Since this is my first post, I should introduce myself (you can skip to the 4th paragraph for my question). I am a multi-scale racer whose 1/24 scale enjoyment started in 1962 and lasted until the last commercial raceway near me closed in 1974. A late 90s internet search revealed that slot cars were not extinct as I had supposed. Fast forwarding to the present, I am retired and have some back and knee issues that wouldn't hold up to turn marshal duties or 3-4 hours of racing.
The good news is that I am about 20 minutes from Fast Track Hobbies in Rocklin and since I am retired have no trouble getting time on their flat track (Yellow Dragon) when everyone else is at work or in school. I have a friend who is interested in racing in NorCal's GT/Hawk class and we both decided to put together a competitive car and work on getting competitive lap times (at least mid 5 seconds). I purchased a car that Justin Colvin put together so we know what a competitive car is like and what we would need to emulate. My friend hit 5.96 last time out (Justin won the NorCal 12/7 GT/Hawk race and had a fast lap time of 4.8 seconds). After the initial shock of how far we need to go to be competitive, I thought that I need to see the kind of driving that nets this fast of lap. Watching my friend's 5.96 second time, It's becoming clear that the key to faster lap times on this flat track is fast acceleration and HARD BRAKING (good segue to my attraction to the PS4002FK and interest in a renewable version).
In my last visit to FTH, I met a gentleman who started with slot cars in 1965 and is just returning to the hobby. He was running a JK X-25 powered by a PS4002FK and sporting an LMP body. He was casually making laps and having multiple offs (a clear indication that he was unfamiliar with the track). He was using Third Eye FET controller (didn't see model but he mention a mid $500 price that he paid). I mention the controller because Third Eye FET controllers have excellent brakes. After making some adjustments, this fellow stopped coming off. His times started in the high 7 second range, moved to the high 6 second range, the to low 6's, high 5's and then consistent 5.3 seconds. Meanwhile, I was calling out the times while witnessing better brakes than any of my Flexi motors. My take-away was that the brakes were the huge difference-maker for the low lap times. Naturally, I couldn't wait to research the PS4002FK (read every post I could find on Slot Blog including numerous concerns about the reliability of the off-shore armatures, narrow commutator, brush modifications needed and push starts--not what I expected!).
I was amazed at the PS4002FK's performance, especially the exceptional braking! I want that performance but I am not interested in the problems mentioned frequently in Slot Blog threads about this motor. Does this motor still have these problems or have they been resolved? There is no current NorCal class that runs this motor but someone mentioned to my friend that FTH may have a Flexi class that will use the PS4002FK. If that is true, I will be putting a PS4002FK (or similar renewable motor) car together immediately following our GT/Hawk project. Since I will be running my car against my friend's car while he prepares for the race class, I would want the same performance in a rebuildable motor (no need for a sealed motor if I am not racing). I can't tell if the PS4002 is a rebuildable version of the FK or whether it is equipped with ceramic magnets. Any ideas on a rebuildable alternative to the PS4002FK?
