Has your motor lost it's zip? Tired of being pulled three feet down the main chute? Wouldn't you just love to have a tad more horsepower? Well, fellow frustrated velocity seekers, it just could be time to send your sleepy mill in for some much needed "reconditioning".

Just what exactly is "reconditioning", you might ask, and what exactly can it do for my tired power plant? Reconditioning consists of a few basic procedures that will restore your motor to new, or often even better then new, condition.

How do you tell when your motor is due for reconditioning? Here's a list of some signs and tips for what to look for:

If your motor slows suddenly, or smells funny, stop it immediately. In some cases it may already be too late, but often it can be saved. This could be a sign that your armature has gotten too hot, and the commutator becomes distorted. Check the commutator for discoloration, arcing, or "trenching". It also could be caused by the brushes "hanging up", or the brush springs getting too hot and losing their temper. This doesn't mean their angry...it just means the metal isn't as springy any more. In any of these cases, the motor is due for a rebuild.

If your motor has raced in several races, or you can't even remember how long it's been since you last rebuilt it....it's probably due for a rebuild. Check it for dirt & grime, brush wear, and commutator wear. The lifespan varies a lot for different types of motors and different racing conditions.

"Glue" racing takes its toll on your fragile little torque monster. It's a tremendous strain on a motor to try to pull out of a quicksand-like puddle of glop at such tremendous speeds. In high-powered group 7 racing with glue, you're lucky if you get a few heats out of a motor before it goes south. Group 27's can run a whole race, depending on conditions. Group 12's and 15's can last a few races, depending on the track, power, and glue conditions. Racing 16D's on a glued-up track is risky, or even stupid, in my opinion.

"Spray-glue" racing is much easier on motors, as the motor is not being forced to accelerate out of such drastic bogs. Eurosport motors can last for a few races, but should be checked, if not rebuilt for each race. Group cars can last several races in spray glue conditions.

"No-glue" racing is by far the easiest on motor life. You have to actually remember to check over your motors routinely, as it may be easy to neglect your poor over-worked motor, and leave it in too long. I have 1/32nd scale cars that I race on club tracks, and they last an entire race season. Some of the more anal racers even keep notes to keep track of their motors performance and maintenance schedules. Check mainly for sludge and wear. You can even use a "spray bomb" electronics cleaning spray, or lighter fluid to keep them clean. Be carefull not to use anything that has an oily base. Dirt and grime are your motor's mortal enemies.

Cleaning:

All motor services begin with cleaning. Face it, your motor's usually pretty cruddy by the time you decide to recondition, so obviously the motor services need to have some efficient ways to strip away the grime. They use ultrasonic cleaners, the same as a jeweler uses, to clean your little gems. Special solvents are used as well, to make them all good and clean. The shafts are cleaned to get rid of solder, as this could effect the balancing. When they're all done, they put on a nice coat of armature dye to prevent rust, and put them in a nice little protective tube.

Armature Rebalancing:

Armatures are balanced using fairly expensive and specialized balancing machines. They are "dynamically" balanced, meaning that they are balanced basically in all directions. A strobe light pinpoints the heavy sides, and they are marked and drilled to remove a small amount of material until they are balanced. Theories vary greatly on how crucial the need is for balancing. Many say that armatures experience a "shift" when they are new, and require a rebalance after breaking them in the first time. The need for armature balance also varies proportionately with the speed of racing you're doing. Obviously, the more RPM's you motor's expected to do, the more effect balance has on it. On a short track, you may not ever be able to detect any difference in performance due to armature balance. On a King track, many racers wouldn't dare consider not running a freshly balanced arm.

Commutator Retrueing:

Commutator trueing is more widely considered essential, can greatly improve the performance of your motor, and actually can increase an armature's lifespan. This is done on extremely precision jeweler quality lathes, using diamond bit cutting tools. Even though there is a limit to how many times a commutator can be cut before it runs out of material, it is much worse if you run it until your brushes wear a "trench" in it. Exactly how many recuts can be done can vary as well, depending on how out of round, worn, or trenched it is when you get it retrued. Lifespan is also effected by how deep a cut the service makes, but believe me, all the services listed here take much pride in their ability to take the smallest cut possible.

Engraving:

Several motor services offer engraving. This is handy to label the wire size - & number of turns (ie: 38t-26) on your armatures, or to put your initials or other identifying marks on them. Just don't expect them to fit your drivers license number, social security number, the 23rd Psalm, or your favorite Pearl Jam lyrics on your favorite little precious toy car armature! OK?

