Has the motor of your kid’s Power Wheels stopped working? Is the toy car producing a clicking sound every time your kid drives it?
If this happens, then it’s time to replace the Power Wheels’ brushed motor. Many folks have complained that the brushed motor tends to break down faster.
Fortunately, there is a perfect solution for this problem, replacing the brushed motor with a brushless one.
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Are Brushless Motors Better Than Brushed Motors?
Other than installing a powerful battery, another effective method to make the toy car even faster is upgrading its current brushed motor with a brushless one.
Toy cars use two types of motor (brushed and brushless motor) that vary in design, speed, and power efficiency. The brushed motors are quite common among entry-level toy cars because they are cheaper to produce.
They produce less torque and wear out faster, thanks to the brushes inside them. And with the Power Wheels being designed for kids, most manufacturers prefer them over the brushless ones because they are a bit safer for kids who are learning how to use the Power Wheels.
But if your kid wants a powerful and faster Power Wheels car, you have to upgrade the toy car’s motor. Brushless motors provide long run-times and more power than an equivalent brushed option. And that is because they have no brush limitations.
The brushless motors can provide high torques at variable speeds.
Another advantage of brushless motors is that they have a longer lifespan than brushed ones. And since they have no brushes, you should expect fewer issues, less maintenance, and it may save you a lot of cash in the long run.
And since they are very powerful, these motors are not ideal for less experienced kids. So make sure your kid knows how to handle Power Wheels before upgrading to brushless motors. After all, high speeds increase the risks of accidents.
How to Install a Brushless Motor?
Just like any other DIY upgrade, this one can be quite challenging for first-timers. So if you’re disassembling a Power Wheels toy for the first time, make sure you label every part and place them in a safe place. This will make it easier for you to reassemble it once you’re done.
To upgrade the motor of the toy car’s motor, you should do the following:
Step 1: Remove the Toy Car’s Wheels
To access the brushed motor, you should first remove the wheels and the gearboxes of the car. So you should start by removing the push nut or the nyloc nuts attaching one of the wheels to the axle.
Next, remove the tire that you have unscrewed, and the other tire will slide right out while still attached to the axle.
Step 2: Remove the Power Wheels’ Protective Cover
With the tires removed, you can flip the car upside down if you hadn’t done that already and loosen the screws on the protective cover using a screwdriver.
Most Power Wheels cars have about eight screws holding the protective cover in place, so make sure you remove them and keep them in a safe place.
To be on the safe side and avoid getting shocked, it’s crucial that you remove the car’s battery and store it in a safe place.
Step 3: Unplug the Motors
With the protective cover removed, you can easily access the motor, normally connected to the gearbox. Disconnect the gearbox and remove the motor by loosening the screw and pull it out. To remove it, you can wiggle it while pulling until it’s free.
Step 4: Replace the Motor
Before you even proceed with replacing the motor, you should confirm if the two motors are compatible. If you’re using a brushless motor from an RC vehicle, then you should confirm that it’s cylinder-shaped before removing it.
Once you have removed it, you can wipe it and remove the dirt build-up using a dry rag.
Remove the spade connector on the brushed motor and install it in the brushless one. But if removing it seems challenging, you can always get a new one and install it on the brushless motor’s pin.
With the spade connector already installed, you can insert the motor into the toy car’s gearbox. Make sure you push the head in first and then screw it tightly back in place.
You may have to twist and turn the brushless motor for a while until it solidifies.
Step 5: Attach the Wires to the New Motor
Gently, remove the wires attached to the brushed motor and reattach them to the corresponding connector points on the brushless motor. And reinstall the gearbox plus motor in the power wheels.
Reinstall the battery and confirm if the brushless motor is working.
Step 6: Reassemble the Toy Car
After replacing the motor and reinstalling it together with the gearbox in the toy car, you can proceed and reinstall the protective cover.
And make sure you tighten all the screws that hold the protective cover in place. After all, you don’t want your kid to lose some of the screws while driving his power wheels.
Reinsert the tire that is still attached to the axle in its place and then screw the push nut of the tire that you had removed in place, and you’re good to go. At this point, you can flip the toy car back and test it with your kid.
Conclusion
All Power Wheels come with a brushed motor, which produces less power, but is safe for the kids and easy to manufacture. But as our kids grow, so does their hunger for speed; therefore, you should expect your kid to ask for faster power wheels in a few months.
Fortunately, there are ways you can upgrade the toy car without necessarily having to purchase another one. And one of the most effective methods that can work without ever having to upgrade the battery too is installing a brushless motor.
A brushless motor is efficient and powerful and will last longer than its brushed counterpart.
