Welcome to Holmes Hobbies!

Motor Recommendations And Speeds

Looking to get a brushed motor for your rig, but don’t know where to start? Too many choices got you dizzy in the head? This guide will help you make a motor selection and ensure you get what you need and gear it properly!

Are you just starting out and don’t know what to get? Select a 55t TorqueMaster. 20t CrawlMaster, or 2200kv brushless for slow going and long run times or a 27t TorqueMaster, 13t CrawlMaster, or 3300/3500kv brushless for more power and wheel speed.

Don’t let your motor temperature get over 160°F (70°C) for best motor life! When in need of more speed, volt up and gear down instead of increasing the pinion size.

Purchasing for a child new to R/C crawling and trail running? The 55t TorqueMaster 540 Expert motor for crawling is our best suggestion. It is not overly powerful on 2 or 3s LiPo and is less likely to break parts. Faster (lower) turn counts, Pro series brushed motors, and brushless motors can break parts more easily. Beware of the power!

These are our motors arranged by length.

 Length (in mm)  Motor Type
25.0 Revolver 540 SS Team Spec
25.5 Revolver 280
27.4 Revolver Snubnose
28.5 TorqueMaster Sport Micro
31.0 Revolver 540 M
37.0 TorqueMaster Mini 180
37.5 Revolver 540
39.0 Revolver 380
40.0 CrawlMaster Sport 380 
TorqueMaster Sport 380
45.0 Puller Pro Stubby 
CrawlMaster BL 540 Stubby
46.1 Lil’ Tugger 
Puller 400
46.4 CrawlMaster Magnum Stubby
47.0 Ten Shooter Stubby
49.0 Revolver 540-L Classic
52.0 CrawlMaster Sport/Expert/Pro 540
TorqueMaster Expert/Pro 540 
TrailMaster Sport 540 
Retro Sport 540 
Custom Pro 540 
Team Flow Pro 540
52.5 CrawlMaster Magnum 540
53.0 Puller Pro Standard 
Ten Shooter 540
55.0 Puller 500
57.0 CrawlMaster Sport 550 
TrailMaster Sport 550
60.0 CrawlMaster Pro 550 
TorqueMaster Expert/Pro 550
60.6 Puller Pro R 540-L

 

Below is a list of motor turn counts and speeds. Motors on the same line have equivalent speeds.

Motor Type 3 slot straight armature 3 slot skewed armature 5 slot straight armature 5 slot skewed armature Brushless
Fastest         4500Kv
          4100Kv
  Torquemaster Expert 540 13T        3800Kv
          3500Kv
          3300Kv
  TrailMaster Sport 550 12T       3100Kv
        CrawlMaster Magnum Stubby 9T  3000Kv
  Retro Sport 540 15T       2900Kv
      CrawlMaster Pro 540 11T Puller 400 Crawl 13T
Puller 500 Crawl 11T
2700Kv
   Retro Sport 540 17T       2650Kv
        CrawlMaster Magnum Stubby 11T 2500Kv
   Tamiya Sport Tuned       2400Kv
   Retro Sport 540 19T   CrawlMaster Sport 550 8T   2300Kv
  Retro Sport 540 21T 
Lil' Tugger 30T
TorqueMaster 540 27T
TorqueMaster 550 21T
Custom Pro 540 27T CrawlMaster Expert 540 13T
CrawlMaster Pro 540 13T
CrawlMaster Pro 550 10T
Puller 400 Crawl 16T
Puller 500 Crawl 13T
2200Kv
  Axial 540 27T       2100Kv
  Tamiya (Mabuchi) Silver Can       1950Kv
  Lil' Tugger 33T
TorqueMaster 540 30T
Puller 400 Flow 33T
Puller 500 Flow 30T
CrawlMaster Sport 540 13T
CrawlMaster Sport 550 10T
CrawlMaster Magnum 540 11T  1850Kv
  TrailMaster Sport 540 27T
TrailMaster Sport 550 21T 
Traxxas Titan 550 21T
      1800Kv
      CrawlMaster Expert 540 16T
CrawlMaster Pro 540 16T
CrawlMaster Sport 550 12T
CrawlMaster Magnum 540 13T
Puller 400 Crawl 20T
Puller 500 Crawl 16T
1700Kv
  Lil' Tugger 38T
TorqueMaster 540 35T
TorqueMaster 550 27T
Custom Pro 540 35T
Puller 400 Flow 38T
Puller 500 Flow 35T
CrawlMaster Sport 540 16T
CrawlMaster Pro 550 12T
CrawlMaster Magnum 540 16T  1500Kv
      CrawlMaster Sport 550 13T   1450Kv
  TrailMaster Sport 540 35T
TrailMaster Sport 550 27T
      1400Kv
  TorqueMaster 540 40T   CrawlMaster 540 20T
CrawlMaster Sport 550 15T
Puller 500 Crawl 20T 1250Kv
          1200Kv
  TorqueMaster 540 45T       1100Kv
Slowest TorqueMaster 540 55T
TrailMaster Sport 540 55T
TrailMaster Sport 550 45T
      1000Kv

