I'm new on here, but not new to R/C or R/C cars. I have been into R/C cars since the early 80's and recently started collecting things from my past. I just picked up a Kyosho Motor Checker and wanted opinions from fellow R/Cers about it. I have never used one or had one, but thought it might be useful. Is it??
I don't own one but remember seeing it in the Tower Hobbies catalog from 1986 or maybe it was 1987. I have that catalog. I Googled it and found this is what was stated in the catalog:
"The motor checker gives an easy, accurate indication of the condition of your electric motor. The ammeter reads no-load current and the condition meter shows the wave of the electric current flowing through the motor. With this handy unit, you can determine the timing angle and the condition of contacting surfaces between the motor's commutator and brushes. Oxidation, scratches, insufficient contact area (break-in) and spring tension can all be easily analyzed to ensure maximum performance and power from your motor. Great for quick checks between races. Uses a standard 6-cell battery as its power source."
More info, but looks like you need a manual or something:
Not really. I had such Kyosho motor checker back in the days but I think all of these motor checkers are not really much worth as a tool. There were more expensive ones as the Shinwa. In my opinion the no load amp reading does no valueble information. Same for the condition meter there are too much things what will influence that.
I think the only information any motor checker like this could be useful for, if you watch the amp meter this should stay at an amp reading for some time. If the indicator of the amp meter does fluctuate a lot than the commutator may be out of round and need a refresh at a commutator trueing machine. But it´s also possible the brushes get stuck as there is some debris between brushes and brushhoods or the springs are simply worn or burnt and don´t have the needed spring tension anymore.
So if the amp meter do fluactuate first check is for the springs and cleaning the brushhoods. If anything like this don´t make a difference then you can be sure the commutator is out of round.
But if someone don´t have that (expensive) motor checker than an usual analog amp meter with a 10A range for DC measuring does the same. Going with a digital amp meter isn´t the best idea, an analog meter is better suited for this.
