As the rules are presently written, Mitch, I'd say that it's really an un-techable situation. The rule specifically states the following:
28.E.7.d.ii: "No Modifications may be made to the motor. Except for normal wear, drive flats or keys, electrical connectors and water cooling, it must be run as shipped from the manufacturer."
Reading that a couple of times, it's a very poorly worded pair of sentences. However, taken at word value, it is saying the following:
'Outside of the normal wear that occurs from running the motor, the only modifications you can make are to make flats/keys for your coupler, change electrical contacts, and add/remove/modify the water cooling.'
From that other thread, it sounds like there may be people "enhancing" the "normal wear" by 'honing"?? Whatever. These people are operating at the WRONG end of the boat if they are trying to gain any kind of competitive advantage, so worrying about whether or not they are cheating is really a waste of time. They clearly don't understand what actually makes these boats "fast".
I see nothing in the rules that lets you replace the bearings with anything other than factory supplied replacement bearings. That's the ONLY way to satisfy the "as shipped from the manufacturer" part. HOWEVER, since there is really NO way to confirm/detect/verify exactly what these bearings are, I'd conclude that it's an un-techable situation.
One could easily pop one of the particular motors on this list apart and replace the bearings without anyone knowing it had been tampered with. Sorry, that's just a fact that has to be dealt with. It's not in the SPIRIT of the rule, but it's tough to enforce "SPIRIT".
Not sure what you want to do about it. Personally, it wouldn't be something I'd spend a lot of time worrying about. You guys already are hyper-rules-oriented on paint shades, decals, details, etc... Worrying about a few RPM difference because of a set of replacement bearings is really energy better spent elsewhere.
Just my opinion.
Darin E. Jordan - Renton, WA
"Self-proclaimed skill-less leader in the hobby."
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