servos and motors

[B4 Sloth]

I went racing for the first time on Sunday, really enjoyed it. I raced my factory team B4 and have got the bug. I managed to strip the gears of a metal geared servo- could my servo saver have been too tight?
After 4 5 minute races the car became 'glitchy' on acceleration. a couple of the lads were really helpful and said that it was probably brushes. We took motor apart and it apparantly needs a skim. The car had only seen a bit of action (30 mins or so ) in my cul de sac. PEAK RAVEN SV2 13x2. Are all motors like this, brushes cost a few quid and then a skim? Surely you must to be able to get more than that out of a motor? I am on a budget and in hindsight wish i had gone for brushless..but i didnt, So i need to get round or over this hurdle! Should i have spent more on a better motor? As much as i loved the day it may prove to be an expensive hobby...new baby on the way i dont want this to be the case!!
Thanks all, particularly Braxted MERCC

[ashleyb4]

The original style square brushed laydown/stand up motors do require a skim after a few runs. And the cheaper motors do seem to need skiming more often. Also what gearing have you got it on? As even a tooth or 2 out on gearing can serioulsy effect the life of a motor. My advice would be keep an eye out on ebay or on the forsale section on here and look for a peak/ orion vantage v2 motor or a checkpoint brushed motor. these motors have round brushes and the v2's have angled round brushes this increases comm and brush life.

As for the servo it could well be the servo saver is either tight or needs to be rebuilt.

hope ive help

A

[rocketrob]

Well, the deal is that this hobby - along with ANY other hobby I've had over the years - costs money to participate in.
And honestly, I can't think of a single thing that doesn't come without any inherent costs.

Realistically, running your car (blasting it wide open) around the local streets tends to be way harder on brushes than just racing - so it'd be my advice to save your hot motor for racing and get a cheap stocker for just playing around.

As far as the servo goes, it'd be my guess that you landed a jump with the wheels cranked to one side (usually what does it) - so in the future let go of the wheel after launching a jump, so the wheel are pointed straight on landings, and it'll give you longer servo life.

I know where you're at, gave up the hobby as my own kids grew, so that's just part of the gig you must be prepared for - because parenthood has its cost too.

[col300]

Was it wet? May just have been a bit water in the motor. Does seem a bit quick to need new brushes / skimming.

Have you tried it since?

[B4 Sloth]

Thanx for responses.
In terms of gearing, 13x2 motor on a 21t pinion- undergeared probably. standard kit 81t spur.

It was wet grass, i have not tried motor since though as car is in bits!!!

Can someone explain the brushes. Mine are round with an ngled cut at end...so what area laydown, v ....orientation...gees this is all a bit of a mindfield.

Just want a motor that will last a meeting at least before a skim. My parma cyclone back from the day lasted moons. Didnt seem much slower either!!

Cheers all

[col300]

probably just had a bit of water in it, shouldn't need skimming yet. Just try giving it a spray with some motor cleaner.

[jim76]

you can run brushed motors for a long time without skimming, but the performance will drop and the com will get ruined.
Even with the V2 motors or checkpoint motors it is best to give them a light skim after each meeting as this will keep them in top performance. If you don;t skim them for several meetings the performance will drop and when you come to skim it you will need to take off a very thick layer of copper in order to get a smooth com again.

A lot of racers have lathes and if you ask them nicely will probably skim them up for you for a token gesture fee of say £1 towards the lathe bit. Alternatively if you plan to race regularly then maybe pic up a second hand lathe - they are pretty cheap (£40 ish) as brushless has really knocked the value out of them.

The checkpoint motor is the best of the brushed variety. Very fast, plenty of torque, and the brushes would last for around 50 runs (10 meetings). Try and pick up a second hand one, the 10x2 is very good in 2wd. Don't get a single wind for 2wd though.