Chargrilled Swordfish

[IRON-PAWW]

Well. I killed my HV Swordfish 240A on only the second run. Was installed in a 36in Ariane with an M445, and running 6S. TP 1690kv motor. I ran the boat a few weeks back with no issues. Ran it yesterday for less than a minute and boy did I have issues. Motor was *very* hot, so I suspect damaged too. Batts were fine. Can anyone suggest what might have happened here? I don't really know, but I suspect water has leaked from the split metal cooling tubes.... or something, and the water has gone underneath the factory waterproofing. Do these pics suggest anything to you guys. I can't afford to keep killing 240A HV Swordfish ESC's so - my fault or not....... I gotta know!

[srislash]

I would get ahold of Michelle at Hifie. Is a cooling tube split?

[IRON-PAWW]

They all are. Aren't they supposed to be? When I look down each of the cooling tubes you can see a definite split mid way in each one. I actually noted that when I first bought it, and queried Steve about it. He said to me that the splits were correct and the unit was fine to use. However.... now with the shrink wrap off (burned off) I actually don't see any visible splits (as in manufactured that way), just as in the photos. So what the heck is going on?

[srislash]

What size is that 1690? Even a 4082 shouldn't have much hassle turning a 445 in a 36" boat. Unless it was running wet.

You could first try Steve Monday and see what he thinks.

[IRON-PAWW]

Motor is a TP Pro Comp 4060 1690kv. Yeah - will try Steve and see what his opinion is.

[Make-a-Wake]

That ESC shouldnt even break a sweat with your setup, something is "fishy" with your swordfish!

See what Steven has to say................

[Rocstar]

I suspect the motor if it was running hot under reasonable load. A motor going bad will take out an ESC.

[IRON-PAWW]

Yeah it just doesn't make sense to me either. I'd checked all the parameters with the program box right before running as well, and really, I think I'd only been going for 30 - 40 secs when the boat stopped. Not much time at all. Did all the usual checks... prop running freely etc etc. Unless the TP Pro Comp is bad? Only second run for that too. But..... was ok first time out a few weeks back. Temps were all good and the boat was dry inside at the end of the run. Something went bad I really think.......

Just saw your post Rocstar. Yeah...... hmmmmm ok the plot thickens. The motor *was* red hot. Absolutely red hot. And I'd assumed initially the bad ESC had caused that. But perhaps you are right......

[kfxguy]

I suspect the motor if it was running hot under reasonable load. A motor going bad will take out an ESC.

This.^^^^^^^

The motor should have not been hot. It was probably shorting. Take it apart and look for darks spots, or black spots. It's should look like nice copper wire through out. That may not tell you for sure tho.

[IRON-PAWW]

Ahh gudday KFX. Read your exploits in the past few weeks.

So even if you went BBQ status with your ESC your motor wouldn't necessarily chargrill along with it? I guess it depends exactly what the fault is right?

Will remove the TP and have a look see then. I do actually have a Neu to put in the hull as it happens..... When I get another damn ESC!

Has anyone ever been successful in getting bad motors replaced under - dare I say the word - warranty??

[srislash]

Ahh gudday KFX. Read your exploits in the past few weeks.

So even if you went BBQ status with your ESC your motor wouldn't necessarily chargrill along with it? I guess it depends exactly what the fault is right?

Will remove the TP and have a look see then. I do actually have a Neu to put in the hull as it happens..... When I get another damn ESC!

Has anyone ever been successful in getting bad motors replaced under - dare I say the word - warranty??

My communication with TP has been good. Mind you I have never asked about motor failure. Deal direct though, TP USA is lacklustre in my opinion.
Shawn

[IRON-PAWW]

Right, Gotcha :). Will they get their panties all in a bunch if I go ahead and open up the motor? Like - void the warranty because I delved where I shouldn't have?

Thanks for all the help by the ways guys!!

[keithbradley]

More than likely, your motor took out your ESC.
I would replace it before running a new ESC.

With that said, the waterproofing isn't perfect on these (or anything, really). I have had failures from water intrusion. Actually, out of the many HV SF ESCs I've ran, the only times I've ever had one fail is from:
- A locked rotor on a motor
- A bullet connector on the motor was loose, and became disconnected during a run
- I crashed a boat that stuck into the bottom of the lake for 4-5 seconds at a SAW event, and filled the hull with water...when it came up, the ESC fried.
- I stored a boat outside next to a lake, where heavy dew covered everything the next morning. Despite drying everything, my RX failed. I replaced that, and the ESC failed 30 seconds into the run.

I have no questions about these all being failures related to water intrusion, with the exception of the times that were motor failures.
Honestly, I've been absolutely brutal to the HV Swordfish ESCs, and these are the only times I've had them fail. I know other people have had failures, but I have to believe it is mostly due to cheap motors. I've ran SO MANY of these ESCs, and I run them hard. Just don't put too much trust in the "waterproof" designation. Consider it a different type of "water resistant".

[Make-a-Wake]

A 40 second run producing a red-hot motor sums it up, bad motor...................poor ESC

[IRON-PAWW]

Hi Keith - Thanks for your input too mate :) Also been to your website many times!

Ok so looks like we're getting a consensus here - dead motor. I have a Neu 1515 2.5D 1650kv that I might try in it. Smaller motor though. So I need to swallow the loss of the HV Swordfish and maybe chase TP at least to get a replacement motor. Not sure I can afford another HV Swordfish just now, so I'll have to look at something else I think. So what *is* the story with the metal cooling tubes on them? They seem split in the middle when you look through them... yet outwardly, as in my photos above, they are not 2 separate pieces. If I do get another one.... should I replace the 'waterproofing'? Have cut away a little of the waterproofing now and yeah - no holes - just the way the cooling tubes are made internally I think.

TP motor shaft still turns normally atm as far as I can tell, but obviously *something* went down during the run.



Yeah Make a Wake...... Damn cheap TP motor!!! Might just sledgehammer it to make me feel better.......