Please explain motors to me

From what I have gathered, it is a given thing that the motors on RC helicopters will wear out, and sooner than later. I have two helicopters right now....the Syma s-001 (a 3 channel coax), and a little 3 channel Syma s-018 Airwolf. And I just ordered the Esky HBFP V2.

So my question is, do the motors really wear out that fast? Why? Is there anything I can do to keep the motor life longer? Tail rotor motors wear out faster?

Seems to me this means two things. One, I might as well stock up on motors for my fav helicopters. Two, I have to learn how to take apart helicopters to replace the motors, which stinks.

Am I missing anything?

Lon

Yes, brushed motors wear out after some time. But you shouldn't worry. They are cheap and easy to replace. I never wearied brushed motor out (I was flying with hb for about ~ 6 months)

I agree p3tras. Also once you learn how to fle a single rotor heli, then you can get the brushless motor for collective pitch helicopters, they are very good motor.

Hey Lon, Welcome to the forum. You might as well get used to the idea of taking your heli apart and reassembling it. It's just part of the fun of the hobby, and there is no big mystery to them. It's like a Holly carb, if you got one on your rod, pretty soon you can take it apart and put it back together blindfolded. It's the brushes that wear out in the "stock" motors. And most of these small motors don't have replaceable brushes. So you just spend the $7.50 and replace it. Anyway, chances are, you'll have it apart many times before you have to replace the motor. Good luck and again, welcome!

chiefqm wrote:

Hey Lon, Welcome to the forum. You might as well get used to the idea of taking your heli apart and reassembling it. It's just part of the fun of the hobby, and there is no big mystery to them. It's like a Holly carb, if you got one on your rod, pretty soon you can take it apart and put it back together blindfolded. It's the brushes that wear out in the "stock" motors. And most of these small motors don't have replaceable brushes. So you just spend the $7.50 and replace it. Anyway, chances are, you'll have it apart many times before you have to replace the motor. Good luck and again, welcome!

Thanks for the welcome and info. And I'm glad to see that motors don't cost so much. I think I will be able to work on the helicopters... If it involves just taking out and putting in screws, connecting and disconnecting wires (no soldering I hope), then I think I can handle that!

Yeah there is soldering involved but its not hard at all.

I had to change the tail motor on my hbfp v1 because the motor shaft got bent in a crash (not because the motor wore out) and it was easy. the new motor was $7.50 and it took me about 20 minutes to change it out. And I have only been into this hobby for about two months!

One way to look at it is this, If you are looking at your heli sitting there broken; what have you got to loose by trying to fix it???? Nothing...


Welcome and enjoy the forum!!!!

J.