Smoked my first motor

[530crawlers]

I have a capra RTR with 2.2s Treal brass portal axles just assembled and put new axles on. Was doing some hard wheeling and started to see it smoke from under the body then lost all power. I was getting stuck a few times and put some good stress on the motor. Looking for a replacement wondering what is my best option that will be plug and play? Also curious why it burnt out. I just added a lot of weight to it and possibly too thick of grease on my gears could this be the culprit?

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Axial motors don't last long for me and I know a lot of others have the same experience. On top of that Capra gearing is very high which strains a motor when crawling. Adding 2.2 tires and brass weight just compounds the problem.

Are you running a 2S or 3S battery? And do you want more speed or less speed than stock?

 

[530crawlers]

3s Lipo battery and I thought it was plenty fast stock I really mostly crawl like to make courses. Mostly looking for good low speed high torque motor

 

[JatoTheRipper]

I'd go for the 16T CrawlMaster from Holmes Hobbies if I were you. Note that it's a 5 slot motor so the turn count is similar to the 35T 3 slot motor that came stock in our Capra. I have the 16T Reedy Radon in mine.

https://holmeshobbies.com/motors/brushed-motors/crawlmaster-series/crawlmaster-sport-540-16t.html

 

[530crawlers]

Thanks for the info. I’ve heard good things about Holmes motors and tekin motors. Looking for a solid upgrade that will preferably fit without modification or changing esc or anything

If it's under warranty, Horizon Hobbies might replace it for you. Eventually, you will probably need a new one regardless, and I would recommend something from Holmes Hobbies. The proprietor is a straight shooter, with solid products, who posts here to help people out.

ps: We have all smoked motors. Fact of life.

 

[530crawlers]

Ok and this will mount you and fit without any modification?

I'd go for the 16T CrawlMaster from Holmes Hobbies if I were you. Note that it's a 5 slot motor so the turn count is similar to the 35T 3 slot motor that came stock in our Capra. I have the 16T Reedy Radon in mine.

https://holmeshobbies.com/motors/brushed-motors/crawlmaster-series/crawlmaster-sport-540-16t.html

 

[BSmith]

I had the same symptoms from my rtr bomber a couple years back. Had no interior and I saw smoke and it looked to me it was from the motor. Then no more throttle response. Replaced the motor and still nothing. Unplugged the servo and the new motor started working. Replaced the servo with a digital motor tactic and added a BEC. Everything still works. The motor I thought had smoked is now in my kit capra and still works, although I only have maybe 20 minutes run time on it.

Just throwing it out there to possibly save you from the headache I went through when it happened.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Ok and this will mount you and fit without any modification?

Yes. You'll just have to solder it to the ESC as it doesn't come with plugs, but other than that you just swap it out with the other motor.

 

[530crawlers]

I see Holmes has a sport pro magnum and expert motors what’s the difference between these besides price? Is the cheapo sport equally as good for the price? Thanks a lot for the info man

Yes. You'll just have to solder it to the ESC as it doesn't come with plugs, but other than that you just swap it out with the other motor.

 

[530crawlers]

Can’t forget the sticker on the toolbox

Yup, or clip the power wires at the dead motor, so they're long, and solder them to new motor terminals after checking to see that the motor turns in the right direction. Last step, apply the decal to your toolbox.

 

[HumboldtEF]

I see Holmes has a sport pro magnum and expert motors what’s the difference between these besides price? Is the cheapo sport equally as good for the price? Thanks a lot for the info man

Sport is the value sealed can brushed option (machine wound, the armature)

Expert is the typical Holmes rebuildable brushed motor (machine wound)

Pro is the same as the Expert but hand wound.

Magnum is the top shelf version, slightly better balance, hand wound, I think slightly stronger magnets

Then theres also Crawlmaster and torquemaster motors, Crawlmaster is 5 slot Torquemaster is 3 slot.

If your after a smooth slow start up the Crawlmaster is the way to go (its kind of their specialty)
Only reason I go for a torquemaster is if I need tons of torque or the rig is just heavy AF.
I have many Holmes motors and almost all are the crawlmasters (5 slot) and a few Magnums, I cant complain about any of the 5 slots.

The difference between the Pro and expert motors can be hard to feel but with the magnum there is a clear difference, it even has a distinctly different sound (sounds good to my ears)

The sport is a great way to test the waters though.

 

[530crawlers]

Thank you for the very well detailed response. I Really appreciate the information. I ordered a crawlmaster sport the cheapo to test the waters . But I am curious about the expert and magnum. One last question! How does the motor timing and rotation effect the motors performance what options would be desirable for a capra? Also not sure what the Holmes leads are

Sport is the value sealed can brushed option (machine wound, the armature)

Expert is the typical Holmes rebuildable brushed motor (machine wound)

Pro is the same as the Expert but hand wound.

