4 replies to this topic

[FVracer]

Any recommendations for awakening stored motors that were kept in plastic motor boxes in our home? Mostly Retro Hawk but some Hawk 7. All have good brush thickness. I have read, I think, that stored motors rarely return to their prior performance.

[mreibman]

I'm not sure about motors losing performance over time in a box. However, time waits for no motor.

In the last 2 weeks, I pulled out a motor that has not been in a car or run for about 30 years. I ran it and went lap times that surpassed most of the local guys playing around.

I would suggest some things to check before you return it to service:
- check the foam in the motor box. I have had some of that turn to mush and that gets itself into the motor. Remove it with a brush and compressed air.
- visually inspect the motor. If anything looks out of whack, address that first.
- make sure it still turns! Sometimes the arm will develop rust or corrosion in the bushings/bearings
- blow the motor out with compressed air
- give the motor a rinse with your preferred motor spray cleaner
- lubricate the motor. Turn the arm by hand to spread this into the bushings/bearings.
- treat the motor to a brief spin at 3v on your power supply to make sure it's working.
-if it's not right at 3v, go through it.
- if it's right at 3v, crank it up BRIEFLY (like 2 seconds) to a higher voltage, i.e. 6v. LISTEN. Check amp draw. Turn back down to 3v, then off.


FYI I let all my slot cars sit idle for 20 years. All of them ran nicely when I pulled them out, but they are slower than today's cars.

[Bill from NH]

Sometimes the material the comm plates are embedded in degrades over time. It might look okay & be okay, then it might not be okay on some old arms.

[Paul Menkens]

I have old Mabuchi 16 and 36ds and Strombecker Hemi 300 and 400s that still run great

[FVracer]

Thanks for the info