Slipper clutch vs. Center differential, explained! (RC Basics #2)

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Ever wondered what a slipper clutch does and how it's different than a center differential? In this video I explain these two options, and when you would want to use one or the other.
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#RCBasics

[@MrLilChilly]

Great info and breakdown of the two👍

[@DOFIXERR]

The more I'm getting into RC, the more I'm using your videos as a resource! Great vid my man. Having issues with the slipper on my Outcast 4S and had to research the basic understanding of how that works. 👍

[@troyflanagan4237]

Me to having issues WITH my slipper Clutch on my my 4s kraton when i drive on grass or GRAVEL but not cement will have drive my 4s kraton in a big school yard when i get my Truck out of shop getting New gears put in the back of Truck way in THE back wete i have to take the cover off take the the Red pole off the pole underneath thats under the red pole were u get to the slipper Clutch to tighten and loosen THE Engine and unscrew the bottom metal or hard plastic not sure which it is to get at the gears

[@troyflanagan4237]

Hope its ready by Friday

[@troyflanagan4237]

Iam a Newbie to these Advanced Rc Trucks and Cars

[@troyflanagan4237]

I just know the basics on these Rc Trucks and Cars

[@scotnoco]

Glad I found this video! Fantastic explanation on both. really helpful thank you!

[@MrZimeir]

Great video man, thanks for making

[@fhe_nld]

Nice video, and solid explanation

[@turnipeater]

Really clear explanation, thanks!

[@NeoIsrafil]

If you jump, slipper is so helpful! When the tires stop because you suddenly hit the ground whole you're gassing it she'll save your gearing from stripping as well as the other soft parts.

[@RazorRC]

very true

[@falcondragonslayer]

That’s why you never land on power, then you won’t have to worry about it

[@Boogie_the_cat]

​@@falcondragonslayerif you're a baby you can do it like that.

[@falcondragonslayer]

@@Boogie_the_cat ?

[@robertblack7352]

Great information. Thank you for the post.

[@popwall4297]

Good video we need more stuff like this

[@ScottzillaRC]

Great info and explanation 😎👍

[@fgarcia2277]

Good information, I appreciate it!

[@ivanluhi]

Really nice explanation! Thank you very much!

[@islandrc-duke1972]

great video and explanation

[@joseCalderon1976]

Excellent topic!

[@TTMOTO888]

Awesome info as usual. Thanks man!

[@gonzodetroitify]

Just awesome bro

[@K2H117]

good explanation brah.

[@jubuttib]

6:48 Best way to think about it, an (ideal) open differential will always have the same amount of torque going to both axles, always being a 50:50 torque distribution. If e.g. the fronts can only take 10 Nm of torque before slipping, then the rear will also only get 10 Nm of torque, any extra you try to send will just go to spinning the wheels faster (increasing their rotational energy) rather than pushing the car forward. Any kind of locking effect will allow the side with more grip to receive extra torque vs. the side with less grip via the slipping. With RC diffs using varying weights of fluids, it's most similar to a viscous differential in cars, the axle that slips kinda tries to drag the non-slipping axle up to its speed, or conversely the axle with more grip is trying to hold the slipping axle back. The amount of extra torque transferred to the non-slipping axle should* be a function of the "weight" rating of the fluid and the RPM difference between the axles, i.e. with a heavier fluid and higher and higher RPM difference the higher grip axle should receive more and more extra torque. With something like a 20 million weight fluid, where you can barely get the diff to rotate at all, you can get nearly 100:0 torque distribution when doing a wheelie. *It is in traditional viscous diffs with plate stacks, but I haven't extensively studied the effect in RC diffs, nor the heat response with added slip.

[@harlondavid1225]

Thankyou for the information!!! I get it now 😁👊

[@ishbonsai]

Good explanation

[@TurnII]

Can you review installing electronics and camber, toe setups on your B74! Nice video content on the B74, I just picked one up....

[@ShiazVivek]

such an informative video

[@fromfin90]

fascinating, this was recommended to me, thank you for the info

[@RazorRC]

Marko Ahonen thanks for stopping by!

[@45Rand0m]

Good video!

