For most motors, I just stick to the standard .010(Brass), .015(Steel),.020 (Aluminum).....I do have teflon, rubber, and others.....but honestly, I don't use most of them. Sometimes I will use rubber on the Onslaught or the V2 when I build them. The teflon aren't easy to find and really the teflon was for a bushing motor.
The Fiber (aka Phenolic) is meant for the top of the comm, though I have seen some brain surgeons use it on the bottom. The whole point of it is to insulate the comm from the bearing, so it won't short out. I've never found this to be needed, but I use them on every motor pretty much that goes out the door.
I used to get all my washers from trinity........they used the three colors so they were easy to tell apart....plus if you always try to put the aluminum or brass on last, it won't pull them off because of the magnets.
Phenolics are pretty motor specific, but the others are just washers made here in the states by a big washer company.
The float method is what I use.....but its really less critical in a modified motor than in a stock that has weaker magnets....though I guess the cheaper integy lathe motors could use it.
You are aiming for a tick of play really....less you can get the better. I get all production motors down to little of play, but I don't get massively nuts with it like I used to for team race motors back in the day. One trick you will learn is a good TAP. Once you think you got it spaced...give it a solid (and straight) tap on hard surface on the shaft. This will help compress any additional play in say the bearing or the bottom washer on the motor (plastic one). Like I said, TAP....not a slam....think Happy Gilmore....just TAP it.
I can tell you that MOST motors space the same on the float for the bottom....its typically the top that differs as the comm can be a mm or so higher/lower on a motor. Sometimes though the washer on the bottom (plastic, typically black or tan/brown) or even the laminations can be slightly different from arm to arm, hence why spacing can differ...........then of course the magnets can be different heights too.
Later EddieO
OK, what do you guys prefer to use for arm spacers?
Metal washers (any specific material....brass, steel, ?...)
Plastic (Nylon, PE, ?....)
FIber
Does it depend on thickness of spacer (thin is metal, thick is plastic, ?)
Are these motor specific items, or hardware/electronics bits?
I usually look to see where the arm wants to sit in the field, then reduce float end to end with spacers. I try to keep "float" down to a few .000's, too tight seems to kill some power and can get worse when everything gets warm. A little extra float always means there is some gap even when the motor is real warm.
Do you tend to "force" the arm to a specific spot or do similar to what I do?
If you do different from me, may I ask why (and get a response)?
Just looking at some of the motors I have and know some need some spacing done on them.8)
