Motor Cleanup

[whoelseisbored (LiamHowe89)]

Sooo... stacked it. Right into some muddy grass 

A motor got caked in mud. Any ideas on the best way to clean it up? Do I need to take the bell off? Get a brush in there or something?

Turns by hand but can feel a bit of resistance so obviously not right.

[ched]

You could try a brush first. Might be easiest to wash it out under a tap but make sure the esc etc can't get wet. Maybe put quad in a plastic bag with an elastic band round the arm to seal it so just motor sticking out.
If you decide to take the bell off then take the clip off while it's inside a bag as they ping off never to be seen again!!

[Bad Raven]

Make sure ONLY the iffy motor gets the following, so double protect the rest!

NO PROPS AT ALL ON.

Immerse the motor in water for ten mins, then use a combination of spinning it and flushing with fresh water to remove the loosened mud slurry. A soft brush is OK (ish) if not shedding hairs or scratching the wiring insulation. Best just water flow though.

Once visibly clean a wash with Isopropyl Alchohol if you have any but then dry, then oil bearings (even if shielded ones!)

Once sure its dry, then run at low speed and ensure dry and running without obvious scraping, oil bearings again, and run up (somewhere ejected oil won't hurt!!) - do not hold full throttle/revs with no prop load, but fast enough to be sure it runs well.

Props on, hover a battery.  Spin by hand and ensure smooth.


PS i used to run in brushed motors on RC cars underwater at low revs, as long as no salt, water is good enough insulator and adds a small load and keeps brushes cool till shaped in fully.