How to clean FPV bldc motors?

Why it essential to clean FPV drone motors?

It’s likely that you have seen that FPV drone motors are not well protected. The bldc motor windings are clearly visible from both below and above the fpv motor.

What may happen if not clean your fpv drone motors in time?

Here are some incidents that may occur if you not clean your fpv drone motors in time.

• Overheating: The fpv motor dissipates heat through clean airflow across it; therefore, if the magnetic surfaces of the rotor are heavily contaminated, the heat may not dissipate effectively. Your motors run hotter than they should as a result of this.
• Wear and excessive friction: The crushed ceramic particles between the rotor and stator cause wear and increased friction in addition to harming the polished surface. Over time, this could cause irreparable damage to the drone motors.
• ESC overloading: The motor movement is slowed by the accumulation between the rotor and stator. The power drain will rise as a result of the ESC sending the motor additional current in order to make up for it. You run the risk of burning your ESC or motor coils if things grow worse. Preventive software on certain expensive drones can identify clogged motors in the event of an overload.
• Damage to the bearing: A motor’s bearing is a crucial part that is frequently prone to mechanical failure. Because brushless motor bearings are partially sealed, there’s a chance that tiny dirt particles could enter the bearing and contaminate the lubricant. Over time, this will lead to bearing failure.
• High noise: The sound of a clogged motor is similar to scuffing two metallic or ceramic surfaces together. Not enjoyable to hear.

Why don’t strengthen the motor protection?

Here are some reasons not to strengthen the motor protection.

• Weight: We work to create motors that are lighter to improve performance in terms of responsiveness and the total weight added to the drone.
• Heat: To keep the motors cool, there must be enough ventilation.

As a result, dirt and other impurities are very likely to become lodged inside the motor, particularly while flying near sandy beaches.

How to clean FPV bldc motors?

remove the propeller

As you cannot remove the stator assembly while the propeller is still in place, you must first remove the propeller before proceeding. To correctly remove the propeller from your fpv drone, adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Remove the fpv motor from frame

Take out the bldc motor screws with a hex driver that fits well. While it is still possible to clean your fpv motor without taking it out of the drone, doing so makes things a little simpler. In certain drones, the bldc motors are incorporated more intimately into the arm, necessitating their removal. See your drone manual for an assembly/disassembly guide if you’re unsure how to take the drone motor out of the arm. We’re going to replace the fpv motor exactly as it was, so be careful not to destroy any fragile plastic housing.

Disassemble the fpv motor

It’s time to open it up after the bldc motor has been turned off. While some bldc motors have a c-clip ring, others have a shaft screw at the bottom. A screw driver can be used to unscrew the screw, and tweezers are needed to push the open ends of the C-clip together so that the ring can be removed.

Separate the rotor and stator

After removing the screw or C-clip, you can open the fpv motor and take out the two main components. Keep in mind that the motor’s permanent magnets are extremely strong, so you’ll need to use a lot of energy to pry the two sections apart.

Should the bell become lodged in the bearing?

The bell is held in place by two bearings in the stator. The bell may occasionally become lodged inside the bearings due to the positioning tolerance of these bearings being a bit off. Here, my recommendation would be to tap the bell’s edges with a soft mallet to see if the vibrations will cause it to come loose. If that doesn’t work, you can try tightening the propeller nut back onto the shaft and pulling the bell much more forcefully with a pair of pliers against the nut.

Thoroughly clean the fpv motor windings and bearing

Apply rubbing alcohol and a toothbrush to the fpv motor windings and bearing and clean them thoroughly. There are several of alcohol-based products available that work well for motor cleaning. Names change based on your geographic location. Any of the ensuing options is appropriate:

• Rubbing alcohol (Surgical Spirit, another name for it)
• Alcohol that has been denatured (sometimes called methylated spirit)
• Isopropyl / IPA

I would suggest rinsing the dirt and pollutants off with a toothbrush soaked in alcohol. Use a generous amount of alcohol; any extra will soon evaporate. To absorb any excess, use the lint-free cloth.

Thoroughly clean the fpv motor bell

Thoroughly clean the bldc motor bell using rubbing alcohol and a toothbrush.Make sure that all impurities are gone from the magnets by doing the cleaning process again on the motor bell portion. Pay close attention to any areas where dirt could become stuck, such as the spaces between the magnets. It is critical that the space between the magnets and the stator be free of impurities.

Reassemble the fpv motor

Reinstall the motor’s parts and reattach it to the frame. It’s time to put the fpv motor back together after the parts have been cleaned and allowed to dry! Just go back and repeat the steps to reassemble the fpv motor.

Tips for cleaning FPV drone motors

• The rotor/stator assembly and the bearing area don’t require oiling. It is not necessary to oil the bearing because it is partially sealed and has lubricating grease within. Actually, oiling the engine will make it more dust-prone and cause harm to it.
• There is also no need for oiling because the rotor magnets and stator in a well-balanced drone motor never come into contact with one another.
• Avoid using water to clean the fpv motor parts. The internal components may erode due to leftover water. Should you decide to wash the motor, be sure to thoroughly dry it using bursts of compressed air to eliminate any remaining water.
• Because the stator coils are fragile and can be damaged by vigorous handling, handle them with care to preserve the thin plastic insulation covering them.

If you want to read more about bldc motors, you can read this articles: