I ran them one race with complete disappointment. the chain guards only work if you are using the smaller gear sizes. My chain came off several times as the chain guards and gears exhibit a lot of flex running on such a small hub. and I did not get to qualify or race the day I ran them. I went back to my favorite 4 bolt performance hub and guards.
95 Shaw's link discusses gear ratio and did not find anything in the way of mini gear vs Standard gear.
I would only ever use them if there was a mandatory driver rule and i needed to get below a 53 on the rear. as i have switched to clone these rules don't exist as does my need for mini sprockets.
I'm not trying to insult you, but,, I probably will.
From this post, it appears there are 2 issues you had with running the mini gear setup.
Lack of planning. Not really knowing why you would run this setup to start with. Why have the expense of this setup unless you would use it to your advantage?
It sounds like you were trying to run the same driver as you would with regular gears.
Rotating weight is not the advantage of mini gears. If it were, I would ditch the gear guards first, for free advantage.
Other issue seems like poor maintenance practices.
I've never ran the mini gear setup, but I've never ran gear guards either.
If your level of attention to detail requires a crutch, a rethink may be necessay.
I, and my driver take it personal if we cannot drive under the checkered flag at any race we attend.
I've been racing karts, and big cars, sometimes both since 1989.
If you bothered to even try to follow the other thread, (I know it is a pain) you would at least have a better understanding of why you would want to run mini gears.
I would think the penalty for running a bare hub for the other setup would be minor.
If you think you want to run your original driver.
Jmho