EDIT: Finally got around to testing the Mabuchi Motor. I used the FA-130 from Pololu Corp (http://www.pololu.com) priced at 1.99 each. Shipping was reasonable at 4.95 for 3 plus a couple of 6-aa battery holders.

I used a 103 capacitor that I picked up at Radio Shack.

Results: Fits like it was made for it. Feedrate is at least visibly as good as stock if not a little faster, but that could be due to the halo motor being old. I did not do any official timed tests, but it dumped a Dye lock-lid worth of paint in about 5-6 seconds. It did not break any paint, which was what I worried about most, but it responded like the stock halo and stopped immediately when I interrupted the paint flow. The only problem I ran in to was that I could not get the stock brass pulley off of the old motor. I did not pull hard, because I did not want to break the motor. So I made a pulley out of some plastic stock I had.

As an aside, what took so long was that I did not have any eyes for the test halo, so I decided to make some. Using dblk22vball instructions from PBN, I finally figured out that the eyes I had were too long (QEC113 and QSC113 listed as stock eye replacements in the tech forum here). They would work fine outside of the halo, but inside they stuck in too far so they saw each other continuously and would not let the motor run. I know, this is getting too long. Short version: I bought some Vishay eyes, TSAL4400 (ir emitter) and TEFT4300 (transistor). Just by dumb luck they were shorter and work great. Got these from mouser.

END EDIT

Have any of you crafty gentlemen been able to source aftermarket motors for the halo? I know there are threads about the Hyperdash 2, and the x-mod motors, but I'd like to see what else is available.

OR, if you know the specs on the stock motor, i will hunt for them myself.

I'm sure you can use some RC motors. I say remove the motor from the Halo and take it to your local hobby shop. They might just be able to match it to one.

www.sciplus.com/catego...tegory/171

I was looking at these. Price is great, looks like the right voltage range. Not sure about the RPMs though. 700-1400 sound right? I might get them anyway just to test. I'll measure mine tonight.

Any one test the amp draw before?

looking at the specs on the one above and looking at the halo last night, it won't work. Estimating RPM's on the motor, to turn the cone 3 x per second would be 9k rpm on the motor. So I looked around at the mabuchi stuff and found these:

www.mabuchi-motor.co.j...D=fa_130ra

I think I will try the 18100. There is also another one not shown here in the same line that spins ~15k no load. I'll let you know if it works.

this could be a nice upgrade...

Wonder if it would work with a Cheetah?

Theres also the kyosho x-speed to along with the 2 rc mods you mentioned. I just bought a hyper dash 2 from someone here, haven't tried it yet but is suppose to work okay.

I read about the hyper dash and x-mods, but lets face it. Paying 10-15 for a motor is too much, when the parts can be bought for a few bucks to do a complete drop-in motor. The RPM on the xmod and hyperdash are higher though, but I also read that some experienced pop-corning with these.

I put one together last night using the mabuchi motor, and will do a little testing sometime today.

cool, keep us posted.

$10-15? I bought my hyper 2 for $7 nib shipped only because I'm far from a hobby shop. Last time I was in one they were $4. I'd be worried about having enough torque also, not sure what the HD2 has to offer.

Either way good luck with the mabuchi, interested to see how it turns out as I have many halos in pieces that need motors.