ESC problem, I think - Advice Please

[JezT]

I'm a newbie - only been at this a few weeks; Me and my son, Max, run 2 Mad Rats on Nimhs/Brushed (on a Budget!).

In the last couple of sessions, mine has developed a fault and I'm trying to track down the culprit; I will suddenly lose control - the motor will go into reverse, full power, and the only way I can stop this is by applying the brake by pushing the stick full forward (not pulling back on the stick!)... then it will go into full forward so I have to release the stick.... etc,etc - I have to keep doing this while I'm trying to get the shell off to flick the switch off! I'm running this on a Spektrum DX6i TX & AR6200 RX to an Ansmann Autosport 20 ESC (the cheapest around!) - and was running fine for a while.

Where do you think the problem lies? In the TX/RX combo (hope not - I like the programmability and don't want to shell out for a new setup) or the ESC? BTW on the bench the failsafe works fine.... but when it's in the midst of it's wobbly the failsafe doesn't - ie switch the TX off and the motor still spins

Just read an advert for the AS20 - "The Auto Sport tuned 20 uses the new automatic set up software which calibrates itself to your transmitter as you are actually using it!!! - Could this be the problem?

Advice please