Magnum is the top shelf version, slightly better balance, hand wound, I think slightly stronger magnets

Then theres also Crawlmaster and torquemaster motors, Crawlmaster is 5 slot Torquemaster is 3 slot.

If your after a smooth slow start up the Crawlmaster is the way to go (its kind of their specialty)
Only reason I go for a torquemaster is if I need tons of torque or the rig is just heavy AF.
I have many Holmes motors and almost all are the crawlmasters (5 slot) and a few Magnums, I cant complain about any of the 5 slots.

The difference between the Pro and expert motors can be hard to feel but with the magnum there is a clear difference, it even has a distinctly different sound (sounds good to my ears)

The sport is a great way to test the waters though.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

The difference between the Pro and expert motors can be hard to feel but with the magnum there is a clear difference, it even has a distinctly different sound (sounds good to my ears)

The sport is a great way to test the waters though.

I have no experience with the Magnum. In what way(s) does it feel different?

 

[svt923]

I have no experience with the Magnum. In what way(s) does it feel different?

The Magnums use much stronger magnets that are thinner with a much larger armature so they make way more torque than a standard hand wound motor. Holmes also says they have the best low speed control of all his motors.

Basically they do everything better than a hand wound Crawlmaster with the only tradeoff being cost.

 

[HumboldtEF]

Thank you for the very well detailed response. I Really appreciate the information. I ordered a crawlmaster sport the cheapo to test the waters . But I am curious about the expert and magnum. One last question! How does the motor timing and rotation effect the motors performance what options would be desirable for a capra? Also not sure what the Holmes leads are

Timing will bump up the RMPs allowing it to spin faster, I think theres a trade off between how much you can increase it vs how hot it will then get.
When I add timing I stick to 6 degrees as thats what HH recommends for most applications. this also comes into play if you're in need of a reverse rotation motor as you can adjust timing in both directions.

I have no experience with the Magnum. In what way(s) does it feel different?

Sorry I didnt really describe the Magnum at all lol

The Magnum has an even slower and smoother start up though not by much. Its also a bit "pepp-ier" and feels a little closer to brushless as it can rev up very quick (for a brushed motor). I find myself blipping the throttle with this motor and driving a bit silly like it were brushless.

JRH has some good videos on these motors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSvwuyi_Nbo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mnp-NPs5t0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOqn5rAoAZs

 

[JatoTheRipper]

The Magnums use much stronger magnets that are thinner with a much larger armature so they make way more torque than a standard hand wound motor. Holmes also says they have the best low speed control of all his motors.

Basically they do everything better than a hand wound Crawlmaster with the only tradeoff being cost.

Sorry I didnt really describe the Magnum at all lol

The Magnum has an even slower and smoother start up though not by much. Its also a bit "pepp-ier" and feels a little closer to brushless as it can rev up very quick (for a brushed motor). I find myself blipping the throttle with this motor and driving a bit silly like it were brushless.

JRH has some good video on these motors

To both of you, can you feel the slower startup with the Magnums?

 

[HumboldtEF]

The difference in startup is minimal from what I can feel. Its hard to tell the difference between the Magnum and Pro and I dont think I ever swapped between the 2 on the same rig with the same gearing so I've never done a good comparison.

 

[530crawlers]

Are all these motors the same size? I have stock gearing and stock esc so just say I ordered a magnum I would want it timed to 6* and standard rotation and Holmes Leads included ?

 

[Topher Builds]

Are all these motors the same size? I have stock gearing and stock esc so just say I ordered a magnum I would want it timed to 6* and standard rotation and Holmes Leads included ?

For Capra you need a 540 can, reverse rotation is ideal (because portals reverse the output direction at the axle stub), and 0 timing generally is the common use for crawlers.

Riding the throttle when stuck will smoke some brushed motors on the capra, partially due to the gearing but especially with 2.2s on it. If it’s in your budget maybe consider going brushless. Axe is a good plug and play combo.

 

[530crawlers]

Im not on a budget just trying to find something more plug and play that can tote this weight around. Ideally I don’t want to change gearing or esc at this time. Is axe a Holmes brushless motor? And thanks for the specifics on the timing and rotation.

For Capra you need a 540 can, reverse rotation is ideal (because portals reverse the output direction at the axle stub), and 0 timing generally is the common use for crawlers.

Riding the throttle when stuck will smoke some brushed motors on the capra, partially due to the gearing but especially with 2.2s on it. If it’s in your budget maybe consider going brushless. Axe is a good plug and play combo.