Tamiya Mini 4WD Propeller Shaft C Set(10319)

A spare Propeller Shaft C set for Mini 4WD cars built on the FM-A, Super X and Super XX chassis. In these four-wheel-drive layouts the propeller shaft links the front and rear gearboxes; as a part under constant torque and vibration on track, it is worth replacing once it shows wear so the drivetrain keeps turning both axles evenly.

On these chassis the front and rear gearboxes are mechanically independent aside from this shaft, so it is effectively the single link responsible for four-wheel drive — if it strips, cracks or slips, the car loses drive to one axle and starts behaving like a two-wheel-drive car mid-race without any obvious external sign. Spinning at motor speed and carrying full torque ahead of either gearbox's reduction stage, it is one of the more highly stressed small parts on these chassis, which is why Tamiya sells it as its own spare rather than only as part of a complete gearbox set — useful to know before assuming a worn shaft means a full gearbox rebuild.

• Compatible chassis: FM-A, Super X, Super XX