DIY Network

Electrically Powered RC Cars: Performance Motor Upgrade From "Radio Control Hobbies" episode RCH-204

In this segment, Chris Chianelli performs a performance upgrade on an electrically powered RC truck. After having replaced the speed controller, the stock motor will now be replaced with the high performance Trinity (TM ) motor.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G
	Figure H
	Figure I
	Figure J
	Figure K
	Figure L
	Figure M
	Figure N
	Figure O

Important: This demonstration provides some of the basic information for assembly and operation of this particular model truck. There are variations in assembly for each particular model. Read and carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions that come with yours, whether it is this particular model or another. Additional information about assembly as well as running, troubleshooting and fine-tuning the model can be found in the manufacturer's instructions.

Performance-Motor Upgrade: Removing the Stock Motor

• To remove the old motor, you'll first need to remove the dust-cover end-bell by loosening and removing the screws using a Phillips-head screwdriver (figure A).

• Next, use a 1.5 Allan-driver to remove the pinion gear (figure B). Once it's removed, save the pinion gear as it will be used with the new motor.

• With the pinion gear removed, use a Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen and remove the screws that hold the motor in position (figure C). Once both screws are removed, the motor should simply drop out of its holder.

Installing the New Motor and Soldering Connections

• Start by stripping off the insulation from the ends of yellow and blue wires connected to the speed controller. (On this particular speed controller, the yellow wire is positive and the blue is negative.)

• Positive and negative symbols etched on either side of the new motor end-bell (figure D) designate the positive and negative sides of the end-bell.

• Note that the motor's brushes (which do eventually wear out and must be replaced) are easily removable on this motor (figure E). Replacement brushes for this motor are available for when they get worn out due to contact with the rotating commutator inside the motor.

• For soldering the connections between the motor and speed controller, use the soldering iron to tin the end of the motor's connectors using rosin-core solder (figure F).

• Do the same to tin the ends of the stripped wires connected to the speed controller (figure G). Tinning the connections first in this way helps ensure a better solder connection.

• Once all the ends have been tinned, solder the first connection together (figure H) -- making sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and wire color-coding for proper polarity.

• Next, solder the second wire to the proper connector (figure I), making certain that you achieve a solid solder-connection.

• Tip: The wires connecting our new speed controller to the new motor were already a suitable length. You may find that you need to trim off some of the length of the new wires before soldering the connections in order to avoid having a lot of loose wire inside the chassis.

• With the solder connections made, install the new motor inside the housing and secure it with its mounting screws (figure J). At this point, don't tighten the screws all the way down. You'll need some play in the positioning in order to adjust for the gear mesh.

• Reinstall the pinion onto the new motor, making sure to align the flat surface on the output shaft with the corresponding surface inside the pinion. Once the gear is properly aligned, tighten it in position using the Allan driver used earlier (figure K).

• Set the gear mesh by first snugging down one of the motor's mounting screws, then adjusting the gear mesh, avoiding a "notchy" feel when you rotate the gears (figure L). Once you have the proper adjustment, tighten down the second mounting screw.

• With the gear-mesh set, reinstall the dust-plate bell-housing (figure M).

• The final step in the installation is to mount the new on/off switch. The mounting position may vary according to the model vehicle and the type of modification you do. Select a convenient location that doesn't interfere with moving parts. We installed ours on a flat portion of the chassis (figure N) using double-sided tape.

• With the new motor and speed controller installed, you can test them for operation. Turn the transmitter on first, plug in the battery, turn on the receiver and check radio operation for both forward and reverse (figure O).

In the segment that follows, Chris takes the hopped-up RC truck for a test run.