Motor Break in

[RHNASON]

I read some thing earlier about taking a new motor, and putting it INTO WATER running to break it in , and to seat the brushes, ????
I`m just getting back in to this hobby,
It sounds a little scary to put a $ 70.00 motor in water

HELP >> HELP>>>

[Grizzbob]

Don't worry, you don't have to do that. that's actually an old racer's trick, from back when a lot of motors had totally closed-off endbells(like Tamiya's motors) & you couldn't get to the brushes. They water-dipped it under low voltage(it can be done safely, just don't touch live electrical leads when they're wet, hold it by the insulation) to seat the brushes. Today, with serrated brushes, all you need to break them in is put some comm drops on each brush(just a drop per brush) & run it on low voltage(like a 4 cell pack, or about 5 volts) for a minute or so, then spray the motor out & it's ready to go. To be honest, it doesn't hurt anything to not do any break-in(some guys don't like messing with it), but I think it's the best way to get the motor to running its best immediately, rather than having to get through a run or two before the motor is running its best.....:)

[RHNASON]

Thanks there Grizz

How important is a motor lathe ( running mod not stock)

[Grizzbob]

Motor lathes are a VERY useful tool, they help you to keep your motors(both stock & mod) in the best condition possible & help it last as long as possible before it's neccessary to replace the armature or the whole motor. As you run the motor, the brushes & commutator(also just called the comm) rub together a lot, & as the brushes wear, the comm surface becomes uneven, & as it does, it makes the brushes bounce, which accelerates wear, so the more you run it the worse it gets. That's why many of us take our motors apart regularly(I sometimes do it every 4-6 runs, if it appears to need it) & skim the comm on a lathe. The lathe cuts away a small portion of the copper on the comm & makes it turn true again(which is what you need to get the most from the motor & to prevent the brushes from bouncing). If you race competitively, it's a good idea to true your comms after every race day(especially mods, with the extra power & speed comes faster wear) & check the brushes for discoloration(if they look bad, they need to be replaced). I know some consider doing it every week to be excessive, but doing it that way actually removes less comm material than just running that many more times will(when you go longer, you have to remove considerably more material to make it spin true again)....:)

[highroller]

:cool: For any motor stock or modified I break in the bushings and bearings remove the springs & brushes. Use a motor break in station (slave motor turns the one being broke in) or dremel tool or drill. If you are race competitively check: the hood alignment (this helps brush to wear evenly on comm), skim the comm (to insure it's true) then install brushes & springs and break in as described. Some guys will skim the comm after each run and change brushes others will use a comm cleaning stick and change brushes as they show wear. If you don't have a comm truer most racers do a can true your comm for you. Just mark the motor can and endbell so when you reassemble the motor the marks will line up.