x speed motor mod

[Hudson5150]

I installed the xspeed motor in my xmod. On first installation I matched the positive and negative wires to the xspeed motor in the same place the wires are on the xspeed motor out of the package. Once installed the car went in reverse when I pulled the trigger on the control and then forward when I applied the brakes. I just reversed the wires on the motor and now it works fine. Now (after the wires have been switched) when I go in reverse (the origional forward for the xspeed) the car moves faster than when I go forward. I think this is because the motor is running backwards as to the way it was meant to run. Any ideas on how I can solve this? Any way I can get the motor to run in the direction is was meant to run?

[neurokinetik]

It's a timing issue. I'm not sure how to solve it at this point. The motor runs with advanced timing in one direction, and retarded timing in the other. I've been seeing the same behavior in other Mini-Z motors as well. Usually the timing is adjusted by rotating the endbell (and brushes) relative to the motor can.



Here's a thought...

Maybe the motor shaft could be forced out through the end bell, and the pinion mounted on the endbell side instead, which would allow the motor to run in the proper direction. The mounts would need to be revised in order to make this work.

[Morphes]

kinda the lazy way out of the problem but u could just reverse the body and run in reverse and have backwheel turn! how much are those xspeed motors?

[Hudson5150]

The xspeed motors are between 15 and 20 dollars depending where you go. I paid 19 and change for mine.

Thanks for the replies guys. I added 2 more cells to the car and it is way fast now. I think if I fixed the motor problem it would be too fast to control.

What I will try however is one of the tamiya motors maybe the ultra dash or the plasma dash. Can anyone offer some advice on this upgrade before I try it? I worry about the FETs being able to handle these motors. Other people have posted that they installed these motors just fine, but failed to mention if they upgraded the FETs or not.

[neurokinetik]

I just made a couple of discoveries last night.

1. The problem with going faster in reverse than forward may not be the motor at all. I didn't check my X Speed, but all my other motors run the same speed in both directions, which indicates "neutral" timing. The problem lies in the mechanics of the car, causing more friction going forward than reverse. With one of the motors I was testing, I swore there was a timing problem, but there really wasn't. It's the drivetrain.

2. Timing can be advanced, yielding nice gains. I have a stage 2 motor that runs just as fast as my X Speed now. Maybe faster. How did I do it? By adjusting the commutator on the armature. Not a new trick by any means, but one I hadn't ever tried before.

So, the only thing I have left to do is to test my X Speed in an unloaded condition and see if it indeed runs differently in one direction than the other. If it does, I now know how to fix it.

[cisco]

Originally posted by neurokinetik

2. Timing can be advanced, yielding nice gains. I have a stage 2 motor that runs just as fast as my X Speed now. Maybe faster. How did I do it? By adjusting the commutator on the armature. Not a new trick by any means, but one I hadn't ever tried before.

How do you adjust the commutator on the armature?

[neurokinetik]

I just used a pair of needlenose pliers and ever-so-gently twisted the commutator in the proper direction. Since these motors spin clockwise, (as viewed from the pinion gear side) to advance the timing, you would twist the commutator in the clockwise direction. It is important not to use the pliers directly on the commutator contacts, but grip using the collar closer to the armature windings.
You don't need (or want) to twist very far, and I wouldn't do this on a motor that you can't afford to ruin. It is best to experiment on a stage 1 motor or one of those $2.99 jobs that RS sells, until you get the hang of it. Many things can go wrong when you are disassembling and reassembling the motor. You can mess up the brushes, pop the bearings out of the motor can or misalign them, all of which will make you slower than when you started.

Last night, I performed this operation on the X Speed motor, and it now spins faster in the forward (clockwise) direction than reverse.

However, I messed up the brushes a bit, so it isn't running quite as strongly as it should be. Oh well, time to sacrifice a stage 1 motor... :lol:

[TypeZer0]

you got any pics to show how you did it? i wanna try this on the stock motor but i'm only 95% sure of what to do, i need you for the other 5%

[neurokinetik]

I just bought a set of stage 1 motors, plus one of those $1.99 motors for testing. Perhaps I'll make a "Motors 101" guide.

[xxxmod]

Open the moter & switch mags around. prob. solved

[Rodrick]

I know this is a real old post but if reversing the wires will make the car run correct why not solder red to red and black to black and keep in mind you need to push the throttle forward to go forward. No one will want to drive your car cause it will confuse them.

[newbitowner]

the kyosho xspeed motor can be used on a stock xmod?

[Rodrick]

thats what im reading newbitowner the guy at my LHS told me it should be faster than the stage 2 motors but i think they are the same turn (49 i think) but dont quote me on that.if they the same turn i dont see how is it faster

[hotrod29728]

Probably the Polarity of the motor needs to be switched just flip the magnets around... Had the same problem... As for the Xspeed being faster I'm sure it's the quality of the winding (hand as to machine) and the magnets.... Hope this helps...

[newbitowner]

no mod fets are reqiured?