Stack Grinding:

Some of the services offer "stack grinding". This involves turning down the armature stack on a precision lathe to a specified smaller diameter. Sometimes this is done to achieve a larger air gap between the arm and the magnets, resulting in more top end, or different power curve. Sometimes it is to merely use an armature in a set-up made with a narrower air gap. It is also done to true the stack, similar to the comm. cutting, as it is possible for the stack to become out of round as well. Have a look at the individual company info for more on this.

Remagnetizing:

Several of the services will "ZAP" your magnets for you. This is done with a magnetizer, which is a very heavy box full of wire spooled around an iron core, with heads ground to match your magnets curvature. They are usually wired to humungous capacitors that store up the electricity, and then discharge with a huge "ZAP!" sound...hence the name. Gauss Meters are used to measure and match the strength of the magnets. Magnet "zapping", or remagnetizing, again is a very subjective area. Basically, the stronger your magnets, the more acceleration and brakes your motor will have. It's also true that stronger magnets result in less "top end", or straight-away speed. This, of course, is affected, and can be tuned, by a whole slug of other factors; such as: air gap, brush tension, armature wind, gear ratio, tire size, body aerodynamics, glue conditions, sun spots, alien autopsy results, government conspiracies, fad-of-the-week, etc...

Honing:

"Honing" is done with diamond coated tools that come in a variety of sizes. This accomplishes a couple of things. First of all, it enlarges the "air gap", or space between your armature and magnets, to a desired amount. If your armature is .513" diameter, and your magnets are honed to .525", then you've got a .012" "air gap" (or .006" per side). More gap generaly results in more top end and less punch & brakes, and vice versa. Theories vary greatly on what the optimum air gap should be for each particular situation; - but this is another way of achieving perfomance variables, along with all the others mentioned. Second, honing assures that your armature is in the center of the magnetic field. Since the hone's shaft goes through the bearings, it's going to guarantee that your little hummer isn't off-center & scraping on one magnet. Since these hones are diamond coated and precision made, you can buy them - but they aint cheap, so unless you're building a lot of motors it makes since to let the pro's do it for you. Several of the listed vendors offer honing among their services.

"Blueprinting"

"Blueprinting" is a term that's been coined and widely used to basically describe setting up the motor properly. The steps involved in "blueprinting" may vary somewhat by vendor. For the most part, it involves setting up the motor with the proper brush springs, tension, magnet gap, brush hood alignment, bearing alignment, and armature spacing. Some may include reconditioning services and/or magnet zapping as part of their blueprinting. I have included some references briefly to blueprinted motors in the vendor listings, as it is usually offered as a new over-the-counter product, rather then as a service. I consider rebuilding of used motors as a "custom" motor building service, and separate from "blueprinting" new motors.

Custom Motor Rebuilding:

Many of the motor services offer various custom motor building or rebuilding services. This is basically fairly self explanatory, but actually varies a lot between companies. The smaller companies, in general, tend to offer more specialized custom services due to the tremendous time factor involved in motor building. Since this varies, I'll let you read about what custom services are offered from each individual company's info in their respective sections.

Recommendations:

Hey, I've got my journalist hat on, and am just here to let you know what's available, not recommend one over the other! And besides, none of them have ever even tried to bribe me to say otherwise! ;-) Seriously, though, I've been racing slot cars for over 35 years (ugh, I'm old!), and these motor services are comprised of some of the top experts in the history of the sport, and most have been around every since I can remember (no...not last week!). The quality of workmanship and service is first rate, or they wouldn't have stayed in business so long. The services, procedures, and prices are well established, and are pretty consistant from one vendor to another. Most racers choose based on loyalty towards a particular company's products or people. Others choose strictly based on who's closest to them. If you hear any recommendations otherwise, it's most likely just a reflection of the loyalty factor. They all do a fine job. You decide!

Following are listings of each company's motor services offered, in alphabitical order:

DISCLAIMER:

The following listing of slot car motor service providers - was compiled using information obtained from their web sites. Please note that I can not update this information as frequently as the service providers, so always check on their web site, or contact the vendors, for the most current and up to date information.