 

Motor And Gearing Recommendations By Vehicle

Axial AX10

General Trail use:
35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540*
35t – 27t TorqueMaster 540*
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540*

Competition:
30t – 27t TorqueMaster 540*
13t – 11t CrawlMaster 540*

*5.6:1 pinion to spur ratio advised to prevent overheating. Example: 15 tooth pinion and 84 tooth spur

Axial Capra

Reverse Rotation Motor Required

General Trail use:

55t – 35t TrailMaster Sport 540
55t – 35t TorqueMaster 540
20t – 16t CrawlMaster 540*
16t CrawlMaster Magnum 540
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Stubby or Standard
Revolver 540 (Snubnose is not recommended)

*10 or 9 tooth pinion needed

Axial RBX10 Ryft

General Trail use:
Puller Pro 540-L

Axial RR10 Bomber

General Trail use:
27t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550*
27t – 21t TorqueMaster 550*
15t – 12t CrawlMaster 550*
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Standard, 540-L

*11 tooth pinion / 68 tooth spur advised for brushed motors to prevent overheating.
Stock gearing compatible with brushless motors.

Axial SCX10

General Trail use:
35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540*
35t – 27t TorqueMaster 540*
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540*
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Stubby or Standard
Revolver 540 or Snubnose

*5.6:1 pinion to spur ratio advised for brushed motors to prevent overheating. Example: 15 tooth pinion and 84 tooth spur
Stock gearing compatible with brushless motors.

Axial SCX10 II

General Trail use:
35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540
27t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550
35t – 27t TorqueMaster 540
27t – 21t TorqueMaster 550
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540
15t – 10t CrawlMaster 550
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Stubby or Standard
Revolver 540 or Snubnose

Stock gearing compatible with brushless and brushed motors using stock tire sizes.
Brushed motors will require gearing down if increasing wheel and tire size.

Axial SCX10 III

Reverse Rotation Motor Required for Portal axles

General Trail use:

27t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550 (12t is not suitable for crawling)
27t – 21t TorqueMaster 550
15t – 10t CrawlMaster 550
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Standard
Revolver 540 or Snubnose

Axial SMT10

General Trail use:
27t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550
27t – 21t TorqueMaster 550
15t – 10t CrawlMaster 550
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Standard, 540-L

Axial Wraith 1.9

General Trail use:
27t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550 (12t is not suitable for crawling)
27t – 21t TorqueMaster 550
15t – 10t CrawlMaster 550
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Standard
Revolver 540 (Snubnose is not recommended)

Axial Wraith

General Trail use:
35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540*
35t – 27t TorqueMaster 540*
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540*
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Stubby or Standard

*5.6:1 pinion to spur ratio (or even lower gearing) advised to prevent overheating for brushed motors. Example: 15 or 14 tooth pinion and 84 tooth spur (if using 48p)
Stock gearing compatible with brushless motors.

Axial Wraith Spawn

General Trail use:
35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540*
35t – 27t TorqueMaster 540*
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540*
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Stubby or Standard

*5.6:1 pinion to spur ratio (or even lower gearing) advised to prevent overheating for brushed motors. Example: 15 or 14 tooth pinion and 84 tooth spur.
Stock gearing compatible with brushless motors.

Axial XR10

General Trail use:
35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540
40t – 27t TorqueMaster 540
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540

Competition:
35t – 30t TorqueMaster 540
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540

Start with stock pinion, 14 tooth or smaller

Axial Yeti (1/10)

General Trail use:
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Standard, 540-L

Axial Yeti XL (1/6)

Puller Pro 4274

Element RC Enduro - Sendero, Ecto, TrailRunner, Knight Runner, Gatekeeper, Bushido

Reverse Rotation Motor Required

General Trail use:

35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540
27t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550
35t – 27t TorqueMaster 540
27t – 21t TorqueMaster 550
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540
15t – 10t CrawlMaster 550
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Stubby or Standard
Revolver 540 or Snubnose

enRoute Berg

General Trail use:
40t – 27t TorqueMaster 540
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540

Competition:
35t – 30t TorqueMaster 540
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540
35t – 30t Puller 500 Flow
16t – 13t Puller 500 Crawl

12 tooth or smaller pinion recommended

HPI Venture

General Trail use:
35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540
27t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550
35t – 27t TorqueMaster 540
30t – 21t TorqueMaster 550
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540
15t – 10t CrawlMaster 550
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Stubby or Standard
Revolver 540 or Snubnose

Stock gearing compatible with brushless and 550 size brushed motors.
540 size brushed motors may require gearing down, especially if increasing wheel and tire size.

