Brushed motor rebuild problems. Help!

[collins110]

Hello fellow Rc addicts. I've recently been attempting to rebuild my brushed Tekin 45t Heavy duty motors. I've watched/read pretty much every video and thread about rebuilding motors and some where I'm mucking up and It just eats up the brushes when running in the motor.

The comms have been lathed. The edges of the comm have had the sharp edges bent down with a tooth pick. The hood has been aligned with the right tools and the shims are all in their correct places. I'm completely stumped.

has anyone had this happen to them? any ideas what I could be doing wrong?

[banners]

Not too clued up on them myself, but a picture or 2 may assist, 1 on the comm and another of the spring/brush area. It wouldn't be the first time I've missed something sat right in front of me . Have you replaced the bearings whilst you're at it?

[JohnRobHolmes]

What rig, gearing, voltage, and timing? On a typical 45t installation running 3s you should see brush life between 15 and 30 hours, assuming you stay out of water/ mud/ heavy dust.

[Charlie-III]

Originally Posted by collins110

Hello fellow Rc addicts. I've recently been attempting to rebuild my brushed Tekin 45t Heavy duty motors. I've watched/read pretty much every video and thread about rebuilding motors and some where I'm mucking up and It just eats up the brushes when running in the motor.

The comms have been lathed. The edges of the comm have had the sharp edges bent down with a tooth pick. The hood has been aligned with the right tools and the shims are all in their correct places. I'm completely stumped.

has anyone had this happen to them? any ideas what I could be doing wrong?

Stupid question, how are you "running in" the motor? Should be 3-5 volts no load for a few minutes.

Do NOT do a "water break-in!"

[EeePee]

I still have no problems with water break in, but there are more steps to do.

And leave the sharp edges on the comm slots, faster on/off of the segments.

[collins110]

Ok so more info as requested. Im running the Tekin 45t Heavy duty motor and last time I was out crawling the bearing in the can started making noises so I decided it was time for a rebuild. I purchased new bearings and installed them.

While I was at it I decided to lathe the comm and put new brushes.
I watched the following youtube vid as info for the lathe and rebuild process. RC Culture - Restoring Brushed Motors - YouTube

I watched this vid for info on breaking in the motor. RC Brushed Motor Break In Methods-Both Wet & Dry Break In - YouTube
I actually tried the dry method first. A lot of the brush material ended up between the gaps in the comm. So I then cleaned the comm out. installed new brushes and did the wet method.

after about an hour at slow running I pulled it out, cleaned it up and span it up to about 3/4 throttle and the brushes went in 2 seconds. allot of heat was being produced. Have I got the timing completely wrong?

Hood:


Hood 2:


Comm:


comm 2:


Brushes:

[collins110]

Originally Posted by JohnRobHolmes

What rig, gearing, voltage, and timing? On a typical 45t installation running 3s you should see brush life between 15 and 30 hours, assuming you stay out of water/ mud/ heavy dust.

gearing isn't an issue. This is before the motor is even installed. voltage is usually 7.4v on super slow speed when running in. Timing im sure is set to 0deg but I cannot confirm. All my other tekin motors, which i havn't rebuilt have lasted longer then 15-30 hours even in wet, dusty conditions

[EddieO]

You broke a motor in at 7.4 volts?

The water method is crap, why people keep trying it is beyond me. I break in 100+ motors a month....and never use it.

From your pics timing looks advanced a few degrees.

Comm looks like it took a brutally deep cut. Whats it measure at?

Gearing does matter, you may of smoked the motor prior....the shorted armature is just gonna keep eating brushes.

Later EddieO

[EeePee]

Originally Posted by EddieO

Comm looks like it took a brutally deep cut.

Agreed. And there isn't much left looks like to me.

[Ryan87zuk]

EddieO spoke the truth. So from what I read, you broke it in dry (once) decided that because there was break in dust between the comm bars, you would try water break in. So it doesn't " keep " eating brushes, it ate the brushes once? 7.4volts is screaming for break in. I'm surprised that it even made it an hour under water @ 7.4! Clean the comm, new brushes and break it in dry at 3 volts or so, (just the way I've done it motor builders may be different here) until the comm is contacting the brushes completely or almost. Tear it down, clean it out oil the bearings and you should be back in business.

[collins110]

Originally Posted by EeePee

Agreed. And there isn't much left looks like to me.

yes unfortunately i had to go deep to repair prior damage to the com. I don't plan on using this armature much longer anyways. Is there any harm in running a new set of brushes with this com?

[collins110]

So from what I gather Ill trash this armature and try again with new brushes, new armature and go the dry run in method using 3-5volts for 20min. clean it up and it should be fine. If it is still eating brushes after all of this what could it be? Bearing not seated right?

Does team brood stock 45t armatures?

[Charlie-III]

I never break-in @ 7VDC, I usually use 3-5.
Can't say I've ever heard of a 1 hour water break-in, maybe a few minutes. I used to use water break-in ~20 years ago for high load racing motors and very hard brushes, but that was a few minutes.

You can try new brushes, run "no load" for ~5 minutes @ 3-5 volts. Blow out, lube bearings & install in rig.
Make sure the brushes move freely in the brush hoods before installing.

Maybe read the stickies in this section regarding taking care of motors, much better info than other places.

[EddieO]

Yes we stock armatures....handwound and machine wound.

Later EddieO