[@Dreson45]

Good job! Thanks!

[@DirtSailor5]

Great video, this is just what I needed. How do they compare with motor stress, heat and battery consumption?

[@jamesfarnsworth6255]

well done. Thank you

[@JS-vh4yq]

Great vid. So which would you recommend for Norcal Hobbies indoor off-road carpet track? I've seen both used.

[@TrichbeeT]

can a center diff help prevent stripping pinion/ring gears when braking hard?

[@customdrums]

Great explanation thanks

[@RazorRC]

You're welcome!

[@subietech2019]

My Kraton 6s has 1 mil in the center diff and feels great

[@propgear123]

Great stuff bro I just learnt a lot thx to you 🙏🙏👊 it does not mean I am not scared to touch these things it just means I know what is waiting for me now when I have to 😂😂🙈 I am debating whether or not to strip my new senton 3s slipper to check all is ok before I even run it! Sounds like madness to me as a noob but think I will need to. Do you strip down new rc cars to check em all over before you run yours? This is my 1st proper one and I wanna look after it proper 🙏🙏👊

[@falcondragonslayer]

My brother recently replaced the slipper clutch in his Slash with a center diff. A slipper clutch works well for a racer or on-road car, but it doesn’t work that great for bashing or general joining around off-road. His Slash handles much better with the center differential than it ever did with the slipper clutch. An extra plus is the steel spur gear. You can’t have a metal spur gear on most slipper clutches, because there’s too much heat generated by the friction. Therefore, you need to use a plastic spur gear, which strips teeth extremely easily in something like a Slash. My brother’s Slash is 3 months old and he’s stripped 4 of the plastic spur gears in that time.

[@aidanw8015]

Hey man this was very helpful but I wanna know how to set my b74 slipper clutch because it's like making a grinding noise and stuff

[@mulberry8930]

Great video buddy, because I need to adjust my slipper to save my wheel hex. my wheel hex is getting rounded off! Nylon wheels!

[@MrSneakyGunz]

Very Good! 👍

[@RazorRC]

Thanks for the visit

[@dcrook232323]

One of the best technical descriptive RC vids I've seen in years. 👍 How about "Cush Drives" in Traxxas RCs and XMAXX?

[@enricomiceli5517]

Remeber the most important thing, a slipper cluch it consjmes itself, it is going to go bad over time, a well kept diff (obviously if not abuse or used costantly to race and put under lot of stress) may last very long and every part may be swapped to repair

[@mickcurrie7820]

Do any platforms use ball diffs in the center diff?

[@jackdurden466]

This is an older video, but I want to ask anyway. My Revo has a front and rear diff, and a slipper clutch. But I’ve seen a center diff conversion that’s out there and I’m interested in but have no idea how to do it? It looks like is require an entirely new transmission casing, and I don’t know much more than that except for the ones that do have a center diff can add an upgraded braking system. Any help?

[@RCVOODOO]

Good info

[@nithishj1892]

i just love your content man. you got a fan from india...

[@straitupfya]

Thank you

[@brettcoyle2399]

Subbed subbed subbed man ur great at explaining to newbies well I’m getting back into racing rc after 15 yrs but this is my first electric car I’m a nitro guy wow times and technology have changed lol but I’m getting back into it like a newbie till I’m up to speed with stuff I got the arrma typhon 3s with a sidewinder 4 esc instead of factory one and I just put 20t pinion instead of 16t factory

[@jackdurden466]

Man you got back in starting at the top! That car is awesome, I had a similar story as I got out at a young age, but never lost the interest. But when I decided to get back in, I bought a huge lot with a Revo and a T-MAXX and many extra parts. The Revo was in far better shape, so that’s still what I drive. And it’s an OLD design. I love that Arrma typhon it’s just out of my price range. An actual bulletin though!

[@xxthegamecollectorxx4673]

Hey man, any common reason why a center diff would start slipping? I've been having issues with my notorious 6s for a long time. I even swapped it out for a brand new one and nothing changed.

