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Breaking in motors - 2/17/2006 1:36:51 AM   
Zelatio



Posts: 772
Joined: 12/10/2005
From: St. Peters, MO, USA
Status: offline 		I've seen things about running a motor in water to break it in, but not very specific instructions. I just got the Aerobatic enhancement kit for the Blade CP and wondering if I should do this. Can anyone provide detailed instructions on how to do this? Thanks to all.

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RE: Breaking in motors - 2/17/2006 2:33:31 AM   
credence


 

Posts: 2518
Joined: 5/19/2005
From: Brampton, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		If you don't feel comfortable running the motor in water. Just connect the motor to a single D size battery and let it run till the battery dies.



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True Northern Hobbies, Inc.

(in reply to Zelatio)
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RE: Breaking in motors - 2/17/2006 3:20:38 AM   
jeepson33s


 

Posts: 150
Joined: 1/17/2006
From: marietta, GA, USA
Status: offline 		i have done the motor breakin with my car motors and all you do is get some pure water (not from the sink) and just put the motor in it and run it for about 5 min and thats it. imho this works best and my motors seem to last longer when i do this. there are many variations of doing this so look around

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RE: Breaking in motors - 2/18/2006 12:25:20 AM   
reiffron


 

Posts: 84
Joined: 10/31/2004
From: baton rouge, LA, USA
Status: offline 		breaking it in, in water is better as the water keeps the comm clean. just running it out of water the comm will wear considerably more and have a lot of brush matterial on it and might leave pits from the brushes arching. be sure to blow the motor dry and lube the bushings after.

(in reply to jeepson33s)
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RE: Breaking in motors - 2/18/2006 3:36:07 AM   
Zelatio



Posts: 772
Joined: 12/10/2005
From: St. Peters, MO, USA
Status: offline 		Alright, I broke the motor in succesfully, I think. I hooked up one D Cell to it and ran it for half an hour submerged in water. After about 15 minutes, the water started turning black and the motor was running smoother. At the end, there was a film over the water and the water had quite a black hue to it. Dried the motor out with hairdryer on low, and greased it up. As soon as I get Lipo's I'll be ready to go.

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RE: Breaking in motors - 9/18/2006 8:27:37 PM   
joseph270


 

Posts: 10
Joined: 4/23/2004
From: Cabot, AR, USA
Status: offline 		How to water break in a ducted fan motor, or is that the right thing to do???? Help anyone?

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RE: Breaking in motors - 10/8/2006 10:52:31 PM   
castaway93


 

Posts: 9
Joined: 7/24/2006
From: San Jose, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Century Heli instruction has a small box on 1 page with instructions to breaking in the motor in water. I did this to my motor and it seems to run quieter than other motors of the same size (370). However, your motor must meet the following criterias:
1. It is brand new
2. Water-breakin can only be performed once
3. Don't run it for more tahn 5 minutes. You'll wear out the iron core/brushed component more than neccessary

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RE: Breaking in motors - 5/2/2007 11:50:36 AM   
sitfly36


 

Posts: 18
Joined: 8/16/2006
From: APO ae , USA
Status: offline 		anybody who puts electric motors in water can be assured that the life of your engine will be shortened.

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RE: Breaking in motors - 5/2/2007 2:11:54 PM   
robotronski


 

Posts: 445
Joined: 3/18/2006
From: Hattiesburg, MS, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Zelatio

Can anyone provide detailed instructions on how to do this?



Heres the best motor break-in tutorial around.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_5628228/tm.htm

Some great pictures too.



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RE: Breaking in motors - 5/2/2007 2:18:59 PM   
robotronski


 

Posts: 445
Joined: 3/18/2006
From: Hattiesburg, MS, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: sitfly36

anybody who puts electric motors in water can be assured that the life of your engine will be shortened.



Yes but thats a broad generalization though... As wer'e not talking about 3-phase industrial induction motors here.

This thread is specifically about brushed DC hobby grade motors, and actually they are fine as long as you allow them to dry and lubricate the bearings after break-in.

Many of us here do this with increased longevity over stock motor lifespan. Increased performance, and longer flight times too.

I know its hard to fathom the concept, but it does work with no disadvantages other than consuming a bit of your personal time.

Robo


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Take-offs are Optional... Last time I checked, those #%&@ landings are still Mandatory!!!

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RE: Breaking in motors - 5/3/2007 3:03:10 PM   
Dirtee bug


 

Posts: 229
Joined: 10/25/2006
From: Warren, MI, USA
Status: offline 		Putting brushed motors in water for break in has been the way to do it for a long time especially with car guys, sounds weird to do it but it does work, it definetly extends the life of your motor and makes it run alot smoother, it does not shorten the life of the motor like some think.

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RE: Breaking in motors - 6/23/2007 10:47:11 PM   
ukdave


 

Posts: 10
Joined: 5/17/2007
From: sheffield, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Hi there just been reading a few older theads and came across this breaking in motors in water mainly im into planes and love diesel but i want to try hellicopters so just about to buy a LAMA V3 the first thing im going to do will be to remove the motors and run in under water.
Now some years ago (about 30 to 40 years i am now 61years young) i was into fast electric boats water breakins were the way to go so there is nothing new here and it does a super job.
First of all it keeps the motor and brushes cool, secondly the fit of the brushes with the commutor is ny on perfect as the carbon worn away during running in is washed away by the water.
If brushed motors are run in dry the carbon dust from the motors tends to clog up the comm and build up this in turn gets ripped away by the brushes this then scars the surface of the brushes making for a less than perfect fit of brushs to comm.

Now if you watch the brushes on a dc motor as it is working you will see the comm sparking this is the electric current jumping the gap between brush and comm i suppose you could say that any electicity seen as sparks between brush and comm is wasted energy(does this make sense)
If your motor was run in under water you will see a lot less of the sparking idealy there should be none at all but then a brushed motor is never going to be 100%.
It is an easy job to breakin with water if you dont like the idea just get any old motor connect it to a battery and place in water to see the motor running in water should assure you it works .
Fill a container with water and remember allways connect the battery to the motor before you place it in water.
Hope this rambling is of help to someone.
ukdave

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