How do you clean your RC cars/buggys?

[RC_Hobbyist]

I am just curious as to how you clean up your RC cars/buggys after you have run it?

This is what my procedure for cleaning up after a run with my Hornet Hopper:

• Take the body off and rinse it in water to get the dirt off, then wipe it dry with a rag or shop towels (If water is not available, I'll spray simple green on the body and wipe dry)
• Take off the battery door & door retainer clip, rinse with water if there is dirt on them
• Take front & rear tires off. Remove bearings from front wheels. Then rinse tires & wheels to get dirt off
• Use canned compressed air to get dirt off suspension arms and other areas on the chassis

 

[Twinfan]

Let it dry, if it's been run in the wet

Brush off dried dirt and dust with an old paintbrush

If it's really bad, strip down whichever areas need it and clean with the paintbrush or a damp cloth etc

Stick the car on the shelf until the next run

[Guest]

Water is used I just don't soak my cars. I dry them with compressed air in a can and paper towels, sometimes I use the other half's hairdryer. Toothbrush for stubborn mud, paintbrush on dust. 

[sosidge]

Water will do more harm to an RC car than almost anything else so if they have got wet, most important thing is to be able to keep them in a warm place to dry off rather than sticking them in a cold damp garage.

If they are particularly muddy I will shower them off first with the body on to try and keep as much water away from the internals and electrics (ideally while still wet because it will be easier). Then maybe a more detailed rinse with the body off. You can then brush/wipe the excess from more hidden areas. Don't use a pressure washer.

Items like wheel bearings should be considered disposable because they won't last many cycles of wet/dry, so I don't worry too much about them. You can try spraying on WD-40 etc but if a bearing has been breached by water, WD-40 isn't going to save it.

If they're dry then a brush/wipe at most, often I won't even touch them.

You can always do a full strip down if you want. Depends how picky you are about the cleanliness of your cars.

[El Gecko]

1 hour ago, Twinfan said:

Let it dry, if it's been run in the wet

Brush off dried dirt and dust with an old paintbrush

If it's really bad, strip down whichever areas need it and clean with the paintbrush or a damp cloth etc

Stick the car on the shelf until the next run

Exactly this, especially in the winter I stick the car in the slop sink down in our basement to dry out for a day or so before I clean it up.

We have a shortage of old paintbrushes around my house, so I typically use the end of a grill baster to clean all the cars.

For big jobs I'll grab the hand broom (one of those cheapies that comes with a dustpan in a matched set). They have good long stiff bristles that can get around and through all the suspension bits, springs, etc. and especially in between the tire treads.

Bodies get brushed off then wiped down with a clean towel. Occasionally I'll do a bit of canned air, but that's mostly for removing dust after sitting on the shelf for awhile.

[Tamiya1973]

3 hours ago, Twinfan said:

Let it dry, if it's been run in the wet

Brush off dried dirt and dust with an old paintbrush

If it's really bad, strip down whichever areas need it and clean with the paintbrush or a damp cloth etc

Stick the car on the shelf until the next run

+1

I do exactly this. 

[Tamiya1973]

2 hours ago, El Gecko said:

Exactly this, especially in the winter I stick the car in the slop sink down in our basement to dry out for a day or so before I clean it up.

We have a shortage of old paintbrushes around my house, so I typically use the end of a grill baster to clean all the cars.

For big jobs I'll grab the hand broom (one of those cheapies that comes with a dustpan in a matched set). They have good long stiff bristles that can get around and through all the suspension bits, springs, etc. and especially in between the tire treads.

Bodies get brushed off then wiped down with a clean towel. Occasionally I'll do a bit of canned air, but that's mostly for removing dust after sitting on the shelf for awhile.

Good idea canned air. 

[Rinskie]

I hit mine with air to knock the dust off. 

[Andreas W]

If it's dry dust I normally just used compressed air from my compressor. Eventually use an old toothbrush as well. Same goes with snow after winter running.

 

If it's serious grime I wash with hot, running water. I have a cold/hot tap on the outside,  so this is nice and clean. After that I blow with compressed air and leave it over night upside down in the laundry room. 

