Snow Proofing

Running in extreme environments such as snow and ice, presents a unique RC experience. However it can be risky to the electronics of your truck. First of all let mention that nothing listed below is a 100% guarantee that you won't damage your electronics. If you choose to use your truck in extreme situations such as this, you must be prepared to replace something should it become damaged. Keep in mind that water and electronics do not mix, and should any water find it's way into any of your electronics, the results could be expensive.

Now that you understand, and accept, the risks involved the tips below will help protect your RC vehicle from these various elements.

Battery Connections/Exposed Wires

This is an often overlooked area when trying to protect your truck from the elements. You should cover all connections, such as receiver pack plugs, that are exposed to the elements. Otherwise it's possible that moisture could seep into these plugs and short out the two wires. A few pieces of electrical tape should take care of this situation easily, just make sure to surround the entire plug as any small opening could be an entry point for water.

Motor

This area of cold weather operation is often the cause for the most misinformation and most difficulty in properly addressing for cold weather use. It is often thought that cold weather operation will result in premature piston and sleeve weather. However that is really incorrect. Premature wear is still a result of improper tuning, even in cold weather. The important thing to remember is that you need to make sure the motor still reaches the proper operating temperature, as extended running at low operating temperatures will prematurely wear the motor. One of the most commonly suggested ways to do this, is to lean the motor. However that suggestion is also one of the worst, and should be advice you never follow. It's extremely easy, when running in cold weather, to run the motor too lean which will reduce the amount of lubrication the motor receives.

So if you need to raise the motor temperature, but you shouldn't lean the motor out too much, how do you make it happen? The solution is rather simple, you need to block off airflow across the motor head. There are several ways you can accomplish this, the easiest being to tape up the cooling holes that you cut in your lexan body. In some cases this may provide enough of a reduction in airflow without any other changes needing to be made.

If you still are running too cool, you'll need to block off part of the motor head's cooling fins. There are several items you can use to do this. Some options include a babies sock or a piece of neoprene, which is a waterproof fabric used for ski masks. You'll have to experiment to see exactly how much of the head you need to block off to get your motor back up to an acceptable operating temperature. The illustration below shows a babies sock placed over a motor head. Notice how the end of the sock is still cut out to facilitate the ability to monitor the motor's temperature.

Regardless of what method you use to keep your motor operating at the correct temperature, always make sure you have a good smoke trail. That's the best indication that your motor is getting proper lubrication. In cool weather a motor can operate at, or below normal operating temperatures, and still be receiving an insufficient amount of lubrication. The end result will be a shorter engine life. I would also suggest having an IR Temp Gauge on hand. As it will be an invaluable tool for running in cold weather, helping you to determine exactly how hot or cold your motor is running.

Receiver/Receiver Pack

The receiver is generally one of the most expensive components on an RC truck, so you want to make sure you provide it plenty of protection from the elements. Many nitro-powered vehicles already have the receiver protected with some sort of cover or plastic box to avoid damage should nitro splash on it when refueling. However very few electric vehicles offer this sort of protection, and even in the nitro world there are some exceptions.

Many receiver boxes can be used on vehicles other than the ones they were intended for, when used with a little creativity. This provides a good option for protecting your receiver. When using a receiver or battery box, keep in mind there are often small gaps in them. Most of the time, these are the areas that wires pass through. It would be a very wise course of action to seal these gaps up with silicone to prevent water from finding it's way inside.

You can also use a balloon to cover the receiver if this option isn't feasible for you. Simply insert the receiver into a balloon, with the servos already plugged into the receiver in their correct locations. Then close up the mouth of the balloon with a ziptie. You can also seal up the mouth of the balloon with some grease or silicone to help seal up any leftover gaps after the ziptie is pulled tight. While it may not be the most attractive solution, it's very effective.

If your truck also uses a receiver pack, or battery holder, to power the receiver you should also protect it as well. Again many trucks provide battery boxes, and those battery boxes can fit many other vehicles besides the ones which they were designed for. If all else fails, a balloon will work well in this area as well.

Servos

Servos are another item that should be protected from the elements. Some servos, such as the Hitec 5625MG and 5645MG, are water-proof and need no further attention. However most servos do need to be protected from the elements. There are two widely used methods to accomplish this, balloons and silicone. Using a balloon is pretty straightforward. First remove the servo horn or servo saver, and then simply encase the servo inside a balloon. Leave the wires sticking outside the mouth of the balloon, and close up the mouth of the balloon with a ziptie. You can also seal up the mouth of the balloon with some grease or silicone to help seal up any leftover gaps after the ziptie is pulled tight. Then use a pin to place a small hole in the balloon where the servo output shaft is located, and pull the balloon so that the shaft slides through it. Then you can reinstall your servo horn or servo saver.

Another method of protecting your servo from moisture, is to use some silicone sealant. This results in a stock-like appearance, as you can't really tell that anything has been done to the servo. Take the servo case halves apart, and apply a small bead of silicone where the they connect. Then simply reassemble the case and allow the silicone time to cure. To protect the area around the servo output shaft, use a small o-ring coated with some grease to form a seal when you install a servo horn or servo saver.

Other Nitro Issues To Consider

You should never try and start your nitro motor when it's below room temperature. If the motor is cold, warm it up first with a heat gun or hair dryer. Not only will this make it easier to start, but it will help prevent premature wear upon startup.

Also use caution when running your nitro-powered RC in temperatures well below freezing. Ensure that the fuel isn't starting to gel up. This can cause the motor to perform poorly and prevent sufficient lubrication from reaching the motor. Over time, this can take a toll on your motor as well.

For more information regarding this subject, see the Traxxas article on Winter Operating Tips. To learn how to make snow chains for your truck, read my article on Snow Chains.