RC10Talk - The Net's Largest Vintage R/C Community

Hi all, I thought that I would post my collection of motor maintenance tools up including my latest buy. Been collecting stuff for a couple of months now and I think that I am officially addicted . I blame reading Big Jim`s motor guide and melting my brain .

I have owned a Shinwa motor dresser for 20 years, which enabled me to tune motors for RPM and Amp pull, but the rest of this kit I have got this year. With the advent of brushless motors, we seem to be the minority now Ias well as having over 50 vintage motor`s, I use brushed motors in my crawlers and scalers so this lot has been a smallish investment (compared to what these cost when new!)

First up is a rare beasty here in the United Kingdom, this is a Thunder RC motor magnet zapper, my latest purchase only got it this week. I did a 150 mile round trip to collect it as I decided that I didnt want to risk it been thrown around. And 3 gallon of fuel was a bit cheaper than sending a 26lb parcel. I have zapped a 35 turn motor that I had sitting and just zapping the magnets increased the amp pull off load from 1.5amps upto 2.5amps admittedly its a very old can but still thats pretty good.



Next up my Hudy Advanced comm lathe, came with a diamond cutting tip and the optional axial support. This has had some use since I got it, seems that lathing comm`s can be quite addictive. Funny thing about this lathe is that I got it from YZ10 via ebay!



My original Shinwa motor dresser, with an Integy motor dyno that I got from the guy who sold me the magnet zapper. Both useful bits of kit, as they allow you to alter RPM and monitor the amps drawn off load.


This is a Xipp brush cutter and brush serrator, fairly self explanatory this one. But It allows you to experiment with different cuts to the carbon brushes. The serrator allows the brush to bed in easier and also aids the running of the motor, something to do with the brush having more edges in contact with the comm



From left to right, Trinity Spring Thing this simple tool allows you to check the brush spring tension. The other items are Brush hood aligning tools and a brush spring post remover, It is very important to have the brush hoods in line with each other, because if they are not aligned the motor wont run at full power.



Finally a pair of Fussybrush.com brush cutters, these work differently to the Xipp as you install them into the motor housing and spin them with a pinion. Not used these yet as they came with the magnet zapper. They have different heads, one is for brush serration the other is for shaping the brush head. These aparently work better than the Xipp brush serrator.




Thats it for the time being or until I find something else obscure

Nice collection of motor tools there.

It's funny you have a Thunder RC motor zapper, I race at THE Thunder RC in Nashville. The guy who produced the zapper, Michael Skeen, still races occasionally( and he's pretty darn fast). Thunder was originally opened as a place for them to match and sell batteries and build motors, they also have a very big carpet onroad track and a pretty small offroad track. Basically it was a practice track for 3 or 4 guys that travel to all the big races. It's been passed on to one of skeen's business partners now. Brushless and lipo killed off Thunder RC the motor and battery business, but as long as people show up to race Thunder will stay open.

If you want to find out any details on that zapper I can ask Robert or Michael next time I'm up that way.

Great collection you've compiled. Breaks my heart to see it too. I use to spend hours tuning motors and cutting brushes in high school. Now it's getting harder and harder to even find brushed motors that aren't made for crawlers. I didn't have much money so I just used a Pro Tech charger for tuning. Just hook it up and listen to the motor and check the amp draw. I have no idea how effective this was really, but it always worked out real well for me. Sold a lot of motors that way. That's why I was shocked when I recently found out about cotton stuffed hollow brushes. Wish I'd known back then. Anyway, it's great that your doing your part to preserve a dieing art form.

Nice collection dude, and glad the lathe is serving you well

Great stuff.

I still own most of my brushed motors from the old days, I have my Lathe still. Just bought a old Tekin DYNO 900 and is great. I have used the Trinity Brush hood tool for yrs and i really notice a differance .

Big Jim"s motor black book is so full of good info. I bought mine around 7 yrs ago. From what i have been told they are worth some serious coin now since he passed away.

Been wanting a Motor Zapper for a long time but can't find one.

Stormer Hobbies had a sale on fixed endbell motors. Oribital B .. I got 3 @ 5 big ones each. Opened the can up grab the arm and put in a Orion Mod can. Awesome power on li po.... Mid winds i find really hard to get. I like 13T, and up to 19t.

last time I saw and used a zapper was 94-95 when I worked at a slot car tack in san mateo ca . we had it modifed for c-can's and stap motors. that brings back good times

You can never go too far! LOL!!