Cannot tin TP Motor wires.

[IRON-PAWW]

Hi all,

This is driving me absolutely bonkers. I've soldered many many connectors and wires without issue up until this point. But I recently bought a TP motor (from OSE) and I simply *cannot* get the wiring to tin at all. Rosin core solder. 100watt iron with chisel tip. Bernzomatic brand solder. Lead free... silver bearing..... it's the solder I use for all my jobs without issue. Tried cleaning the wiring with alcohol, Bakers Soldering fluid.......even dipped the end in some lead acid I had to try that. No dice. Solder will not stick at all. What the Heck!!!!!!!!

[tlandauer]

Hmmm... I just did two TP Motors w/o any issue, they came pre-tinned, aren't they?

[IRON-PAWW]

Yes they do come pre-tinned. However, in my infinite wisdom I decided to shorten the wires. When I tried to re tin the bare wires I just couldn't get it to go. Boy am I frustrated!

[tlandauer]

Ah, I did not want to be presumptuous, you need to physically remove the lacquer one strand at a time, like sanding them or using a knife to scrape the stuff away. That stuff is stubborn, that acid could not "eat" that stuff so easily. No amount of flux would do either. It's a known issue with all these motor wires that are a part of the stator. Castle Creation therefore specifically says " Motor wires can be shortened" because theirs are not part of the stator windings.
Hope that helps.

[IRON-PAWW]

I was beginning to think it might be something along those lines. Thanks a lot tlandauer for that info. looks like I have some very tedious sanding to do. That will teach me. At least now I know why I was having so much trouble.

[tlandauer]

Good luck!

[CKoz]

Before you start sanding, consider trying acetone. Perhaps that can cut thru the laquer.

[siberianhusky]

Dremel with a wire wheel.

[BHChieftain]

Yes, the mantra is "never shorten motor wires". Only ESC side...
Chief

[T.S.Davis]

I wonder what happens if you dip them in muriatic acid. Anybody brainiacs out there know?

Wire wheel seems like the least traumatic to the wires. Just wish there was a better way.

[kfxguy]

Micro torch won't burn the lacquer off?

[RaceMechaniX]

It's likely you have lacquered wires and the only way to remove it is by physical or chemical stripping. I have used a chemical varnish stripper ("dip strip") in the past, but it's very messy and takes several hours to accomplish. Also had to use it with a "hot bath" station like a solder cup. If you have a wire wheel (think Dremel size) lay the wire out flat on a hard surface and using the steel or brass bristle wheel abrade the varnish. You will have to rotate the wire and spread the wire out to strip enough varnish off. Add a little shrink to cover the silicon or sheathing so the wire wheel does not eat up the jacketing.

TG

[CornelP]

I do not know if the modern varnish is different, but with the older ones on transformers we used to lay the wire on an aspirin tablet, push it down with a very hot iron and voila! The fumes are not pleasant, so beware, but it worked. I have no idea what was happening chemically, but some of the old timers were using this method even instead of flux.

[tlandauer]

Ah , yes! The sweet smell of that old fashioned varnish ( lacquer) . As a young boy, I watched my dad build transformers for amplifiers and other radio ( vacuum tubes) equipments. I loved to see how the wires are brushed every layer on the winding jig. Gone were the good old days!
I wonder when this practice stopped in the USA, I was living in China at that time, ( before 1980) if you are into some kinds of hobby, then you need to make everything. I remember the first time I saw a Heathkit Catalog...
Sorry, drifting away from the topic...

[IRON-PAWW]

Thanks all for the info and help so far guys, I really appreciate it. I currently have an offcut of the motor wire sitting in acetone as a test..... no luck with that so far. Will leave it in a few days and see what happens. The Dremel wire wheel is the only method that's getting me anywhere so far. Very *laborious* work and is going to take *ages*. But I think it'll definitely work if I persist. You can definitely see the lacquer coming off the wire - you're left with the shiny metal of the wire strand rather than the darker lacquer colour. I'm halfway through the first motor lead. Frikkin *sigh* .... me and my big ideas.