25 replies to this topic

[IRRA Retro Racing]

Since the picture of the new short shaft version of the JK Hawk Retro (HR) motor was posted many racers have been concerned about that motor's future in IRRA^®. Please know that the IRRA^® BoD was not fully informed of this development.

What occurred was not an attempt to cut corners, increase profits, or pursue any of the other supposed ulterior motives being discussed on social media. The new owner of JK Products, Tim Homola, desired to reduce the variability of the HR by using new uniform tooling across his motor line-up. The goal was more consistent performance within and between batches of HR motors by manufacturing them to higher tolerances. NO other spec besides shaft length was altered. Because IRRA^® uses shaft length to identify the HR from the H7 he then had each motor laser engraved. Unfortunately, he didn’t foresee the other issues about which some are concerned.

JK has sufficient stock of bulk-packed original HR motors to last until a new order of the original spec HR motors can be received. These will be sealed in a poly bag with header card, not the bubble pack currently used. The short shaft HR will be used in other ways by JK Products and WILL NOT BE LEGAL at any event using IRRA^® rules.

All racers should appreciate the fact that Tim Homola desires to give slot racers the best possible products and should also understand that considerable resources are being expended toward that end. He has committed to working more closely with the IRRA^® BoD, the tracks, racers, and any other slot racing organizations to try to prevent these situations in the future.

Thanks to all the racers who didn’t jump to conclusions without facts and let the problem be addressed in the proper way.

Bottom line: The HR has not changed. They are still available. And they are still legal (the long shaft version) in racing under IRRA^® rules.

 

(Posted for the IRRA^® Board by Mike McMasters)

[CoastalAngler1]

What is the ruling on the RH motors that do not have the letter 'R' (the ones that only say 'Made in China')?

[MSwiss]

Those are and always have been legal.

[Arne Saknussem]

Seems simple enough. Well done.

[Half Fast]

Kudos to to the BoD and Tim Homola for resolving this matter so quickly.

 

Cheers,

[Butters37]

Any word on if the harder brushes will become standard from now on or is JK going back to the older version for everything? He mentioned it in his press release and was hoping maybe one of the BoD members might have that information.

[Cheater]

Tim posted this on the JK Facebook page, in reference to the 'new' JK Hark Retro:
 

The only changes at this point are the shaft length and laser etchings.

[MSwiss]

Confused at what you're getting at.

Any difference in brushes are a production variance, not any conscious request for hard or soft brushes.

[Butters37]

When JK made the press release showing off the improvements it mentioned a harder brush. With him going back to the older style of arm I was curious if anybody knew if the harder brush was staying or back to the older batch. Has no relevance with the IRRA^®. Just curious with what production runs were going to do. Like maybe it came up.

[MSwiss]

When JK made the press release showing off the improvements it mentioned a harder brush.

 

What press release was this?

 

Old? New?

[MSwiss]

In my conversations with Tim, he mentioned if any raceway or racer has the shorter shaft motors (still in the package), that they are unable to use because of the particular rules they race under, he will be happy to exchange them.

 

Please send them back directly to JK or your distributor.

[Butters37]

It was on his Facebook page.

[Butters37]

Maybe announcement is a better wording.

[MSwiss]

I saw a reference to new laser engraving, in December 2014.

 

Other than that, you'll have to point it out/quote a date.

 

His catalog motor page has brush references, but only refers to new, harder brushes for the Hawk 7 and Hawk 25.

 

For the Hawk Retro, the implication is it's always been a feature.

 

http://www.jkproducts.com/page6.html

[Tom Thumb Hobbies]

Jason,

 

The HR motors will stay exactly as they have been. No changes.

[Butters37]

Thank you, Mike. Was just curious.

[Butters37]

Sorry to confuse you, Swiss. I went and looked for it. I saw it on Facebook somewhere. I bet it's buried in comments. But all is well now.

[MSwiss]

In my conversations with Tim, he mentioned if any raceway or racer has the shorter shaft motors (still in the package), that they are unable to use because of the particular rules they race under, he will be happy to exchange them.

 

Please send them back directly to JK or your distributor.

[wicked01]

Just a quick question... after the long shaft version runs out is the Retro Hawk gonna become illegal or is JK gonna continue to make them with the long shafts?

[MSwiss]

From Post #1:

 

JK has sufficient stock of bulk-packed original HR motors to last until a new order of the original spec HR motors can be received.

 

IOW, he will be getting a new batch of original spec/long shaft motors back in, and will continue to.

[wicked01]

Thanks, Mike...

[Tom Harrington]

Is there a difference in the wind of a JK Hawk Retro (HR) with no  factory engraving on the can and a JK Hawk Retro (HR) with laser engraving, "R Made in China? A local raceway has declared all JK Hawk (HR) motors with no factory engraving to be illegal at the track for retro racing because they are faster than the laser engraved  JK Hawks citing a de-wind and comparison of the two motors. Is there another motor that is not engraved that closely resembles the JK Hawk that may have been misidentified as a JK Hawk?  

[Ramcatlarry]

The two rental/homeset car Hawks have the longer shafts of the HR, but they only are intended to rev to 15,000 and 25,000 RPM - the Hawk-15 and Hawk -25.  The H-15 has real long shafts, since it is used in the direct drive 1/32 frame where the tires are mounted right on the armature

[Samiam]

. Is there another motor that is not engraved that closely resembles the JK Hawk that may have been misidentified as a JK Hawk?

The Hawk 7. But it has a short EB shaft. The batch of Hawk Retros that came through with short shafts are not legal in IRRA^® for that reason.
 
Also see posts #2 and #3.

[John Streisguth]

If someone is finding older motors "faster," that just the luck of the draw on production batches.  

 

I haven't found any batches to be faster than others, but I have found break-in time varies. The latest batch I have took a lot of track time to get up to speed.