Cleaning RC Cars
04-23-2011, 08:10 PM
#1
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Cleaning RC Cars
Whats your method of cleaning rc car plastic? I have lots of dirt on the plastic and i can't get it to look clean and shiny again.
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04-23-2011, 09:11 PM
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RE: Cleaning RC Cars
the pic above is inventive and seems like a good idea i just might try that i have used simple green almost full strength and an air compressor i think it works really well although it doesnt get every bit of dirt off but my vehicles look clean and well maintained
04-23-2011, 09:21 PM
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RE: Cleaning RC Cars
ORIGINAL: doug702
the pic above is inventive and seems like a good idea i just might try that i have used simple green almost full strength and an air compressor i think it works really well although it doesnt get every bit of dirt off but my vehicles look clean and well maintained
the pic above is inventive and seems like a good idea i just might try that i have used simple green almost full strength and an air compressor i think it works really well although it doesnt get every bit of dirt off but my vehicles look clean and well maintained
Take it from the guy that did it.
04-23-2011, 10:41 PM
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RE: Cleaning RC Cars
for my rc i just pull vitals (radio tray, engine, tank) spray that mother with alot of simple green and tooth brush, rinse off high pressure water, wd40, assemble after air drying lol
04-23-2011, 11:02 PM
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RE: Cleaning RC Cars
Full Rebuild (nitro):
- Soak in denatured alcohol (use in a well ventilated area!!!) for at least 30 minutes. This will break down the grease and grime.
- Take directly from the denatured alcohol and put into a container filled with dish soap and hot water (as hot as you can stand it). Any dish soap will work, but dawn works best. Do not use "concentrated" formulas.
- Take parts one at a time from the hot water and use a scrub brush on them to scrub the dirt and grime away.
- Once all of the parts have been cleaned, put back in a fresh clean bath of denatured alcohol. They only need a dip and then they can come out. I like to use a tupperware container, and give the parts a good shake. This helps ensure that the alcohol mixes with all the water on the parts. Any water it doesn't mix with won't evaporate. This makes the parts dry quickly. It will also prevent metal parts from rusting.
- Let sit and dry. Should take about 5 minutes to be completely dry.
Full Rebuild (electric):
- [*]Same as above, but skip the denatured alcohol for cleaning purposes. The denatured alcohol is really only necessary to break down the nitro and the oil they mix into it so you can get the grime off. Dawn should be plenty to get even heavy mud off, just soak the parts in it.[*]Make sure you still use the denatured alcohol on at least the metal parts to prevent rusting problems. I still use it to dry my parts off for convenience.[/list]
For any non full-rebuild projects, compressed air works great. Do not spray your car down with a hose, whether it's electric or nitro. There's a few dozen reasons why this is a bad idea, most of which center around that water gets a lot of places you don't realize. Stick to air.
04-24-2011, 01:16 AM
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RE: Cleaning RC Cars
thanks for the tips guys, my car is in the dishwasher right now. Hopefully it will get rid of the gummy tape marks on my esc.
04-24-2011, 08:36 AM
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RE: Cleaning RC Cars
the dishwasher isnt really that bad? i do it with all my cars you just have to know what to take off of your car before u put it in and then when u take it out before it drys use an aircompressor on it so it dont rust some of your stuff? iv never had problems with it i dont see why other people are saying its such a big deal?
04-24-2011, 10:17 AM
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RE: Cleaning RC Cars
Bearings are the biggest deal. Especially on something like a Savage, which has an eneclosed 2 speed transmission. Truck needed all new bearings, a new set of tires (ever seen a Savage try to do 40 mph with tires full of water?), the transmission needed to be pulled apart and have a new topshaft installed along with a 2 speed one way bearing, etc etc.
04-24-2011, 01:15 PM
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RE: Cleaning RC Cars
Just take it thru the automatic carwash. Can clean your whole fleet for ten bucks!!!!!!
So not serious guys, I dont think this would work....
So not serious guys, I dont think this would work....
04-24-2011, 09:17 PM
#18
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RE: Cleaning RC Cars
so after 3 boiling water soupy baths, it all looks shiny again. I used a vacuum to remove the dirt and small rocks wedged between the plastic. Thanks everyone for the help 
04-25-2011, 04:15 PM
#19
RE: Cleaning RC Cars
The computer dusters are better than nothing, however, they don't pack a punch like an air compressor. You need the extra pressure to "blast" junk out of the crevices and dark cornerswhich a can of air just couldn't do. The cans will work for dusting out your receiver and ESC. Remember NOT to invert the can or you'll spray dry ice on your gear.
04-25-2011, 04:25 PM
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RE: Cleaning RC Cars
I'm with sloppy on this one I didn't know you were supposed your rc's? Aren't they like real trucks where the more mud is just the more bragging rights?
04-25-2011, 05:53 PM
#21
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RE: Cleaning RC Cars
its nice to clean touring cars and cars before you sell them and cars that you want to keep on your shelf ect
otherwise let them rust
04-27-2011, 10:02 PM
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RE: Cleaning RC Cars
i took my df02 camping with me once and it rained so when i drived,the car was in contact with wet grass. I now have these cool rust marks on my cvd's (not the joints, just the shaft as i put those protectors on the uni joints and diff halves). Ialso have the usuall permenant dirt on the lower parts of the sheel from the mud flicking on and driving.
