Odd Speed Fluctuations: Decoder or Drive?

[tehachapifan]

Perhaps I might give that a try at some point. Do I also recall someone saying you can soak motors in some kind of solution to clean them?

[mmagliaro]

Some people do soak a motor in alcohol and then fire it up (and fire might just be a good word to describe what happens).
I have tried brushing lots of alcohol into a motor and then running it, and it does help.   I would do it as a last resort if getting the motor out of the engine, or getting the motor apart were just impractical options.   But I'd rather pull out the armature so I can see the slots and really know they are clean.

In this case, since you are giving up on the motor anyway, my scientific curiosity would spur me to want to see the slots and measure the winding resistances to see how it really failed.

[peteski]

I have dunked motors in Naphtha in an untrasonic cleaner.  Then using compressed air blow the liquid out of the motor. Next, put it in a dehydrator to fully dry it.  when dry I oil the bearings (since the ultrasonic bath removes all lubrication) then I fire it up.