waterproofing crawlers?

sidewinder · Post by **sidewinder** » Tue May 20, 2008 10:21 pm

Have any of you crawler guys waterproofed your rigs? I'm working on an idea for a contest on the R7R board but before I start planning I need to figgure out if I could find a way to run micro-t stuff under water...I would have posted in the micro section but I figgured some of the crawlers and 4x4 people may have already blazed the trail. I'm thinking of building a tiny Swamp Buggy. If I try I'll post a build link on the BP board so everyone can see how bad an idea this really is.

Any advice?

SHAUN · Post by **SHAUN** » Tue May 20, 2008 10:25 pm

The best thing to use is plastidip or Liquid electrical tape. You can pick it up at any hardware store, and walmart even sells the stuff(or used to, I haven't looked in a while).

sidewinder · Post by **sidewinder** » Tue May 20, 2008 10:39 pm

I thought about the liquid electral tape...I even have an unopened can...but I was wondering if the esc needs the air to cool it. Also, any idea of if the motor needs to be sealed. I think I remember something about running motors in water to break them in...but I could be way, way off on that.

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Wed May 21, 2008 8:39 am

sidewinder wrote:I thought about the liquid electral tape...I even have an unopened can...but I was wondering if the esc needs the air to cool it. Also, any idea of if the motor needs to be sealed. I think I remember something about running motors in water to break them in...but I could be way, way off on that.

I don't believe the motor needs to be sealed, but I would stray away from breaking them in in water. The one time I tried that, it washed away all the lubes, and the motor froze up up right away. Speaking of lubes, when you run a motor in water you should always spray it out with motor spray, and lube it back up, so it doesn't rust and corrode.

SHAUN · Post by **SHAUN** » Wed May 21, 2008 10:04 am

Motors and batteries will be fine underwater. The ESC Should be ok.

payaso · Post by **payaso** » Wed May 21, 2008 12:28 pm

Use plastidip and just dip all your eletronics. If you're not cool with dipping your rx, just put it in a balloon.

Motor will run fine in water, but not brushless.

Water is hard on bearings and tire foams though.

silla

evoraptor · Post by **evoraptor** » Wed May 21, 2008 7:03 pm

I used epoxy to seal mine, but plastidip works better. Like stated earlier, batts and motors will do fine underwater. Just throw the rX into a balloon, and seal that off. Close off the joints in the ESC, if you want, leave the heatsink outside if you're worried about overheating, just seal around it. Servos should be sealed, but is not entirely necessary. They would work anyway.

sidewinder · Post by **sidewinder** » Wed May 21, 2008 8:36 pm

Cool, thanks guys. I'm thinking of building a wire chassis with the micro-t gear box/diff in the center running driveshafts to 1/24 scale slotcar axels. I dont know where I'm going to find the tall thin wheels/tires...maybe I can find a diecast bicycle replica.

Oh, I just realized if I do pull this off I have to dig a "swamp." Maybe it should just be the standard mud bogger...

Naw, I'll just pay some kid to dig it for me.

in case you don't know what a swamp buggy is:

Post by **CaboWabo** » Wed May 21, 2008 9:10 pm

Holy shit!
I actually kinda miss watching that stuff.
I don't even think it's been on TV in 20 years or more. lol

From what I remember, they used to have like 3 different main events.
Those type vehicles where they did what amounted to a drag race mostly in deep water.
Those type vehicles where they went around a course mostly in deep water.
And the mud boggers that did a quick shot in a straight pit of deep tracked mud with not much water usually.

SHAUN · Post by **SHAUN** » Wed May 21, 2008 10:15 pm

sidewinder wrote:I'll just pay some kid to dig it

Give me your address.

Sounds like a cool idea, can't wait to see it!

sidewinder · Post by **sidewinder** » Thu May 22, 2008 12:45 am

CaboWabo wrote: Holy shit!
I actually kinda miss watching that stuff.
I don't even think it's been on TV in 20 years or more. lol

From what I remember, they used to have like 3 different main events.
Those type vehicles where they did what amounted to a drag race mostly in deep water.
Those type vehicles where they went around a course mostly in deep water.
And the mud boggers that did a quick shot in a straight pit of deep tracked mud with not much water usually.

Yeah they haven't been on tv much...well ESPN 3 late, late at night sometimes. The cool thing is when I was looking for pics I found a guy who has a couple and if you want to race one you just rent one and he takes care of all the prep and "training." I have no idea of how much he wants but if I hit the lotto someday I might just have to fly in to florida a couple of times a year for some good old swampin'.

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Thu May 22, 2008 9:17 am

CaboWabo wrote: Holy shit!
I actually kinda miss watching that stuff.
I don't even think it's been on TV in 20 years or more. lol

From what I remember, they used to have like 3 different main events.
Those type vehicles where they did what amounted to a drag race mostly in deep water.
Those type vehicles where they went around a course mostly in deep water.
And the mud boggers that did a quick shot in a straight pit of deep tracked mud with not much water usually.

Hell yeah, the ol' TNN, The Nashville Network. Used to watch the finest in hillbilly motorsports every Sunday. Then MTV bought them out, they became Spike TV, the motor sports transitioned into the "Power Block". I think Horsepower TV is a direct descendant of "The Shade Tree Mechanic", but it's not the same. I still watch every Sunday, but I miss my swamp buggies.