More and more racers who have a choice are going with Alpha armature reconditioning and motor services. The most discriminating racers in every class of racing are winning with Alpha. P.A. Watson has used Alpha's Armature Reconditioning and motor services in winning 4 National Championships. Isn't it time you find out why? Alpha Products is dedicated to providing excellent workmanship and outstanding service. Our policy is to do all we can to insure customer satisfaction. We take the lightest cut on the commutator which will true it. In nearly all cases, the work will be done and returned to you by First Class Mail, in the same working day. If you are willing to pay the extra cost, even faster return is possible with United Parcel Service Next Day Air or Second Day Air delivery. Please include complete instructions, payment, your return address and phone number. (We can't always read the return address on the outside of the package.) When sending reconditioning please use the proper address and protect your merchandise by using a padded envelope or small box.

We now accept VISA & MasterCard for our motor services only. When using VISA or MasterCard, include your credit card number and expiration date. A receipt will be sent back to you with your order.

Armature Reconditioning
cleaning, com truing and balancing	$4.00
balancing only	$2.00
Motor re-conditioning
C and D can motors	$16.00
if shunted	$20.00
Magnet Zapping
Ceramic magnets only	$1.50/pair
Armature Re-Epoxying and Tag Replacement
including rebalance and re-true	$7.00

 

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Technical info is always free, just a phone call or e-mail away!

Reach me at:

Camen has been in the business of providing the highest quality motor components and services to the most discriminating racers for over a quarter century. During that time, our motor components have 13 times captured the coveted U.S. National Championship in the hotly contested Professional Unlimited motor class, as well as countless lesser titles. During this quarter century our equipment and craftsmen have set the standard by which others are measured, and this tradition continues uninterrupted.

The Legendary CAMEN Motor and Armature reconditioning and Repair services are among the very finest offered to the sport of Slot Car Racing.

We are proud to offer the following services:

Standard retrue and recondition	$5.00
Armature reconditioning is $5 per armature and in addition to the most accurate balancing available in the industry, we offer (at no additional charge) our exclusive "Horizontal Drill" drilling technique that minimizes potential high speed crown destruction that is so prevelant with the latest blank designs.
Grind laminations and recondition (.010" or less) (in addition to recondition cost)	$7.50
Engrave Armature	$2.00
Remagnetize (ceramic or cobalt - setups or magnets)	$2.50
Grind EuroSport Armature Shaft to 1.5mm	$5.00
Contact Joel for Motor Repairs or Rebuilds	CALL

"FAST ONES Is Dedicated To Helping Others Win Races. Our Motors, Services, And Products Have Won Many World, National, And Regional Championships In Both Scale And Wing Car Racing. All Motor And Service Work Is Done By RON HERSHMAN -- Many Time WORLD And NATIONAL CHAMPION. Our Products Are Researched, Developed, And Thoroughly Track Tested Before Release."

FAST ONES has a vast assortment of motors and components. Their line of extensive, over-the-counter "blueprinted" motors, parts, accessories, and tools can be accessed on their complete online catalog at their web site via the link below, and are available at your local raceways.

FAST ONES is the Slot Car Products division of Hershman Enterprises. A complete menu of motor services is available through Motor Dynamics, listed below, which is the Motor Services division of Hershman Enterprises.

GTO High-Tech provides a wide range of slot car products and services. They offer custom build Int. 15's, Grp 27's, Open's, and Eurosport motors. They manufacture an assorted product line of motor components, chassis, and parts.

Please email, or see GTO's Web site (back online soon) for complete listings of their services and products.

Armature recondition: Armature recondition: We have the finest comm truer custom designed and built by Koford featuring ball slides and supporting the armature shaft 360° instead of using V blocks to produce a much more precise and truely round commutator as well as a brand new balancer which is the most sensitive digital balancer in slot car racing. Our service has been used by countless Nat’s winners, Top qualifiers, and used to set total lap and single lap World records. We are careful not to excessively drill your arms when balancing! Treat your armatures to the best. Our service includes cleaning, diamond true, ultra precision balancing, and fast service. Arms should be sent in padded envelope or box only. We accept Master Card and Visa payment and return shipments are by mail or UPS (extra cost) $4.00 ea.

True comm only: True comm only, for unbalanced arm racing classes. $2.00 ea.

Grind stacks, .010" diameter reduction max.: Specify diameter. After running on high power or if allowed to free rev or if broken in on excessive voltage open arms will grow in diameter due to centrifugal force and require grinding to the original diameter to maintain magnet clearance. $1.00 ea.

Grind stacks, more than .010" diameter reduction: specify diameter. $2.00 ea.

