How to Make a Slot Car Motor Faster – Guide for DIYers

how to make a slot car motor faster

Usually, anyone who likes speed and competition will be into slot car racing. It is an exciting and interactive hobby enjoyed by many automobile fans. Besides, it is a fantastic alternative to video games with the added skill set benefit of remaining physical.

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In the competitive world of slot car racing, one’s slot car must have the speed required to overtake its rivals. Many enthusiasts alter their slot cars for faster momentum. For beginners, you might be searching the Internet on how to make a slot car motor faster. If you are here for that, then you are in the right place.

Slot cars are more than just miniature mock-ups of actual vehicles. A driver’s skill plays a significant role during any race, but it is still necessary to adjust slot cars to reach faster speeds. The majority of slot car fanatics modify their racers for better performance. If you read on, you can make your slot car faster with the five steps of tuning the motor of the car that we have prepared:

  • Pop the motor out
  • Check the initial speed
  • Submerge in water
  • Change voltage
  • Run the speed

What You Will Need

  • Slot car
  • Screwdriver
  • Bowl of distilled water
  • Motor analyzer
  • Power supply

How to Make a Slot Car Motor Faster

Burning in the motor is a method that is used to make a slot car faster. It improves the performance and permits the slot car to race. If you have all the things you need, proceed with the steps.

Step 1: Pop the motor out

fastest-slot-car-motor

Remove the shell of the car. With the help of the screwdriver, pop the motor out.

Step 2: Check the initial speed

Attach the power source of the slot car to the motor analyzer and check its speed. Take note, and proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Submerge in water

Attach the motor to the power supply’s braids. Then, submerge it in a bowl of distilled water.

Step 4: Change voltage

Run the motor for approximately 20 minutes while changing the voltage. Hold it at slow, medium, and high for about five minutes at each level.

Step 5: Run the speed

a-slot-car-motor-work

Finally, run the motor at the speed that you will drive in the race. Remove it from water, and check the RPM after the motor burning process. Put all the components of the slot car back together and go for a test drive.

Tip: Inspect the entire car and check for any too loose or too tight sections. Make the necessary adjustments.

Slot Car Types

slot-car-motors-work

Slot cars come in many sizes but the three most commonly used are the following:

1:24 scale

In this category, miniature cars are built wherein one unit of length is equivalent to 24 units on the actual vehicle. A slot car in this size would need larger tracks, which can be impractical to home enthusiasts with limited floor space. Usually, this scale usage is at clubs or commercial tracks.

1:32 scale

This is a smaller scale that is ideal for home-sized courses. Generally, the 1:32 scale is widely used at homes, commercial establishments, clubs, and hobby shops. It is the most popular scale used in Europe. Its size is equal to the old number one gauge or the standard size toy train.

HO-size

Cars in this scale vary in scale because most of them are designated to market as model railroad accessories. The HO scale is 1:87 and is the smallest of the three. Racing using this car scale evolved to take on more powerful motors. It is now in the 1:64 or larger but is still associated with HO slot cars.

Other than these major scales, there are also slot cars in the 1:48 and 1:43 scalings. These are commercially designed to correspond to the O gauge model trains.

Slot Car Components

make-your-slot-car-faster

The traditional and most widely used is the 1:32 scale. Each type of slot car comes with different parts, but it is closely similar. Let’s have a detailed look at the essential elements that most slot cars have.

Body

Also called the shell, it is a solid and molded plastic piece that fits over the vehicle’s chassis. When building a high-performance slot car, the weight and distribution must be in a perfect balance.

Motor

You can find the motor in the middle, rear, or front of the vehicle. The revolutions per minute (RPM) of a slot car are rated by the voltage the motor receives.

Braids

Braided wires are from either copper or steel. Its contact with the rails supplies power to the car.

Guide

The guide flag is the piece of plastic that you find under the chassis. It directs the car along the track surface.

Gears

The gear sets are responsible for the vehicle’s acceleration and speed. Smaller gears linked to the motor can upgrade into a better performing version using aftermarket parts.

Magnets

We can find these in the front and rear of the slot car. Magnets put downforce on the car, so it doesn’t go off the track.

Modern slot cars sometimes come with a microchip. It enables you to race on the same track as another vehicle and change to the other lane at predetermined points on the track.

Final Thoughts

You can win slot car races with a fast motor. If you have reached the end of this tutorial, you will have a higher chance of winning your next race. Follow the step-by-step guide that we have, and you will surely finish on the top.

We hope that you find this tutorial on how to make a slot car motor faster helpful. Were you able to learn several vital pieces of information about slot cars? Comment your thoughts below. Do you know someone who loves slot car racing? Please share this article with them!

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