Losi Baja Rey

General Trail use:
Puller Pro V2 540-L 2100Kv, 2700Kv

Losi Night Crawler

General Trail use:
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Standard
Revolver 540 (Snubnose is not recommended)

Losi Rock Rey

General Trail use:
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Standard, 540-L 

RC4WD Bully II

General Trail use:
40t – 27t TorqueMaster 540
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540

Competition:
35t – 30t TorqueMaster 540
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540
35t – 30t Puller 500 Flow
16t – 13t Puller 500 Crawl

~35:1 overall reduction from the motor output to the tires

RC4WD Gelande II

Reverse Rotation Motor Required

General Trail use:

35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540
27t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550
35t – 27t TorqueMaster 540
30t – 21t TorqueMaster 550
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540
15t – 10t CrawlMaster 550
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Stubby or Standard
Revolver 540 or Snubnose

Competition:
30t – 27t TorqueMaster 540
16t – 11t Crawlmaster 540

RC4WD Trail Finder 2

Reverse Rotation Motor Required

General Trail use:
35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540*
27t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550
35t – 27t TorqueMaster 540*
27t – 21t TorqueMaster 550
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540*
15t – 10t CrawlMaster 550
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Stubby or Standard
Revolver 540 or Snubnose

Competition:
30t – 27t TorqueMaster 540*
16t – 11t Crawlmaster 540*

*540 size brushed motors will need to have motor temperatures closely monitored when using 2nd gear.
Stock gearing compatible with brushless and 550 size brushed motors.

Redcat Racing Ascent 10 total reduction 34.6:1

General Trail use:
45t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550 (12t is not suitable for crawling)
27t – 21t TorqueMaster 550 
15t – 10t CrawlMaster 550
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Standard
Revolver 540 (Snubnose is not recommended)

Competition: RER33015 recommended to lower total reduction to 46:1

Redcat Racing Gen8

Reverse Rotation Motor Required

General Trail use:

45t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550 (12t is not suitable for crawling)
27t – 21t TorqueMaster 550 
15t – 10t CrawlMaster 550
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Standard
Revolver 540 (Snubnose is not recommended)

Redcat Racing Gen9

Reverse Rotation Motor Required?

General Trail use:
45t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550 (12t is not suitable for crawling)
27t – 21t TorqueMaster 550
15t – 12t CrawlMaster 550
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Standard
Revolver 540 (Snubnose is not recommended)

 

Redcat Racing Wendigo

General Trail use:
Puller Pro 540-L
 

Traction Hobby Cragsman

General Trail use:
45t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550
27t – 21t TorqueMaster 550

Traxxas Slash 4X4

General Trail use:
12t TrailMaster Sport 550

Traxxas Telluride 4X4

General Trail use:
12t TrailMaster Sport 550

Traxxas TRX-4

Reverse Rotation Motor Required

General Trail use:

27t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550 (12t is not suitable for crawling)
27t – 21t TorqueMaster 550
15t – 12t CrawlMaster 550 (single speed transmission)
10t – 8t CrawlMaster 550 (single speed transmission with gearing reduction)
15t – 10t CrawlMaster 550 (two speed transmission)
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Standard
Revolver 540 (Snubnose is not recommended)

High Trail and Tracked vehicles:

27 – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550 (must run 9 tooth pinion)
27 – 21t TorqueMaster 550 (must run 9 tooth pinion)
15t –12t Crawlmaster 550 (must run 9 tooth pinion)
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Standard
Revolver 540 (Snubnose is not recommended)

 

Traxxas TRX-6

Reverse Rotation Motor Required

General Trail use:

27t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550 (12t is not suitable for crawling)
27t – 21t TorqueMaster 550
15t – 10t CrawlMaster 550
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Standard
Revolver 540 (Snubnose is not recommended)

Vanquish VS4-10 Origin

General Trail use:
35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540
27t – 21t TrailMaster Sport 550
35t – 27t TorqueMaster 540
27t – 21t TorqueMaster 550
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540
15t – 10t CrawlMaster 550
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Stubby or Standard
Revolver 540 or Snubnose

Stock (15 tooth kit pinion/ 13 tooth RTR pinion / 56 tooth spur) gearing compatible with 35t TorqueMaster 540 and 16t CrawlMaster 540
Stock gearing compatible with brushless and brushed motors using stock tire sizes.
Brushed motors will require gearing down if increasing wheel and tire size.

Vanquish VS4-10 Pro

General Trail use:
35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540
35t – 27t TorqueMaster 540
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Stubby or Standard
Revolver 540 or Snubnose

Vanquish VS4-10 Ultra

Reverse Rotation Motor Required

General Trail use:

35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540
35t – 27t TorqueMaster 540
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Stubby or Standard
Revolver 540 or Snubnose

Vanquish VS4-10 Phoenix

Reverse Rotation Motor Required

General Trail use:
35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540
35t – 27t TorqueMaster 540
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Stubby or Standard 1800Kv-2700Kv
Revolver 540 or Snubnose

Vaterra Ascender

General Trail use:
35t – 27t TrailMaster Sport 540
35t – 27t TorqueMaster 540
16t – 13t CrawlMaster 540
Puller Pro V2 Rock Crawler Motor - Stubby or Standard
Revolver 540 or Snubnose