Brushless motor: cleaning?

[losikid]

Well i bought a tekin 17.5 a few weeks back, used, haven't ran it yet. Today went to go put a 14mm rotor in it and there is alot of dust/residue inside. should this be here? If so why? If not then what could have caused it (thought brushless was maintenance free?) and can i just spray some motor cleaner down in there and rinse it clean (I have "preformance Plus-3 contact cleaner for R/C cars" it doesn't specifically say motor cleaner, but implies it (picture of motor on the can)

[Meatwad]

As long as the bearings are good and not a lot of ferrous crap stuck to the rotor grinding away at the windings, you're pretty much good. It's normal to have some dust in there. A contact cleaner should be ok, just not sure about the sensor port.

Recently popped a new rotor into a castle 1415 and noticed some grindage along the kevlar wrapping around the rotor, its supposed to be pretty much a "sealed" motor too.

[WIDELOAD]

I've used CRC contact cleaner on a sensored motor before with no ill effects. Hell i know guys at the local track that use brake cleaner and haven't had an issue.

[SuperRoo]

Any non-oil based cleaner will do the job.

While you have the motor apart why dont you replace the bearing because the bearing take the biggest load in b/l motor they will have the most wear. I replace my bearing once or twice a year, just for peace of mind and its a god time to clean the can and sensor.

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[losikid]

Originally Posted by SuperRoo

Any non-oil based cleaner will do the job.

While you have the motor apart why dont you replace the bearing because the bearing take the biggest load in b/l motor they will have the most wear. I replace my bearing once or twice a year, just for peace of mind and its a god time to clean the can and sensor.

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Will any bearing do?

And i'm guessing this dust is normal?

[EddieO]

Dust can be normal....

Any motor spray should work fine, as will any bearing lube.

One of the first common myths about brushless was they were maintenance free.....along with the gazzilion other lies spread by the brushless fanatics as they tried to bring brushless main stream.

Later EddieO

[SuperRoo]

Originally Posted by losikid

Will any bearing do?

And i'm guessing this dust is normal?

Dust and moisture are normal in any "sealed" motor.

Its like the hard boiled egg in the bottle trick we learned at school the same will happen to a "SEALED" brushless motor with dust and water


I always use the manufacturers recommended bearings, generally stay away from ceramic bearings unless I'm doing major racing events where money and longevity doesnt matter. All my motors are Speed Passion, Castle or Fantom and one Losi motor so not a lot of choice other than the Fantom bearings are cheaper. I also keep some bearing oil around.