Moter cleaning

[jonzjonz22]

Why is it bad not to clean Moter i know that it is bad i just dont know why. I don't see what a little dirt could do to your moter and what can i use to clean my moter i know you can use comppresed air but is there any other thing that i can use to clean it.

Jonathan
:fro:

 

[SpitFireV12RR]

Carbon dust and dirt and all that good stuff build up on your motor and especially your brushes. Your brushes sit on the commutator and apply power to it. When these are gunky and stuff, they don't allow for optimum power transfers.

Anyhow, I've always cleaned my motor by unsodering it from the wires on the car and re-soldering it to wires connected to a AA battery pack and letting it run in a glass of denatured alchol for about 10 minutes. This process is also refered to as "wet" break-in. Some people say this leads to corrosion, but with my experiances it's never happened.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

You can buy electric motor cleaner from an auto parts store or your LHS. Spray it down one of the holes in the motor can until it runs clear then add some oil.

 

[jonzjonz22]

I thought that you should not let you Moter get wet. I thought that it is bad for it.

 

[jon2]

I thought that you should not let you Moter get wet. I thought that it is bad for it.

This is true but the Electronic spray is made for it. You use thhis when the motor is OFF. Any other time would be bad for it. After a while you will need to cut your comm, or replace the brushes if it is a brushed motor.

 

[MonsterCowpower]

Cleaning motors is very important if you even hope to keep the motor and see that it performs well.

First before even cleaning is in question,never overgear the motor.This makes the motor work very hard,creates heat(as amp draw increases)and will damage the comm as well as the magnets(yes permanent magnets) in the long run.

Cleaning even if you run on road is a must,unless you run on a race ready track that is cleaned daily and prepared for racing.

Dust will find its way in the motor and wear the comm,enter the bearings,deposit itself in the motor can and cause heat dissipation problems.Motor will run hotter and hotter and if not much is done will fail at one point.



Cleaning the motor the easy way is to dip the motor in a CLEAN glass of CLEAN water and let it run using a single cell like a sub C or any 1.2V cell.This will get rid of the vast majority of any dirt.Two to three minutes is often all it takes,and using a single 1.2V cell to two cells.You do not need very high RPM here.****Motor disconected from ESC****

Then remove it from the water,dry it,use a ready to be charged battery pack.The water in the windings will be taken out.Overnight the motor should have time to fully dry.

I use a heatgun to blow hot air while the motor spinns using a 7.2V pack.

 

[jonzjonz22]

I know that you can put it in water and stuff but what if you do not want to do all that stuff, insent there a easey and way to clean the moter.

 

[SpitFireV12RR]

I know that you can put it in water and stuff but what if you do not want to do all that stuff, insent there a easey and way to clean the moter.

What is your definition of "easy"? When it comes to little cars like these, there is no possible way to try to do something the half-ass way and get it done right. If you want the easy way, then just replace the brushes. If you want to actually learn something about eletric cars, take out the motor and spray it down with electronic spray. I like the alchol way, but spray is easier and it takes a little less skill. I'm not saying I'm a pro at electrics, but I've been messing with them for awhile.

 

[jonzjonz22]

What is your definition of "easy"? When it comes to little cars like these, there is no possible way to try to do something the half-ass way and get it done right. If you want the easy way, then just replace the brushes. If you want to actually learn something about eletric cars, take out the motor and spray it down with electronic spray. I like the alchol way, but spray is easier and it takes a little less skill. I'm not saying I'm a pro at electrics, but I've been messing with them for awhile.

It is Not that i do Not want to work it is that I Just dont want to take my E-maxx motter off and have to rey soider it that would be a bitch

 

[FastEddy]

You can use motor spray while its in place. Its not the best way to do it but its better then nothing. One important thing that was mentioned but seems to have gotten lost is to oil your bearings or bushings often and is a must after cleaning. Just one drop on each end where the shaft sticks out of the case will due fine.

Your brushes will wear out. There is no way around this. You have two choices. Either replace the brushes at the cost of $2-$4 or just keep using the motor till it they wear out and replace it at the cost of $30-$70. Not knowing how you run I would guess that you could get 3X the use out of your motor if you replace the brushes on a regular schedule.

You could spend the additional $$ you save on getting some deans plugs for the wires so you don't have to use a soldering gun each time you want to clean or change your brushes.

Many people have taken their time to share their knowledge on this. Take it or leave it, it doesn't matter to us. Run it till it drops and go get a new one or maintain it and learn to enjoy the increased performance. Wrenching and matinance is my faverot part of the hobby.

 

[Plaidfish]

LOL...If soldering is a bitch you need to get out of electric RCs......or get a better solder station.....soldering wires on a motor is like a 1 min project and you should be proficient in it since you'll need to do it frequently.....eventually (like jon2 said) you'll need to remove the endbell and pull out the armature (the "spinny thingy" inside the motor) and true the commutator....when they become uneven and rough you will eat brushes like candy.....and the motors will not perform to full potential...

 

[HeartBreak]

Carbon dust and dirt and all that good stuff build up on your motor and especially your brushes. Your brushes sit on the commutator and apply power to it. When these are gunky and stuff, they don't allow for optimum power transfers.

Anyhow, I've always cleaned my motor by unsodering it from the wires on the car and re-soldering it to wires connected to a AA battery pack and letting it run in a glass of denatured alchol for about 10 minutes. This process is also refered to as "wet" break-in. Some people say this leads to corrosion, but with my experiances it's never happened.

NOT a good idea at all!!! I have personally seen electric motors burst into flames when doing this!! VERY DANGEROUS!!!!!

You're much better off to do as monkeywrench suggested; spray down one of the holes until it runs clear, then re-oil the two bushings/bearings at the end with just a drop of bearing (or machine) oil, and re-install into the car.

Modern day serrated brushes, from my experience, need no breakin. Just put 'em in and run (That's prolly why I don't win races, lol).

 

[jonzjonz22]

Is that why bushless motter are better you dont have to clean them as much?

 

[Monkey Wrench]

I don't know about the whole brushless deal, but if you don't have the time to lift your motor up and spray it out, you might want to consider another hobby or something. You don't have to desolder the motor. Hell, if you can get to the openings in the motor can, you don't even have to take it off the chassis. Just spray some electric motor cleaner in there and be done with it!

Obviously, it's better if you do, every now and again, desolder it and do a really good cleaning, but if that's simply too much of a chore, just spray it down and when it dies, buy another, then another, then another.

 

[Plaidfish]

that's what I do now w/ my TC3...I have 2 spare Epic outlaws I need to bring in and get tweaked.....I did it myself when I had a lathe.....I'd just use the Comm pen and rub the dirt off while it was on the lathe....works real good and only takes like 10 seconds....spray th ecan out and reassemble w/ new brushes and springs.....relube bearings and reinstall it......once you do it a few times it's easy AND you usually see ways to make removing the motor easier after a while, like moving electronics away from the motor mount....

 

[jonzjonz22]

So you Guy are all saying that i should dey soldering The moter and and let it run in a cup of water. I dont know it just sand bad but if you guys say that it is ok i will do it.