[@thaddiusblakk2653]

In your (or anyone's ) opinion what is best for light bashing in loose dirt and gravel with minor grass, a slipper clutch or a center differential. What wt fluid is best for offroading if I did use a center diff? I am running a Traxxas 4x4 vxl Slash. I do racing on both asphalt and dirt tracks as well as light bashing. Off note, I know that the Erevo uses a center differential as opposed to the slash which uses a slipper clutch. The erevo is great for offroading and light racing and has great traction on dirt. Should I put a center diff in the slash or will it not make any real difference?

[@alankowalski8781]

I am having trouble finding a 50t or 46t spur for that center diff. Any idea where to look. Checked both my hobby shops today. One of them said they didn’t have anything, the other said they don’t make one which I find hard to believe. I am scootering the internet at the moment

[@kennethjeffries5022]

For me on my 4wd mod buggy outdoor its a center diff for sure with about 60k or less slippers are to touchy to drive on inconstant surfaces . Indoor on Turf or carpet gota say trying both the slipper clutch is much better smoother more forward drive /traction.

[@jasonmcdonald7187]

What if you tighten down the slipper all the way will it run like a center dif then?

[@RC_guy667]

Sounds like this would be good for my 4x4 pede..I wanna chill on the wheelies

[@peterrenaud9639]

Great video! I cannot find a weight for the center diff build? There is no instructions on the package or on the ae site? How did you know how much fluid to put in?

[@RazorRC]

Peter Renaud top of the crosspins is what I do

[@peterrenaud9639]

@@RazorRC thank you!

[@erikdewane3319]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video! It was extremely helpful! Your thumbnails look trashed: are you a mechanic?

[@Acknockout1]

Thank u

[@yonicozac]

Nice comparison! But what about some words about dual slipper clutch systems like the Arrma 3s ones, where they can slip either side individually, so it acts more like a clutch

[@RazorRC]

Yoni Cozac those are good, my 22-4 2.0 had one and they tend to handle better than the single slip designs.

[@DavidFernandez-sc5ws]

Spring rates please. I see .874 or 1.004 and have no idea what it means.

[@cwatson42785]

Hey Razor could you do a motor size breakdown? Like about size, what all the numbers mean and kv ratings? Thanks

[@RazorRC]

Chris Watson good idea for a video!

[@cwatson42785]

@@RazorRC Thanks! It would help me out alot! More specifically how to measure and determine the size of a stock motor without the info on it. And also how to decide a good kv for a certain type truck and what you want in terms of low end, high end, speed and torque or a good number for both. Thanks Razor! 👌

[@jeffbryner5355]

So I have a sc6 amd a sc5. With 5k oil in the diff. With the sc5 I have a problem with on power corner exit. It wants to loop out every time I hit the gas coming out of the corner. Being that u are a racer I figured I would ask. Would u go with a lighter fluid or a thicker fluid in the diff?

[@sauliluolajan-mikkola620]

Lighter diff fluid in the rear will reduce this problem.

[@coolarmyt1]

hey i have a center diff, why is my gear slipping??

[@aaroncavanaugh8241]

What about power handling capabilities? I’m looking at getting a Tekno 410.3 SCT powered by either a hobbywing xr8 (either plus or sct) with a hobbywing 3660 g2 3200kv motor (fully sensored install), or a Tekin RX8 Gen 3 on a Tekin Pro4 HD 3,000kv motor (fully sensored install)... it’ll mostly be a basher and I’ll race with it off and on maybe yet I’ll be using 2 different packs... Gens Ace 2s 7200mah 70c continuous, and a Gens Ace 3s 7600mah 60c continuous... the race pack would be a Protek 2s LiHV 8500mah 100-120c continuous... how would you set up the driveline?

