Hi All,

I'm new to the r/c tank scene and I'm eagerly waiting for the arrival of my HL M26 snow leopard. But in doing reaseach on tanks I came across a mention about "running in" electric motors and gear boxes. I tried to research this but came out with nothing. Can anyone fill me in on this? Thanks guys.

See the FAQ thread for advice on motor running in (I never bother tho).
Gearbox running in depends on what material in in there - if you have nylon gears then there is no running in required, if you have the monkey metal ones then again see the FAQ sticky thread.

Thanks for replying ex pat, yeah, there's nothing in the FAQ's about it. I think it's a myth. Cheers mate. Happy tanking

I made a video of my break-in box, and I run both boxes for about 20 minutes in each direction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY0_CAju0yY Running or breaking in gearboxes is just running them in an oil bath for a bit to let everything settle in. Kind of like breaking in the camshaft in a rebuilt motor so the lifters seat properly, if that helps at all.

Hi, I use a Product called
WD-40 SPECIALIST ANTI-FRICTION DRY PTFE LUBRICANT./400 ml
There are similar sounding wd-40 products on sale which makes it easy to get the wrong item,
This will lubricate your gearboxes as well as coat the gears with low friction PTFE,
Because it is such a low friction product it is very effective with brand new gearboxes.
I can spin my gearboxes with my thumb and forefinger and it does not get all over the electrics like other lubes do.
Shaun.

A light application of plastic safe oil on the motor end shafts and on the gears/shafts plus the bushings/bearings is the first best advise. If they are all metal gears sometimes a simple cleanup or polishing helps. Most pinion gears are set too deep into the first gear causing a huge loud gear-mesh noise, so look at that too.

Breaking in gears is a bit hardcore-extreme.




Jeff

Thanks for all the help guys, I did eventually find the gear box running in post in FAQ. Apparently mines got the metal gear boxes and drivegear plus metal tracks fitted. I live remote so I don't think I'm going to be able get my hands on any grinding and lapping compound without ordering it form Perth. But I'll give the above ideas a go.

some people used to swear by white crest tooth paste (not the gel stuff) - seemed to work, but clean up wasn't maybe the best

My own preference is just to lube up and run gently indoors for a while before hammering it around the yard.

Well, having already caught the bug I'm now looking at these you beaut gearboxes from eBay, they cheap too. I tied to add a pic but anyway. There a red frame and blue motors from tank army, $66, brass axles steel gears and all bearinged.