Engrave stacks after grinding: $.50

Remagnetize magnets: All cobalts and ceramics. Send magnets in can only. Send in box only, not envelope to avoid crushing by the shipper. $2.00 ea.

Gauss readings after remagnetizing magnets: $1.00

~ Add $.50 per armature or set up for shipping outside the United States ~

WE OFFER COMPLETE AND PROFESSIONAL MOTOR SERVICES TO THE MOST CONCERNING RACER AND RACEWAYS. WE SERVICE AND REPAIR ALL TYPES OF SLOT CAR RACING MOTORS. FROM 16-D TO GROUP 7, WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO PUT YOUR MOTORS IN TOP CONDITION. WE ONLY USE THE FINEST AND MOST ACCURATE EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE TO SERVICE YOUR MOTORS AND NEEDS. OUR BRAND NEW "STATE OF THE ART" BALANCER IS READY & WAITING TO MAKE YOUR ARMATURES PERFORM AT THEIR BEST. WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:

We at Prime Racing take the same care of your equiptment as we do our own. We Diamond true your commutators removing as little material as possible so we extend the life of your armatures. We use what we feel to be the best Micro Dynamic Balancing Equiptment in the industry, and take your armature Balance tolerance down lower than anyone else in the industry.

Mark Schlussman - Prime Racing

Armature Reconditioning Services
Superior Plus Armature Balance ( High Performance )	$3.00
Commutator Resurfacing only (Includes ultrasonic cleaning and dye)	$2.00
Resistance Reading of Armature only	$1.00
Read Armature Timing only	$1.00
Magnet ZAP / Reading Services
Re-magnitize to their full potential	$1.00
Gauss Readings ( Before or After )	$1.00
Gauss Readings ( Before and After )	$1.50
Tire Services
Tire Hardness "Durometer" Readings	$.50/pair
5 Pair Minimum
SHIPPING & HANDLING (USA ONLY-outside call for prices)
1st class mail [Priority] USA Only	$5.00
Express Mail Next Day Shipping USA Only (up to 8 oz.)	$13.00
No Charge Free return shipping with 10 or more armatures [1st class only]	$0

 

Volume Discounts Available ( upon request )

Raceway Discounts Available

Prime Racing

402 Jericho Turnpike

New Hyde Park, NY 11040

(516) 775-8633 or (516) 488-0455

E-Mail : primeracing@primeracer.com

http://www.primeracer.com/

updated - 09/13/05

If you don't know us already PRI has been in the SlotCar business since 1994. We started the with the idea of bringing Wing Car Racers the quality and performance that the factory Pro's demanded. After a short time building for those high end racers, we expanded into armature "reconditioning" and cobalt & ceramic magnet zapping. We purchased equipment with new, state-of-the-art technology and set the new standard in the armature reconditioning business. We now have stack grinding equipment and electronic tools for testing and measuring motor components. We do it all. Since we started there have been many others come and go. Even now we continue to give the best service and the "Best Balance" that is available anywhere. "If we can't improve on the armature balance, then there is no charge for that work".

David Liebenthal

Every armature is ultrasonically cleaned, diamond trued, and precision rebalanced. We will take the lightest cut possible to true your commutator and we recalibrate our machine for each armature. All orders with 6 or more armatures are returned by U.S. Priority Mail (usually delivered within 3 days). Orders with less than 6 armatures are returned by First Class Mail. For faster return, enclose the proper amount for Overnight Shipping.

We accept Visa or MasterCard for our reconditioning services. Include your name as it appears on the card, credit card number, expiration date, phone number, billing address and shipping address. Your receipt will be sent back with your armatures.

Prospeed Racing Products

Assembled by Mark Woday. All Prospeed Products are Professionally Built with the Highest Quality Components to Produce the Most Competitive Motors and Chassis Available. Prospeed products have been used to win USRA and USSCA National titles The Windy City Scale Series Pro Group 10 Championship The Windy City Scale Series Pro GTP Championship USSCA Midwest Scale Nationals Speedworld Summer Series

Reconditioning

C-Can Rebuild Complete C-can rebuild: Replace Bushings, Springs and Brushes Set and Glue magnets. Zap magnets Ultra Sonic Armature cleaning. Protective Dye Coating Diamond True Comm. Meter Armature, all poles. Gauge Shaft for wear.	$18.00
D-Can Rebuild Complete D-can rebuild: Replace Bushings, Springs and Brushes Set and Glue magnets. Zap magnets Ultra Sonic Armature cleaning. Protective Dye Coating Diamond True Comm. Meter Armature, all poles. Gauge Shaft for wear	$18.00

Magnet Matching

MURA style magnets sorted and matched to 1%.	$18.00
SMQ style magnets sorted and matched to 1%.	$19.00
Magnet matching service: Send your magnets to Prospeed. All magnets painted. Fully zapped readings. Email for more info.	$2.00

Custom Motors

Custom Motors Please see our online catalog for a variety of custom blueprinted Koford, Kelly, Proslot, Parma C and D Can motors

Check out Prospeed's New Web Site!

