Bearing filter

After each session at the track I found the front bearing of my motor very dirty, I'm sure that it have a direct affect on the bearing performance and lifetime.
I decide to make some "bearing filter" from packing material (kind of hard sponge). It doesn’t affect the rotor and pinion spinning.
What do you think it will do the job?

[What's_nitro?]

That's a neat idea. Fortunately nothing gets really dirty when running on-road, but I might try that anyways.

[nuz69]

The front bearing is dustproof anyway, althought we can see a lot of dirt, the dirt don't really get in the bearing itself, so I think that what you doing is not necessary ^^
Anyway, if you try to lubricate your bearing, this will reduce a lot its life time, because with liquid you will force the dust to go inside the bearing. Only water and oil can kill a sealed bearing.

[simplechamp]

I don't agree with the first part nuz69. Bearings get dirt in them, regardless of if they are supposed to be shielded or sealed, especially as the bearing components wear and the gaps between rotating parts (though very tiny) get larger. Best thing to do is perform routine maintenance to clean the dirt out, and use just a tiny amount of thin oil when relubricating. The foam filter he is using definitely won't hurt.

I do agree that too much or too thick oil and grease can just gum up the bearings and keep dirt in.

[nuz69]

Then look at this, I was very preoccupied by the bearing issue too :

http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26255

[ta_man]

I did something slightly different to protect the front bearing in my Neu 1512 in a Losi 8 (and also seal the holes).

I took a piece of 1/16th aluminum plate and (using a milling machine for exact hole placement) drilled a center hole and three more for the motor screws. The center hole was reamed to a few thou clearance on the motor shaft. One of the 3 screw holes was used to hold the plate to the motor and the other two were used for the mounting screws. Almost no dirt or dust got to the bearing or front motor holes. This requires exact hole placement and sizing to keep the shaft hole centered around the shaft.