn't want anymore and was well used. Sent it to Novak for replacement under their Non-warranty replacement scheme. Receieved the recon 5.5L about 1 month ago.

Two meetings and after reading some warnings on the "L" motors, I was very aware of the temp. It was all good and not running high temperatures.

Last Sunday, race started, 30 feet from the line, car made a terrible "something has broken" sound and stopped on a sixpence. On investigation, motor seized and rotor was in pieces.

Going back to Novak and hoping they will send me a 5.5R on request.

[DanW]

No reliability problems with Novak stuff so far for me and I've had 2 GTB's combos for approx 2 years. I had motor in one of my combos where the holes for the mounting screws were oversized and screws wouldn't hold. Phoned CML up and had a replacement front end cap in less than 24hrs.

I have had problems with other brands of motors though.

I now run an LRP sphere in 2wd as it fits the chassis much better, but i think the quality is not as good as Novak.

One downside of the Novak is the fan they deliver with the speedo is absolute pants!

[showtime]

i thought people ran the Novak stuff because it was reliable :confused:

from what i've seen over the last 2 winters everyone i know running Novak stuff have had ZERO problems
in fact i've just bought 2 GTB'S & motors to put in my cars before i go to Belgium :)

[Neil Skull]

I am not sure which brand is the most reliable, but from my experience most of the problems with Motors and ESC failing premature is down to the individuals.


having said that the problems with the Novak GTB seem extreme.
I think it is time to try another brand.

[dpackster1980]

I have had 2 Novak GTBs, the first caught fire. It was perfectly installed wiring was immactulate as i hate messy wiring!!!!

Anyone that can't be bothered to build there car then spend an hour tidying the wiring deserves what they get. (Sorry if I upset someone but it has to be said.)

Speedo No. 1
Racing in a Final, had no problems all day went the car cut out going down the straight only had steering got it next to a marshall where it decided to combust and melt.

It was that bad it meled my XX4 chassis.

Speedo No. 2
This one is a recon speedo it's still going but lately it's getting warmer than usual and the familiar smell of TCP is in the air which isn't good and it's in a B44 with 20C lipos running on wooden floor so it's not like the motor or speedo is under any load!!

I don't dare run 30C lipos, it'll just catch fire especially outdoor.

If I was getting a new speedo I would say LRP just for their guarantee.

[dpackster1980]

The famous smell of TCP finally errupted into smoke this weekdend!!!!

I will never buy another Novak again, no motor limit my japs eye! I've been running a GM 6T Delta motor for over a month which is quick but slightly thirsty and the GTB didn't like it.

Round 4 of the Aces and 4 mins in the speedo shuts down with the TCP smell about it. I changed the fan in case it thermalled, ran the final and 2 mins in it completely died. :cry:

They aren't the smoothest speedos but to there credit there's no half measures they work or don't and melt.

At least it didn't take the cells and motor with it just my fan!!!

No wonder they only get 120 day warranty! :mad:

[coolcars782]

I call it sods law, i bought a novak gtb and 6.5r combo about 6 months ago and i had to send the motor back due to a manufactering fault, got it back 3 weeks later and have no problems with it since, i think it was one of the simpleist ones i have used :) and btw i run mine with a fan and its perfect :thumbsup: 3 of our club members run the novak combo and they have neither had any problems with them.

Carl

[pugs]

Been using novak speedo's and motors ever since I went brushless I have 3 all together 2 were bought 2nd hand very cheap and not 1 of them has ever let me down.....why? well I'am a electronics technician and here are the reasons I think:

1: always used on a novak motor,nothing else!
2: always used a novak fan, not a cheap 1 that has half the air flow:lol:
3: never over or under geared them
4: never used a blow torch to change wires and overheated the fets
5: never kept using it if it had any stutters or gliches until the problem was found.
6: never ran it with wires exposed or knicked insulation.

These are just some of the causes to damage a speedo and if you spoke to a technician at the repair centre I would guess that more than half of problems/repairs they get are caused by the user, yes you do get some electronic failures thats part of life but there wont be that many with modern electronics;)

[tjf]

Ive got 2 GTBs and have used them in all sorts of cars since they first came out. They have been perfect and I wouldnt change them but am being forced to for stock touring to keep on the pace. They will be staying in my buggys :)

[Mike Hudson]

Think the problem may have come from the odd motor you were using Mr Packster ;)

[rob8246]

Been using Novak products for two years now without any troubles at all. That's not to say that they are the best product available as the GTB is now a fairly old design but from personal experience they do seem to be ultra reliable.
I know of failures with all manufactures systems and i guess with any electronic device it is to be expected but what can you do? replace or repair and then go again.
I do sometimes wonder with the emergence of powerful Lipo's if all speedo's were originally designed to cope with the current loads involved.
As with everything in our game you hope all manufactures think and redesign to keep up with modern technology.
Hope you sort it out though ;)

[RickRick]

I've been running the SS thing since it first came out, sold on about a year ago, still working fine at our club, thermal'd that one countless times too, and i'm still running gtb, purchased before lipo cut off was built in, running 4.5 in 2wd and swapped into tc with same motor a number of times I'll not be happy if it dies tonight now i've said this

[Welshy40]

I decided two weeks back to sell my GTB. I never had a fault with it but is the only Novak I have ever owned and will be my last. Ive now got the LRP SXX TC and is noticably quicker with the same ratio on the same motor I used with the Novak. Its also smaller and so far appears to be a much better product, as well as a great warranty.

[Big G]

I haven't owned a GTB myself, but I have 2 GTX's that both work flawlessly. I ran a GTB for a while that belonged to my dad and it went well.

I then bought another brand of speedo which within a month has failed. Such is life in the world of micro electronics. It does seem strange that a few people have got through so many speedo's all by the same company.