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Well this may sound dumb, but can the Associated Stock motors come apart? I want to take the Back off and clean it out real good. I've never taken a Brushed motor apart so If these motors are serviceable... How?

Thanks,
James


This is the motor I want to take apart...

Good topic. I would love to know too.
I have a few old stock motors which could use a clean.

yes and no. you can take a flat head screw driver and bend the tab that hold the head on outward. note they may break and if they do the can is junk. once rebuilt you can then put it back together and bend the tabs back. not it will not be legal for stock racing use after this is done.

alternatively you can slip a long skinny piece of sand paper in through the top and spin the motor armature by hand and freshen up the com. this way it would still be legal for competition.

If you are really careful you can do it without making any marks and still be legal . I know they used to make special com cleaners that you could slide in where the brushes are to clean it.

Side note: Do they still run cut brushes? I know you could advance the timing using specially cut brushes.

ED

The way to take it apart it to first remove the brush springs and brushes. Then hold it firmly in your hand (with the armature shaft pointing down) and drive it onto a hard surface, like a solid wood table or an anvil. This will pop the endbell off. From there you can do what you want to it, but like was previously said; it will no longer be ROAR legal. When you put it back together just push the tabs over with a small flat head screwdriver. There will probably be signs of tampering when you look at the chrome where the tabs bend over, but if it's just for fun it won't matter.

Personally, I'd find a comm stick or a very fine emory board and run it into the brush hood to clean the comm. Replace the brushes, clean the bushings, oil it and be done.

Another alternative (this may sound strange) but put toothpaste in a small bucket of water. Run the motor on about 3 volts. The toothpaste is just abrasive enough to clean the comm and seat new brushes.

Man, the things we did back in the day.......

Silly question. You need to then submerge the motor in the water/toothpaste solution right? Would the water not short circuit the power supply?

The motor would be submerged and it won't hurt anything.

yes, you can submerge a dc motor. I had a motor bath, it was basically like brake cleaner for a full size car, that you could dunk the motor in, and it cleaned out all the crap. follow that with a comm stick, and you are good to go.

otherwise, these guys gave you the right idea to take it apart. I usually pry the tabs a little, then push the can down while supporting the shaft, and this will minimize damage to the tabs.

you can use water, or motor bath, or other types of cleaner. be careful with something like alcohol or flammable stuff. make sure you have the motor completely submerged before adding power, and then make sure the motor stops completely before removing it, otherwise, commutator arcing could light the flammable vapors.

Real good information. Did this to some of my motors that were already out of the cans. Again once takin out NOT LEGAL, and I did look into getting a lathe but decided not to since its just for fun and using odds and ends to clean the comm is much cheaper.

http://www.misbehavin-rc.com/pit-lane/motor-maintenance/g-motor-maintenance1.asp

BITD , Motor Bath on the left.

If you actually went and raced it after rebuilding it is anyone gonna care? Not like it's going to keep up with a 17.5t
I rebuilt an old Twister stock motor and it was nowhere near as fast as a CO27 brushed motor..

I remember there was a special stock motor lathe where you could take off a brush mount and cut the comm with the end bell still on, I think most people just pulled them apart and used normal lathes though. Must've done a horrible job on the comm with those wobbly bronze bushes supporting the armature.

I used something called Bolink "Electro-Whirl". It came in a metal container shaped like an old style beer can. You poured the unknown liquid (probably a health hazazrd) into a jar, dipped your motor into it and applied voltage to it. The clear liquid turned a dark color in a fraction of a second and you pulled your motor out to dry. Had to re-oil the bushings when done. A short time later, the comm stick came out and took the place of "Electro-Whirl".

Thanks for all the Replies. The motor Is full of gear grease... Seams like every car I've picked up recently is covered with this stuff But I just want to get all the grease out. If I can do that without opening it that would be great.

to get the grease out, dunk it in soem mineral spirits. I wouldn't apply voltage though as Mineral spirits is flamable.

yeah, or you can use some electrical contact cleaner or vehicle brake cleaner.

be sure to oil the bushings/bearings when finished.