zato-1

Hey fellas. Finally got my new stampede (The Waterproof one too ).

There're alot of semi dirt tracks here i can run it on but because i'm in egypt we don't have hobby shops that sell after-run cleaners for the motor and the metal parts.

I had a quick run in sandy dirt, used a blower to clear the sand from it, took off the wheels and cleaned the area under the rims. But just blew some air into the motor.

My question is, would it be safe to use canned air (the computer cleaning stuff), and/or WD-40 to clean the motor? Should i blow that stuff right into it?

If not, suggest a commonly available spray/lube (not-specific to RC car motors) or the active ingredient (Grease, oil etc) and i'll try to find a product containing it.

Thanks in advance

Bobbys.Hobbies

wd-40 or carb cleaner is fine

mycarisaser

DONT USE WD40 ON THE MOTOR! It has a high dielectric strength. It puts an electrical resistant coating over the com. Not good. Just dont ask how I know[&:] . I cleam my truck with wd40 though. I put it on with a paint brush and keep wiping it until dry(it makes the truck look like new again)

gmcman

I'm not saying it doesn't harm an electric motor, but I have used WD-40 many times to start a wet engine.

Whenever I sprayed down the engine back in the day, I would sometimes not get it to start but I would pop off the distributor cap and spray the WD-40 on the electrical contacts and voila!! it would start.

zato-1

Yes but mine's an ELECTRIC stampede.. Not nitro.

So what should i spray INTO the Titan 12T to clean it up? Compressed air? like cassette cleaner canned air? or canned air u use for your pc? Or would that ruin anything?

keithinspace

There is a canned product made especially for cleaning electric motors. Most hobby stores should have it either alone (if they're electric only) or right beside the nitro spray (if they sell both). Stateside, it is about $7 per can.

Absolutely no bueno on using WD-40. Wrong thing to use on an electric motor. You're better off using air, but definitely best to use electric motor cleaner. In my electric days, I remember always being amazed at the amount of crap that gets chewed up inside those motors...first second or two of spray would run out black.

ratpower396

i have heard of people taking the motors out & breaking them in in a container of water..I dont see why you couldnt take it out & run it in water pinion gear down in a container untill it comes out clean..Just make sure to blow it out with air to dry it completely & relube the bushings..

mycarisaser

Water leaves residue. Motor cleaner doesnt. Either way you still need to relube the bushings. You will be surprised with how much junk will come out of a motor(even after you hit it with an aircompresser)

Hogknuckles

Spray it down with denatured alcohol, then blow it out with a can of air or air compressor.

zato-1

Alright, electric motor cleaner and canned air it is , then.

Of course i'd need to look somewhere other than hobby shops for that (We have NO hobby shops here).

About relubing the bushings, what's that? Any guides online on how to do that? What lube/grease should i use ? (again no hobby-specific stuff, there must be some lubes available for other things that work for that)

gmcman

I was actually referring to full-size automobiles with distributor caps. Where the rotor turns and hits the contact for each plug wire to send current for a spark, the WD-40 would allow current to flow instead of a wet inside of a distrubutor cap which would allow the spark to jump around and cause a no-start.

Point I was making is the WD-40 is a "Water Displacement"..hence the name WD. Where water would wreak havoc in an electrical system, the WD-40 would remove the short of water.

But would likely not be the wise choice for your application

mycarisaser

I am an electrican and I use wd40 all the time for water removal fron my electrical devices. I live on the beach so these poor houses and businesses get tore up fron the salt water. For something as sesitive as a com and brushes its not wise. Lubing the bushing is an easy thing Take some wd40 and put on a Qtip and make sue it goes into the end of the motor where the shaft exits fron both ends(some motors have bushing there and higher end motors have bearing) These need to stay lubed but you dont need alot b/c excess lube will just attract dirt and ruin the bushings or bearins over time.

Emcee_MadCatz

Most automotive shops/hardware stores have electric cleaner. It's pretty strong but does not leave a residue (specifically a di-electric residue). Safe for plastics and all too. We get it here for about $7 for a big can. The lhs sells similar product for $10 at half the size.

I have no idea where you would find it in egypt though. The only thing I can imagine you try are mechanics (if you can't find a hardware store). They would use them for cleaning car alternators.

Regarding gmc's point about WD-40 in the distributor. The di-electric film left by WD-40 has little to no effect on fill size autos especially in the distributor because the thin film can easily be burned off the first or second time the engine turns over. This is due to the high voltage and amperage your battery outputs. The RC batteries put out 16.8V sometimes but usually run up to 4500mAH or 4.5 amps. In comparison, your car battery probably cranks out 850 amps which essentially burns a hole through the film.

**EDIT**
The term used for electric cleaner is "Safety Solvent". Lol I just happened to felt like cleaning my engine and figured I'd find out the right name.

-Madcatz

Evader Owner 19

Get <u>rubbing</u> alcohol, put the alcohol into a sprayer that is empty, spray motor till the soot comes out clean. If you dont have rubbing alcohol good luck :P