Trinity Speed Gem Pro - Breaking In

[hanafuda]

A project to convert my Tamiya Wild Dagger from MSC to ESC is taking longer than I planned.

Anyway, I now have 2 of the Trinity motors mentioned, and the pack recommends breaking in the brushes.

It says to oil both ball bearings. Where are these ball bearings?? Can someone direct me please?

Also, it says to run the motor on a 3.5 volt pack, but I don't have one. Is there another method I can use?

[dalejrfan8]

The bearings are at the ends of the motor can. One is on the endbell at the very top and the other is at the very bottom of the can where the shaft comes out. As for the break in just plug in your normal battery and run it for half as long as it says for a 3.5 volt pack. Hope this helps.

[rcguy2477]

The bearings are at the ends of the motor can. One is on the endbell at the very top and the other is at the very bottom of the can where the shaft comes out. As for the break in just plug in your normal battery and run it for half as long as it says for a 3.5 volt pack. Hope this helps.

The purpose for the low voltage is because it decreases the amount of arcing(arcing is when the brushes bounce which is seen as sparking). Arcing increases the wear on the comm, which isnt good, and doesnt help seat the brushes. For breaking in the brushes, you must run it on a voltage less 4v. Some use 5v, but i prefer lower. Run the motor for about 3 minutes, or untill the brushes are touching the comm on every corner( if you look at the brush face, you can see where it has worn). To break it in quicker, you can drop some lube onto the comm. After they have seated, spray the motor with motor cleaner.

[mtrsprt]

Break-in is not neccesary on most motors nowadays. There is usually something on the package, stating wether the motor needs break-in or not. My Speed Gems Pro, and my P-94 hand-wound both stated that they do not require any break-in.

[highroller]

How you go about breaking in the brush can vary along with how you do it.
For recreational use you don't have to be as precise as you would if you were racing on a competitive level - but all motors will last and work better once the brush is contoured or follows the shape of the commutator (the round copper part that brush carries current to). The purpose of using low voltage is to reduce arcing and heat.
For recreational use you could install the motor into the vehicle and run it at half throttle or a slow speed to allow brush to break in. If you don't have an old battery that you can make a 3 cell or 4cell pack out of the other method to use is water dipping. Charge up a battery pack (6cells), hook motor to it and place in water for 30 - 50 seconds - spray with motor cleaner to get rid of any excess water then oil the bushing or bearings with 1-2 drops of motor oil (3in1 is a good cheap alternative).
For competitive rc racing most use a charger with a motor breakin feature, 3 or 4cell pack made up from old cells or a power supply that has a 5volt output. Here the motor is run until brush arcing is reduced, motor picks up a little speed or the brush is now shaped or contoured to the proper shape of the come (ideal contact has been acheived). some also use battery operated Dremel tools (reverse the battery pack) or electric drill (reverse) so that motor in turning in correct direction and use those to breakin brushes and motor.

If you have an old battery pack that doesn't work to well to be used in a vehicle you can split in half to use for break in. Split it and install and extra plug or connector - which will allow you to use the 3 cells for breakin but connect them together and charge as a 6cell pack since your charger may not be able to charge a 3 or 4cell pack. For racing I take cells that are no longer good for using in vehicles make up 4cell packs out of the decent cells to use for breaking in motors or operating my lathe or running dyno (12volts).

[hanafuda]

Thanks for the feedback, and sorry for the late response.

One other thing regarding these motors - there seems to be 2 terminals for positive and 2 for negative on that motor. I am guessing it is fine to solder the wires to one of each, right?

[elecracr]

You solder the positive on either one of the positive and the negative on either one of the negative.

[highroller]

Yes it doesn't matter except in the case where you need to install external capacitors - then you may want to install capacitors on one side and your power wires on the other.

[elecracr]

With speed gem pros capasitators are already installed into the endbell, so you do not need to install them on these motors.

[hanafuda]

Many thanks.

I am glad you mention capacitors, as I will be using these motors with a Novak Super Rooster, and the Rooster instructions are very specific about the capacitors - it says to install the external capacitors regardless of whether internal ones are installed or not.

What do you advise? My back order for Novak capacitors has just been cancelled as, according to Tower Hobbies, the product has been discontinued. Not according to Novak's site it hasn't..

[elecracr]

Im not sure, i have never installed any with my lrp speed control and have had no problems.