Do brushless motors need breaking in?

[zeta30]

I amin the process of putting a brushless in my SC and am wondering if they require any break in?

I'll post pics once it's done.

[mrmugen]

Nope...just mount, plug and play. They rock! Have a blast and report your happieness back here.

[zeta30]

It may be a while before I get a chance to try it out. We are beginning our anual 9 months of straight rain here in the Portland Oregon area...

[mrmugen]

Move!

[spar]

mrmugen said:

Move!

Be sure to pick a good place:

supercubclub.proboards78.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1191364704

[zeta30]

I would never consider moving.

Although I love to fly my SC, my first love is Windsurfing and I have the best windsurfing in the world just an hour drive away...

[zeta30]

Here are the pics of my upgrade...

I got this idea from Timn on this board who used the same motor. It is a PKZ4116 from a Parkzone Typhoon. It is almost a straight bolt on upgrade.

The only mod I needed to do was cut some plastic off the motor gear box.



This is the inside of the cub. I went with a AR6000 receiver and will use my DX7 radio. You can't really see it but I cut a trench in the front so the wires that go through the fuse are in this trench to the hole. This will give the front a nice smooth surface so when I slide the battery in it won't catch on anything.

I'm debating on hanging the antennae wires out the side but haven't made up my final mind yet.



An finally this is the motor mounted in the front.



We are supposed to have some dry weather tomorrow so I hope to test it out then.

[zeta30]

Update on the brushless test flight.

WOW! I can't believe the power it had. I was used to flying the stock, brushed motor with a LiPo battery so I already had more power than stock, but the brusless was amazing.

With the LiPo upgrade I was flying at 3/4 - full throttle and enjoyed the speed. With the brushless motor it seemed to have the same power at 1/4 throttle as I did at full throttle. It was almost too scary fast.

It took me a while to get used to take offs because I normally would give it full throttle to get airborn and a good climb rate. I tried this with the brushless and the plane would just flip on to the nose. So I had to get used to giving it just 1/4 throttle until it was airborn.

Once airborn I never did go full throttle as the wind was picking up and it was getting a little nerve racking. The servos I installed must be faster than the stock too because I noticed that I just barely had to move the right stick to get instant changes in direction.

I do recomend the brushless upgraade, but not if you are a beginner. I would wait until you get some experience flying the stock plane first.

Oh mental note...the next time I go to fly don't forget tools. In one of the nose in ground take offs I broke a prop. I was smart enough to bring a spare but not smart enough to bring tools. Fortunately I keep a leatherman in the car and that was able to get the nut off the prop...

[mrmugen]

Expert Tip #0023 Use your new prop as a wrench to get the old one off The back side of the new one has a wrench built right in...hehe.


zeta....I also enjoy some good days of wind surfing but haven't in a few years. I have a board still but been too busy to go. I also enjoy kitesurfing. I think I like it better than wind surfing. It's a toss up....

[zeta30]

Awesome! A fellow boardhead. The local boardheads in Hood River call the kitesurfers "Teabagers". There was some pretty big animosity between the two a couple years back, kind of like the snow skier/snow boarder rivalry, it still flares up on some message boards now and then but for the most part we all get along.

Regarding the expert tip... I said I wasn't smart, I never would have thought of using the prop as a wrench, excelent tip I will definately remember that one.

[mrmugen]

There is always some testosterone flowing around these sports. I laugh at anyone who thinks what they do is better than another persons enjoyment.

[flydiver]

Do you fly down in the Gorge? I've started bring a plane (Slow Stick), mostly to teach a fellow Boarder with. Last time I brought and Aerobird Challenger also and went up on the ridge about 10 miles out of town above Panorama Point to a slope soaring spot. We got directions from the Hobby shop in HR. It was a lame easterly that day so the slope was running "backwards" but I got to play around on a shallow grassy slope in way more wind than I normally fly in Seattle. It was fun and challenging. Apparently the Gorge is a known big time site for the soaring community. It would be great for thermaling and sloping. I've been able to keep the slow stick up for a long time on the updraft from a big parking lot. Opened my eyes up to new possibilities on low wind days there.
The biggest hassle is transporting large fragile planes in a board van. Durable slopers should be fine though. I may have to build one for next season.

flydiver

[zeta30]

I've never taken a plane to the Gorge. A good windsurfing day means 25-30mph winds, which means way too windy for the SC.

I could definitely see that area as a good place for model sail planes though. There are a lot of cliffs and hills to launch from.

[zeta30]

I took the newly modded plane up yesterday. No wind at all and what a blast. The new motor will lift the plane straight vertically for about 50' right after take off.

I gave it full throttle throttle a couple of times but when I did that I the prop would vibrate excessively at the high rpm's.

Next mod coming up will be ailerons...

[duck9191]

zeta30, you could try to balance your prop or try a differnt brand to help stop the vibration, it can do some damage if its left untreated.