Motor fans. Worth the trouble?

[xagoras]

So, I live in Greece and temperatures can get quite high here in summer. I was thinking about installing motor fans or heatsinks on my rigs.


I have an AXE R2 540L 2800KV and a HH Crawlmaster 550 13T on them. Is it worth it, to get a couple of fans for them? Any recomendations?

 

[Greatscott]

First, what temperature does your motor get to? The recommend is < 71*C (160*F). If your motor is running cooler than this, there is not need to spend money here.

If your motor is near 71*C, recommend gearing down a couple of teeth on the pinion. What all else fails, add fans.

The biggest problem here is that most of these heat sink fans are cheap, and will fail; especially in dusty conditions, or if you run in mud or water. Recommend buying extras.

On a personal note, I would love the opportunity to crawl in Greece. I was there once, on Crete, and it was an experience I will never for get. One night, I had a little too much beer and ouzo, and is a fuzzy memory, but the rest was awesome!

 

[xagoras]

First, what temperature does your motor get to? The recommend is < 71*C (160*F). If your motor is running cooler than this, there is not need to spend money here.

If your motor is near 71*C, recommend gearing down a couple of teeth on the pinion. What all else fails, add fans.

The biggest problem here is that most of these heat sink fans are cheap, and will fail; especially in dusty conditions, or if you run in mud or water. Recommend buying extras.

On a personal note, I would love the opportunity to crawl in Greece. I was there once, on Crete, and it was an experience I will never for get. One night, I had a little too much beer and ouzo, and is a fuzzy memory, but the rest was awesome!

Thanks Scott. I live in Crete, mate! Great place to live and crawl "thumbsup"


I'm already running 9T pinions in both of them. The Crawlmaster isn't really getting that hot. It's the AXE I'm worried about, because my son uses it sometimes to bash around and it's difficult to persuade a 10 year old to get off the throttle when he's having fun :lmao:

 

[QuesoDelDiablo]

My area is commonly 40*C+ in the summer and I've never had a truck generate enough heat to need a fan.

I'm speaking of crawlers and trail trucks, go-fast stuff needs fans.

 

[QuesoDelDiablo]

my son uses it sometimes to bash around and it's difficult to persuade a 10 year old to get off the throttle when he's having fun :lmao:

Ah yes, the child factor. I always forget about that.

You might want a fan on that one but I'd recommend monitoring temps for a few runs and then make a judgement call.

 

[23drumerboy]

Thanks Scott. I live in Crete, mate! Great place to live and crawl "thumbsup"


I'm already running 9T pinions in both of them. The Crawlmaster isn't really getting that hot. It's the AXE I'm worried about, because my son uses it sometimes to bash around and it's difficult to persuade a 10 year old to get off the throttle when he's having fun :lmao:

Heres my 2cents....i have a 1/8th, HW EzRun 4274? Lol , 2200kv in a R4stler VXL....what i have found, is that (in my world/with my driving style) which is (nearly/always,Wide-open throttle) [emoji41]. When geared in the "intermediate" "zone", these low-kv motors (with proper Voltage running through) can take ANY summer climate, ANY or practically any size tires,...with "mild" gearing and mild "punch" settings....can run friggin 90-nothing stop&go, for at LEAST two packs 5-6k mah. . .and not break a sweat! After all, theyre designed to haul MUUCCCH more weight, at equivaleny/better speeds than (my) 1/10 setup at roughly 4ish lbs....

On a 97+degree (F) day here, i can wheelie and otherwise abuse my way VERY HAPPILY through ONE 2200mah 4s, 50c pack FULL-THROTTLE-SWEAR-TO-GOD-80mph or better BACK &forth..and baaaack & FORTH, only slowing enough to barely make a U-turn on two wheels [emoji6] LVC kicks in roughly 18-24 mins.... right into garage, obto bench, check temp all over motor, and if its exceptionally a different-day, lol, MIGHT break the 140 deg F mark??? Though this particular motor user manual says to not run it above 212F?!?!

Read-Up! Mod-On! Crawl EXCESSIVELY!

 

[Inspector86]

I have never needed to cool a motor but if I did I would go with a heat sink before I installed a fan.

 

[DrIsotope]

Here in Inland SoCal, fans on ESCs? Always. Fans on motors? Rarely. We're not even into summer yet, and the temps on my "track" surface are already hitting +110ºF during the afternoon. In the peak of summer, not uncommon to see surface temperatures in excess of 180ºF.

On my crawlers, the servo(s) get hotter than the motors.