Re wiring older Novak ESCs.

[LosiRacer1]

So Ive come in to a large amount of older ESCs. Sadly the wiring on almost all of them is quite dismal. Is there anywhere or a person who is known for rewiring old ESCs? Does it even make sense to spend the money on them?


Thanks for all the help.
David

[coxbros1]

i dont want to freak you out but u have some seriously "holy grail" esc's there! some people on here will brown there trow when they spot em

[Mark Westerfield]

As a guy that restores my own esc's...

Here's the issue, no one wants to be responsible for your old, used, rare equipment. Do the speed controls work 100% functionally to begin with? I've bought speed controls where the seller says they work (because they plugged it in and it lit up) and they don't or they only partially work. Blown brakes are common, which nobody actually tests (except me apparently), I've gotten esc's that turned on, but glitched, had burned components inside but still turned on, cracked fet's, damaged adjustment pots, etc.

Why would somebody like myself risk getting sent an esc that was damaged to begin with (whether the owner knows it or not), and then I get blamed for it being damaged, and then have the owner talk crap and expect reimbursement?

What if I did actually damage the esc myself? The owner would expect reimbursement, right?

Do it yourself. Invest in a nice soldering iron (I suggest the X-Tronic - Model 3020-XTS kit, with the desolder suction tool), a tip assortment pack, a helping hands clamps thingie, and an adjustable desk light. Replacing the wires is not really that hard once you get some practice with the desolder suction tool. Oh, and test them for full functionality beforehand, no sense wasting time on damaged units.

Good luck!

P.S. The Tekin Keypad esc's, Victor esc's and the Novak 1 esc are awesome! (the rest are pretty common).

[jwscab]

I would add more, but Mark nailed it perfectly.

[LosiRacer1]

As a guy that restores my own esc's...

Do it yourself. Invest in a nice soldering iron (I suggest the X-Tronic - Model 3020-XTS kit, with the desolder suction tool), a tip assortment pack, a helping hands clamps thingie, and an adjustable desk light. Replacing the wires is not really that hard once you get some practice with the desolder suction tool. Oh, and test them for full functionality beforehand, no sense wasting time on damaged units.

Good luck!

P.S. The Tekin Keypad esc's, Victor esc's and the Novak 1 esc are awesome! (the rest are pretty common).

Ahhh all good points. Thanks for the info!
Guess I'll have to start looking for a how to.
Maybe I'll practice on the older Tekins and less desirable ESCs.

[coxbros1]

Mark spotted them....those are the ones

[TRX-1-3]

...........some people on here will brown there trow when they spot em

X 1000

[AscotConversion]

I have done old Novaks and Tekins before, and one tip is to ream the hole for the wire once you have removed the old wire. Run a drill bit the size of the hole through by hand to remove any solder running over the edges. Otherwise, the wire will be hard to seat in the hole, even if you pre tin it, which I recommend. This way the wire is usually very easy to pass into the hole.

[Mark Westerfield]

Just use a de-solder suction tool.

[RC10th]

Old ESC's you should be fine but beware of putting drills through multi layer PBC's as you can ruin them.

[coxbros1]

of u have a good soldering station ($50 or less on ebay, got two been using g for years) that goes to 480 celsius, heat the wire/board, pull the wire out, then reheat where the wire is and blow the solder area with your mouth while pulling the iron away...it will make a perfect hole to put a new wire in

[LosiRacer1]

Thanks for all the tips and tricks guys.

[Cplus]

I have done old Novaks and Tekins before, and one tip is to ream the hole for the wire once you have removed the old wire. Run a drill bit the size of the hole through by hand to remove any solder running over the edges. Otherwise, the wire will be hard to seat in the hole, even if you pre tin it, which I recommend. This way the wire is usually very easy to pass into the hole.

That can work, but wow, risky. I would not recommend it! Chance of ruining a MLPCB is very high.

Much better ways to remove solder - wick, vacuum tool, sucker etc.

[Faux4x4]

Or sell the 2 Tekin keypad ESCs and buy what ever you want.

[Cplus]

Or sell the 2 Tekin keypad ESCs and buy what ever you want.

Yup.

I’d happily repair all the others for him with vintage wires in trade for 1 of the 410Ks

Also have a mate who is GUN with repairing ESCs at a component level - he can fix anything ESC never seen him fail a job- repairs smoked brushless units that are considered irrecoverable all the time - and brushed units are a very easy for him.