Cut the what? Change who? Face it, we have all worn the newbie shoes before. I’m talking about the newbie electric motor maintenance shoes, of course. We were not born knowing when to work on our motors; I know that I sure wasn’t. And if it wasn’t for friends and magazines, there’s a chance that I could have still been running the same brushes on my original P2K motor right now. But have no fear; R/C Car is here to save the day. This how-to will give you a brief but extremely useful rundown on some “time for rebuilding” indications to keep your motor and you ahead of the pack.

1) Burnt Brushes

If your brush replicates a burnt exhaust tip, as cool as it may look it’s definitely not a good thing if winning is high on your list. As soon as you see purple or bluish discoloration or shiny glazing on the brush, it is time for a new set of brushes. A fried brush is usually a sign that your gearing is off, so consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for recommended gearing options.

2) Burnt Comm

A black or burnt comm comes when the armature has not been cut in a long time. This will not have as direct of an effect as micro brushes, but power will not be anywhere near its full potential. Simply looking at the comm from the outside of the endbell will give you a good indication if a cut is needed. Black or burnt-looking means the comm needs a cut.

3) Hung Brushes

Everyone will experience a hung brush at least a couple times a year, which causes the brush to “stick.” This could be due to a few different things, such as some debris getting on the comm causing a flat spot on it, something getting in the brush hood, or even the brush just sticking on the comm. If this happens right before a run, a simple push start or snap of the brush springs should get you rolling. Once back in the pits, a good cut and replacement or cleaning of the brushes is recommended.

4) Micro Brushes

If you pull out your brushes and they are the size of an ant kibble, chances are the speed of your vehicle is HURTING! “Micro” brushes, the funny term that they have obtained from racers, totally affect and hurt motor performance, and will make you think your pack is dead. If this is the case, swap out those brushes with some fresh’ies and check them on a more regular basis for wear.

5) After Crash/Motor Impact

Everyone has experienced the dreaded motor impact crash, especially with today’s touring cars. Even after an impact the motor may feel the same, but it never hurts to remove everything, giving it a good once-over, and re-aligning the brush hood if the tools are available. Also check to make sure that the brushes still slide easily in and out of the brush hood, and if they don’t, stop running the motor until you realign the hoods.

6) 2 or 3 Weeks Running

Rookies, listen up, as this happens a lot more regularly to non-racers and bashers. This one is simple: if you have about two to three weeks of non-competitive running/bashing on your motor, then a nice cut, change of brushes, and spray cleaning to the arm, endbell, and the can is well advised. And when done, your motor will reward you with better speed, runtime, and overall performance. If you don’t have access to a lathe to cut the comm, most local hobby shops can cut it for a small fee, and if they don’t, simply wipe down the comm the best you can with some motor spray and a paper towel. You can also use comm sticks (like the ones shown from Racers Edge) to clean away light debris on the comm.

7) Loose Bearings/Bushings

Something that is often overlooked due to the fact that it is not really something that screams “look at me” are the bearing and bushings in the can. Simply rocking the arm in the can and endbell every time the motor is apart will give you a pretty good idea on the current condition. When the play starts to become very apparent, you may want to look into picking up another can, endbell, or even a whole new motor altogether.

Conclusion

Whether you are a racer or basher, both will benefit greatly from a properly maintained motor. Bashers will be able to bash longer, and racers will be able to drop lap times that are that much faster. So now that you know when to perform the maintenance, no more motor excuses!