Expensive afternoon with 550E

[stunks]

Went out today to get some flights in since the weather was took my 600 fbl and my 550E fbl flew my 600 first and it was sweet nice and warm weather and very sunny after i had finish flying the 600 decided it was the 550 turn but the battery and got everything ready and set power up and took off into a hover and something didnt sound right with the motor so i quickly landed and as soon as i landed the motor locked up and jamed and the esc started to smoke so i quickly took the canopy and remove the battery then i had a look and clearly i can tell the esc id gone and the motor is locked/jamed tried to turned it and it was not having it so on one go seems like i have cooked the esc and the motor.
The motor and esc was align and they have work fine ever since i have the model dont know y they both packed up at the same time. So have anyone else had this problem with there motor and esc at the same time and should i replace them with the same parts or should i upgrade both esc and motor i was looking at the 600mx motor seems a little more powerfull than the stock motor witch is 600m

[Mark_T]

I doubt both 'failed' at the same time, more likely one failed and took out the other.

Sounds like the motor went first then excessive current killed the ESC, but either way, both are dead now sadly.

[Aidi]

Bit of a bummer mate, but at least it happened on the ground, and all that is lost is the motor and esc... imagine if it was in the air!

And, its an easy fix.

Get it back up and flying again mate

Rgds
Aidi

[Rctintin]

Sorry to hear this. How often did you oil the motor bearings? Scorpion AFAIK recommend every 10 flights, so that's what I do with all my motors. It sounds like your bearings locked up.

[Nick B]

Unlucky dude,how tight was the gear mesh?

[Jamin_00]

I lube my bearings every now and then as and when i remember if im honest.

I would in your position go with the 600mx motor and the Kontroniks 100lv no, the koby 90

[stunks]

the gear mesh was just right never had any problems with it

[scallybert]

Cycle of Death

This may, or may not, be what happened..:

Motor overheats -> magnets get too hot and start to degrade -> they get weaker -> back emf per rev & torque per amp both drop -> it's like increasing the gearing -> current draw increases -> motor heats up faster -> repeat until motor or ESC die.

If either dies and goes closed-circuit , it will probably take the other with it.

Goodnight Vienna

[SRH990]

I lube my bearings every now and then as and when i remember if im honest.

I would in your position go with the 600mx motor and the Kontroniks 100lv no, the koby 90

After my 550E'S ESC cremated itself on Sunday I'm also looking for a non-incendiary ESC and looked at the Koby 90 as an option today. It's quoted as a 3A BEC so I assume a separate BEC is required for the 550E? I've also considered the CC 100 ICE but, again, I assume this would also need a seperate BEC?

[coolice]

Hey.

As you say you noticed your motor making a funny noise it makes me wonder if it's dropped a winding or a magnet, this in turn has locked the motor and shorted out the windings which in turn has blown the ESC.
A strip down of the motor will tell all I feel.

I've put quite a few hours on my stock 550E motor and not oiled the bearings at all, touch wood it's not failed or stopped delivering the power. Definetly the Scorpions need lubing regularly but If never done it on an Align motor.

As to ESC I can recommend the Castle Creations ICE100 with an external CC BEC PRO, mine has and is running superb.
.

[Jamin_00]

Ah, i did not realise that about the Kobys bec.

I use the 100lv and thats rated at 5a, not sure what the peak is but prob 10a

[scuba steve]

how do you 'oil the motor bearings' and how do you know its necessary ?

i'm running a cheap HW motor on my 450 Pro clone.

steve

[Jamin_00]

I have the Scoprion lube kit which just comes with a little straw applicator and all I do is put that applicator on the bearings and squeeze a few drops out.

Failing that, anything can be used like a small screwdriver, run a few drops of all down the shaft onto the bearings.


As for the frequency, how often do you fly? If you fly a few days a week then it would be a good idea to do it weekly. If you fly only on a Sunday then every other or so.
If you fly less frequent then do it before every session to make sure everything is running free.
There's no science behind it just more sense really.