Motor problems on Villain IV

I'm in need of some sound advice. I was here a while ago with a similar problem (but it never really got resolved and I have since forgotten the password to the account).

I have a Villain with an RC-Hydros SC3-LP ESC and two Team Orion Orbital 2 Pro-BB 13x3 motors. I run with Octura X447 and X447R berylium copper propellers, and the boat is wired in series.

My problem is that one (or both) of the motors seems to be having some problems. They both spin fine when not under load, but after being under load one (or both) slowly wind down and lose power. After throttle is returned to neutral and then pumped again, the motors just won't turn at all. I have to manually push the brushes back onto the commutator on both motors before they start up again.

This wouldn't be as severe a problem if it was 80 degrees out. But in the middle of the cold winter when my only place to drive is a fast-moving stream, not being able to move is serious. I need some advice on how to resolve this issue.

The motors only have about 15 minutes on them, so I don't think the commutator needs truing (unless it needed it from the factory).

[Andrewg]

It sounds as if your brushes and maybe springs are shot - well and truly

as brishes wear the dust causes sticking inthe brush guides and the spring exert lesspressure on them - the symptoms you describe are typical of the problem

replace the brushes and springs and get the comms retrued

this will have you going with full power

Also you now know the service intervals for the motors.

[Avenger]

it sounds as if the brush springs are not on the brush! or have come off all together, i think that that is maybe the root of your problem, if u get them running your gona want more than a little creek to run in!

As far as the creek is concerned, that's been my problem all along... I barely touch the throttle and the boat is gone. Running at 33 MPH with a boat meant for 20 MPH on open water is hard enough... trying to do it in a creek I can almost jump across is about impossible (with no reverse as an added benefit :) ).

I was in the basement experimenting while waiting for responses, and I just threw on two brushes from a Peak Performance Nightmare 2 stock motor that lit on fire in a car a year or two ago. It seems to have been the left motor that was causing all the commotion, and while I want to run to the LHS this weekend to pick up some new brushes and perhaps some springs with more tension, I think I can run for the rest of the week alright (considering I can only hit about 15 in the river).

Thanks for the input guys. The pic I posted above is kinda old, it was only running at 16 MPH. My cousin just bought an $800 digital camera that does vids too so I will probably be updating my site pretty soon.

While I am on the topic, the Villain is obviously (when looking at the hull) not meant for high speeds, but having too much time and money, I've been slowly modifying it to this stage, and running at my 33 MPH top speed (on 7.2 volts with el-cheapo $15 battery packs, talk about cheap speed) really gets hairy; the boat tail walks, chine walks, porpoises, and has just about every bad trait known to man (still fun as heck). What can I do to keep it from porpoising and doing all the other above mentioned things?

[Pooley929]

Look at this pic I'm pointing to the brush spring and the retianer hook Do you have the spring in the hook or do you have a spring at all?:confused:

Hehe... ouch.

Yeah, I know everything is correct, it's something with the brush spring I pulled out that isn't right...

[Andrewg]

Hi

get the drives aligned accurately and as straight & flat as possible - then try turn fins and trim tabs

Sharpen the edges of the hull and strakes for better grip

that will settle things

Thats about as far as it is worth going on this boat - now get a race boat. The Traxxas is a neat boat (hey Jeff Vasquez is a fan) but you will find a 6 cell racer runs as fast/faster and handles better.

I know I'm at the limit of the Villain's capabilities, and have been looking at some hulls for quite some time... something about the Villain just really pulls me in. It handles waves (I race on a large lake with a lot of chop) better than a lot of the shallower entry 6 cell boats at a higher speed.

What are some recommendations for 6-12 cell (larger preferably) boats that would be inexpensive to get up and running at a comparable speed???

[Pooley929]

Think electro Vee