[@RazorRC]

On 2S, I would run a center diff

[@aaroncavanaugh8241]

Razor RC.. Thanks! and what about 3s? Idk if the Tekno 410.3 SCT has a slipper clutch option available from factory or even aftermarket (unless you got clever yourself with sourcing parts already made and mod those or really get clever and design one entirely yourself)

[@Al3xisAE]

Running a center diff in high grip is bad for your transmission, also on power the steering becomes dependant on how much the diff is moving so the amount of steering you have varies massively. You can also cook the center diff oil and cook the front tyres

[@TW39]

Is there a way to put power into the wheel on the ground and not into the wheel off the ground when I free wheel it on my centre diff in my hsp flying fish lowrider rc car

[@RazorRC]

thicker center diff fluid will keep it more even, front and rear

[@wun1gee]

I always look at it this way. Slipper/center spool for low-traction surfaces (dirt, clay) Center diff for high-traction surfaces (pavement, carpet) Locked slipper/spool is basically full-time 4wd. Center differential is AWD. AWD is fantastic when the traction is good, but not so much when it isn't. Full-time 4WD is fantastic when the traction is low, but will bind up the drivetrain when traction is high. This is why in full-scale vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler that have full-time 4wd and no center differential, when you're driving on the road, your 4wd is disengaged. You only engage the 4wd when traction is low. But in a vehicle like a modern crossover SUV or Subaru, AWD is active all the time and rarely is there an option to lock the center diff to create a full-time 4wd drivetrain. Some newer vehicles are starting to include this feature, like the new Landrover Defender. It can lock it's center diff which changes it from an AWD vehicle to a 4wd vehicle. If you're running your buggy on carpet, go center diff. If you're running your buggy on clay or dirt, run the slipper.

[@RazorRC]

It's actually the opposite -- carpet cars always come with slippers and dirt versions always come with diffs.

[@bigmanrctoys8484]

It’s the opposite, slipper for high traction- carpet/astro turf and center diff for loose conditions- dirt, grass, gravel etc.

[@sauliluolajan-mikkola620]

Cars that tackle difficult terrain at slow speeds need locked diffs (any of the three) because if one wheel is off the ground or otherwise without traction, the vehicle becomes stuck as the other wheels don’t put torque to the ground. Cars that race on loose surfaces want exactly that to happen: when one or two wheels lose traction, the other wheels provide less power to the ground as well. Imagine losing traction on the left and having the tires on the right put all the power down: the car would steer left. These buggies are not comparable to real-world Jeeps and such, but rather rally cars or track cars on a loose track. You don’t see locked diffs on those things, but rather intricate devices to control the traction on a wheel-by-wheel basis.

[@charlesdipanni3725]

There's also a cush Drive

[@richardramirez2154]

So does it send power or bleed out power to where it’s needed, I’m confused ?

[@RazorRC]

Center diff? All it does is allow the front and rear wheels to turn at different speeds. The thicker the oil, the less it allows this to happen.

[@sauliluolajan-mikkola620]

Conventional diffs work the same in all applications (front, center, rear); when one side of the diff outdrive is able to slip, the side with more traction gets less power as well. So if you’re accelerating hard and the track is loose under your left side tires, the right side tires get less power. This avoids veering the car to the left. Or in the case of a center diff: hard acceleration lightens the front wheels and is about to lift them off the ground -> front wheels slip and start to spin faster than the rear -> center diff transfers less power to the rear -> front wheels retain contact to the track. It’s like one tire is a slipper that bleeds off excess power that would make the car difficult to control.

[@Mr.Wednesday.]

Why would they even put the slipper as an option? Like why, if you have the option, would you install the slipper??

[@mohammadanwar6515]

Send me the motor name

[@sea1swk]

Common belief the plastic gears reduce 9 grams per diff. Also a common belief the center gear diff with plastic gears, has less rotating mass then the slipper.

[@RazorRC]

The diff shown here actually has plastic gears in it and weighs the same as the slipper. IIRC, my metal geared diff weighed 9 grams more than my plastic geared one.

[@gymkhanadog]

Slipper clutch, also known as a back-torque limiting clutch in the real world (popular on high-horsepower motorcycles and supermoto). Though we use it less for back-torque in RC and more as a viscous coupler to limit shock loads to components.

[@RazorRC]

Yeah, I've got a sportbike with a slipper clutch, so am pretty familiar with the motorcycle version.

[@aaroncavanaugh8241]

What fluid would you recommend in a slash 4x4 center diff for bashing 2s? 3s? I may get a center diff with my slash 4x4 for options if wanna race or bash and depending on the feel I want...