[magnumb]

Blow off the dirt with air compressor 

Spray down with mix of simple green/shout and distilled water in a garden sprayer 

Let sit for 5min

Use a brush to and brush the heck out of it 

Use sprayer in laundry sink to spray it down with hot water 

apply another soak of simple green/shout and distilled water and brush again 

Rinse of with hot water 

Drop car on ground to shake off excess water then air compressor to blow of rest 

Apply mix of HBN and T9 Boeshield shield to CVD joints 

If i want it to look really nice and new i'll spray a light coating of WD-40 dry silicone lube on everything 

Been doing this for over 10 years and best method i've found and probably done this a couple hundred times. 

[alvinlwh]

Bath, shower or garden hose. Most of my electronics are waterproof, if not, I will find out soon enough. 

[Torhaantje]

I find cleaning my cars too much work, so after I ran them, I just throw them in the bin.

Saves space also. 

Rick 

( I hope jokes are still allowed?)

[TurnipJF]

Most of my runs are on dry tarmac these days, so the car gets road dust and tyre rubber granules on it rather than mud. I have purloined one of my wife's big soft makeup brushes for cleaning the chassis as I am concerned that compressed air will blow dust past the bearing shields and into the bearings. A quick wash in the sink is usually enough to get the bodyshell looking good again. 

[ad456]

Depending on where I’m running it consists of a few options. All my electrics are waterproof or made waterproof. 
 

Doing nothing.

Picking off the grass

Or just full on hosing it down and shake dry. 

[chris.alex]

Dear cleaning friends, I have a specific task for you: take a close look at the photo. It shows an XM-01 Pro that's wet and dirty. Please suggest a step-by-step guide for cleaning the vehicle! 🙂

[Pylon80]

1 hour ago, chris.alex said:

Dear cleaning friends, I have a specific task for you: take a close look at the photo. It shows an XM-01 Pro that's wet and dirty. Please suggest a step-by-step guide for cleaning the vehicle! 🙂

I don't have tips for the wet but I sure hope it isn't real wood at the back 😅

[Rinskie]

1 hour ago, chris.alex said:

Dear cleaning friends, I have a specific task for you: take a close look at the photo. It shows an XM-01 Pro that's wet and dirty. Please suggest a step-by-step guide for cleaning the vehicle! 🙂

For me I'd take the battery out, brush it down then set it aside to dry. Once drive I'd hit it with an air compressor then take out the electronics and down to a roller then I'd take a damp cloth and get to work. Yup, that's why I don't get mine dirty. 

[BigJag]

[ChrisRx718]

Big old paintbrush 

And a handheld air duster - absolute game changer. I doubted how powerful it would be and whether it would be effective, but watched some YouTube reviews and ended up with a "WOLFBOX air duster" from Amazon and it's been a good investment.

Worst part for me is when grass wraps itself around driveshafts and cups. Like back in the day your Scalextric cars would attract loads of hair on the axles (particularly if you had sisters!) and that was a simple case of popping a wheel off and pulling the hair ball out.

With an RC car clogged up with grass strands, it often means some form of disassembly is required. Not fun!

[Tamiyastef]

3 hours ago, ChrisRx718 said:

Not fun

Like this you mean?

[Andreas W]

Hehe. This happens as well when I run on astro sommer fields. After running the rear axles are  are packed with hair between the hub and the wheelhex. Has to be cut loose. 

[ChrisRx718]

4 hours ago, Tamiyastef said:

Like this you mean?

Exactly!

Looks like one of those eco-friendly fire lighters. I wouldn't recommend setting fire to it as a means to removal, though...

[Grumpy pants]

A paint brush mostly, works well for and sometimes baby wipes. 

[chris.alex]

9 hours ago, ChrisRx718 said:

And a handheld air duster - absolute game changer. I doubted how powerful it would be and whether it would be effective, but watched some YouTube reviews and ended up with a "WOLFBOX air duster" from Amazon and it's been a good investment.

Yes, I've thought about that a few times, too. But every time I come to the conclusion that I don't need a new device as long as my lungs are working and I can blow the dirt away. Therefore, my usual tools for cleaning my RC cars are a toothbrush and a paintbrush. 

 

In some cases, I shower the entire car. 

[chris.alex]

20 hours ago, Pylon80 said:

I don't have tips for the wet but I sure hope it isn't real wood at the back 😅

It's made of well-impregnated walnut veneer. You can find more wooden hop-up parts here: Chris' finest handmade hop-up parts