Prospeed Racing Products

Mwoday@prospeed.com

Prospeed Racing Products Web Site

updated: 8/06/04

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Rudy Garriga of Slick 7 writes:

"We don't offer any [motor] services yet...

We are constantly hounded for cobalt zapping, we happen to have the most powerful zapper in the business with some pretty sophisticated gaussing equipment for matching magnets. Most slot racers don't believe this, but the few that have come to our factory and seen it with their own eyes, hound me constantly for "favors"."

"...we are on the fence on whether or not to offer the services and deal with broken magnet gripes (166 Kilogauss is hell on poorly bonded magnets), rushing to the Fed-Ex office all the time etc...

If the readers really push, we may be tempted to do this as well as balancing, arm induction reading, cryogenic transformation treatments, Roswell alien consultations etc... after all, it's a little known rumor that Slick 7 technology came from the Roswell Alien crash site!"

"...possibly the best service available is now only available to "Team" racers... sorry..."

Rudy...

Slick 7 offers an extensive line of slot car products, available at your local raceway.

Be sure to check out the Slick 7 Web Site, for complete information on their products.

Slick 7 Products

3270 Keller St. #109

Santa Clara, CA 95054

email: slick7rudy@slick7.com

Lee Gilbert has been building and racing slot cars from the mid 1960's to the present. Gilbert cars and motors have set numerous records from Group 7 wing racing to Eurosport scale racing.

Viper Balance

Jerry Kastner (aka) Viper Jerry began USRA national wingcar racing in January 2000. That fall Jerry TQ'ed and set the amateur GRP-12 fastest lap record at Port Jefferson Raceway. In 2002 Viper was USSCA National Sprayglue Champion in I-15 and Pro GRP 27, held at RGEO Raceway. In 2003, Jerry became the Amateur Cobalt -12 National Champion at the USRA NATS, held at the Track in Maryland. For 2004, Jerry is the current points leader for PRO GRP-12 and I-15 in the Penn/NJ series. Having traveled and raced at tracks across the country, Keystone and Port Jefferson are considered his home tracks.

Reconditioning

Armature Reconditioning Armature Balance, Commutator resurface, clean and dye.	$4.00
Stack Grind	$4.00

Magnet Zapping

Cobalt Magnet Zap	$4.00
Ceramic Magnet Zap	$2.00

Segment Repair

Replace Magnet (includes segment)	$65.00 (and up)
Ceramic Magnet Zap	$2.00

Custom Motors

Custom C-12 Motor Brand new custom built C-12 single mag motor. Camen .450 can, SMF endbell, RJR arm (add $29.95 for ProSlot or Koford arm substitute). Cahooza hoods, S7 bearings, BFII brushes, etc.

Introductory, limited time offer: $99.95 (plus S&H)

Check out Viper Balance's New Web Site!

Viper Balance Services

P.O.Box 740

Franklin, New Jersey 07416

gkastner@tellurian.net

Viper Balance Web Site

updated: 5/29/04

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DISCLAIMER:

This listing of slot car motor service providers - was compiled using information obtained from their web sites. Please note that I can not update this information as frequently as the service providers, so always check on their web site, or contact the vendors, for the most current and up to date information.

 

Motor Services Web Links

Alpha	Prime Racing
Best O' The West	Proformance
Camen	ProSlot
Fast Ones (email)	Prospeed
GTO High-Tech (email)	Slick 7
Koford	SpeedShop
Motor Dynamics (email)	Viper Balance

(Note: If no web site currently available, above provides links to email )

Editor's Note: In compiling the information for this article, I have strived to obtain information from all slot car motor service vendors available. If there are are more out there who are not included, they have either not responded, or I'm not aware of them, and by no means intentionally neglected them! If there is another service that would like to be included in this guide, please email me, and I will insert the information. One of the beauty of articles on the web is that they can still be added to or updated after publication! ;-)

email: motors@oldweirdherald.com

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