[@corbangillen2099]

10k

[@corbangillen2099]

And I’m saying 10k because that’s gonna give you faster acceleration and more wheelies. Ik your slash doesn’t really do wheelies so you will get all of your power instantly

[@corbangillen2099]

But if you want more control and a little bit slower acceleration then I would do 50k

[@adtjtjdjsj]

My traxxas came with a center diff mounted to a slipper

[@armandopace6113]

Hi mate that video was very educational and well explain great video. I run slipper clutch and a centre differential on my X maxx. It's saved me a lot of differentials and money. Best of both 👍🦘😁😁

[@jasonedelbrock5971]

At 07:00 Clearly says that the differential does not send power, however bleeds power. I believe the word your looking for is "transfers" though I may be wrong. 07:15 Clearly says the differential sends power... Glad I came across this KZbin video, it really cleared things up!

[@RazorRC]

yeah, I accidentally said that it "sends power" a few times even after I said it doesn't. 🤣

[@troyflanagan4237]

Write me the difference please

[@laurenslooijschelder]

Do you have a movie, where you drive the car with the slipperclutch and with the centrediff, to see the difference?

[@charlesdipanni3725]

A lot of races used 500000 k Center diff

[@jacobsmith4284]

Those thumbnails though.

[@thehomefront1905]

Unfortunately, a lot of this information is incorrect, You're referring more towards old-school Tamiya cars, modern day rc cars have moved on from this mechanism.

[@RazorRC]

What, slipper clutches? Every modern 1/10 4wd race kit offers a slipper clutch option (Xray, Associated, Losi, etc.)

[@thehomefront1905]

@RazorRC I think you should specify what car you're talking about. All cars are different and need attention to detail. Traxxas have a completely different setup to Losi and Tamiya. You never mentioned gear ratios and how that can affect a slipper clutch. I think you could of put a bit more thought into this video. It seems a bit rushed. Anyway, I hope this helps buddy, look forward to seeing some more content.

[@RazorRC]

@@thehomefront1905 I literally say at 0:33 this is an Associated B74. And gear ratios are irrelevant whether you use a slipper clutch or center differential, you would not want to change the ratio if you changed between the two.

[@thehomefront1905]

@RazorRC This is my point, you're not specifying what's what, you're assuming people already know when most don't. You're much better off doing another video and saving your youtube fans, I feel you owe it to them.

[@yokomodrifter]

Them fingernails doe

[@Mr.Wednesday.]

😂

[@alberturesti4919]

Sound wasn’t clear or words spoken were all blended into each other. Beginning was no real well worded explanation on how the slipper worked. Just very general. Extremely general. Maybe toward the end it kinda gave some decent points. I would have created an outline of slipper info and separate outline on diff so that it would be more fluid and organized which will make it more understandable. Thanks for posting tho. Will be looking for more of these. See if there is a good one out there.

[@RazorRC]

You might prefer the written version I did a few years back on my blog: razorrcblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/center-differentials-explained.html

[@rcwhore6548]

Get some nice blk shop gloves🤐

[@smokey1174]

Need some new fingers my guy

[@KalsRcAdventures]

Man those nails🤮😱😱😱😱😭

[@2shoestoo]

Big ol IDIOT, he is not doing a nail commercial he is helping to educate people. What a Fn DICK to say something like that. No wonder society is so Fxxked up now days people like you

[@K2H117]

Working "MAN" hands

[@KalsRcAdventures]

@@K2H117 I see

[@KalsRcAdventures]

@@2shoestoo get off your period dude🤣🤣🤣 . U know y can just stroll down didn't have to look at my comment 🤣. I was joking. U want a cookie

[@2shoestoo]

Big ol IDIOT. Lack of education and social skills are real evident in your case.

[@doofwop]

I have a 2S car with a slipper. It's a weak part that slips uncontrollably, the friction material shows no wear but it slips badly nonetheless. So now I have locked it completely, no issues with the rest of the drivetrain. Other slippers might work better since this car is a cheaper Chinese made rc but it was garbage so I had no choice but to lock it and it works great that way. Unless they use real friction materials these slipper clutches are useless and lead to issues.