Wow, so much reading and information about (Red) Chinese products. Obviously I can not make any general statements as my experience is based on only one Guanli's A-10. Maybe there are different versions of A-10 under the name Guanli, and they may use different components. I simply don't know. This is why I attach pictures and take all measurements so if you see some similarity, it is a chance, your model has the same components as mine.
Like I wrote above, I have seen three different rotor designs from GWS (brand name). I have one spare GWS EDF-55 unit that I used for DF experiments. It is much easier to try different motors in that stand unit instead of trying to handle the whole Guanli plane. But because of all similarities between GWS EDF and EDF unit built inside my A-10, I can expect quite similar performance (within 10-20% error margin probably).
This is for explanation how GWS got mixed here
My apology, if it was confusing.
Now explaining the confusing parts. I used lathe because I have one - lucky me
. If you don't have lathe you can not make your own parts and you are stuck with buying probably GWS parts. There is no way, you can reuse rotor adapter from Guanli A10 - the aluminum tube that is press fit on the stock motor shaft. I tried to use 5-ton press, bearing puller, even heat it with torch. This thing did not want to slide of the original motor shaft. The first adapter I scratch badly, trying to remove it. The other one I heated to the melting point and eventually it melted of the shaft. If they used glue, it must be a good one.
1. So if you replace the motor prepare yourself for replacing the entire set: Motor, adapter and rotor. My bet is that GWS rotor with adapter from EDF-55 unit will work (it did for me). In example I found at BP Hobbies page GWS EDF55 rotors for $2.50 and adapters (they call it Impeller Hub Set) for $4.50. I suspect that parts for RCMart DF55 may work too (DF55 Replacement Rotor for $9.95 and DF55 Replacement 2.3mm Rotor Hub Adapter for $5.95), but this one I'm only guessing. Just remember, when you buy motor, the shaft diameter must match the rotor adapter. GWS is designed for 2mm shaft, RCMart is for 2.3mm.
2. Disassembling the Guanli EDF was not easy, and couldn't be done using simple tools or hands. The reason for that is, that as it is very easy to remove the screw of the front of the rotor, sliding out the rotor of the adapter was quite challenging. The rotor sits very tight on the adapter. I don't know how other guys did it, but in my plane both fan units were sitting very tight. So here is what I did:
- I used 25mm M2 screw that I screwed in replacing original screw. This long screw went deep, but still was about 15mm between the front of the rotor and the screw head. This way I created the support point against which I could pull the rotor.
- 3mm hard steel wire bent in V and then two little hooks bent at both ends. This created me a tool (V shape) that I could use to grab by the rotor's hub (between fins).
- The last tool I used was spreading pliers. The kind, that when you squeeze the handle the jaws will open.
- Using these pliers between the V-end of wire and the M2 screw I was able to pull the rotor off the adapter. The force was quite big.
The same tool I used to push the original motor off the EDF unit.. I grabbed the plastic motor mount with the V-shape wire and use pliers to press on the motor's shaft.
Believe me, it took me about 30 minutes to make all these tools and 1 minute to disassemble the unit.
When you are disassembling the unit remember to not do the following things:
- do not pull the rotor by fins
- do not pull the unit by holding the plane or the engine necklaces
- do not pull the fan by holding the outer case or thee blades supporting the motor mount
3. About the motor that will fit the unit. Because the front of the motor mount is not going across the entire unit, but it has only two little tabs for the screws (see my picture above), most of 20mm motors may not fit. The key in this motor mounting is, that the motor is "held" around by the mount. GWS unit is designed for brushed motors - most of them are 23.85mm diameters. I couldn't find any brushless motor of that diameter. But my Guanli A-10 DOES NOT HAVE GWS UNIT. My A10 has EDF motor mount for motors that re 24.20mm in diameter (370 size?). Now finding any brushless inrunner of that size is quite a quest. Most of inrunners available are based on 20mm diameter, or 28mm (400 direct replacement). You can use any 20mm diameter motors but make sure the mounting holes are very outside and you will still need some spacer (like o-rings or something) that will secure the motor inside the mount.
The only motors I found of "Guanli EDF " size are:
- Feigao 280S (it is 24mm dia, 35mm long) but it has 2.3mm shaft so it will not fit GWS rotor.
- HXT 2435 (the one I wanted to buy)
- Turningy B2435 (The one I got)
- Great Planes Ammo 24-33 (or Ammo 24-45) but this one has shaft 3mm diameter so it will not fit the rotor adapter.
That's all.
If you are into experimenting with outrunners (like Go Brushless) you may figure out some mount that will fit this unit.