Introduction
Nearly all servos should be insulated from the water particles. Our servos aren’t intended to be worked underneath the water. We realize short-circuiting from water in servos can prompt some severe accidents.
Are you pondering how to waterproof a servo?
To waterproof your servo start by unscrewing the backplate of your servo. After that apply white grease liberally all around the spline shafts. After application of grease put the top back on and tighten the screws. Finally, use a masking tape to mask off important areas and spray Plasti dip on the middle and bottom seams.
This may appear as though a great deal to comprehend at one go. However, following these actions might support halting the risk. So spare a minute and read along.
Are Servos Water Resistant?
A water-resistant servo is so firmly tightened that water battles to get past. Still, a water-resistant coat can, unfortunately, face a limited amount of water force. So continuous water absorption might cause the servo to break.
Then again, a waterproof servo gives full restraint to water.
When dismantling a servo of your steering you’ll see elastic rings around the edge. They are at the bottom. These rings are there to make the servo water-tight.
Your primary trouble for water reaching your servo is precisely at the shaft. Concealing the output shaft is invariably the most troublesome aspect when waterproofing engines.
You can do it within a low allowance. Note that a low spending method doesn’t mean a fragile method. See for yourself below.
Waterproofing A Servo: 3 Basic Steps You Should Know
In case you’re employing servo engines for any submerged operation, you should waterproof it. There isn’t much difference between digital and analog servo. However, it’s unnecessary to burn through more bucks for a new servo every time.
Because we’ve demonstrated how to waterproof servos yourself in a few steps. Before starting let’s introduce you to the tools that you would require.
Tools
These are the tools you should keep to waterproof your servo.
Finally, you’re familiar with all the tools. Don’t forget to organize them before moving on to the steps.
Step 1: Unscrew The Backplate
The very important part is the perimeter where the spline comes out. That’s completely open and water could eventually get into the gears. And seep its way down into the motor and the electronics inside.
That’s why start with the backplate. Have a small micro phillips screwdriver which you can find easily on Amazon. Then open the servo right up.
Step 2: Grease Application
What you want to do here is add lubrication all around the spline shafts. And get that completely drowned in grease.
Often water tries to get in around the edges. But it will just find its way into a little mountain of grease. And water and grease don’t mix very well. So water won’t be able to get in.
Most of the time servo gears are lubricated with white grease. That’s actually called white lithium grease. You should use the same type of grease for RC that’s already in there. Don’t mix completely different types of lubricant.
In case you’re struggling to find decent white lithium grease, don’t stress. I’ve provided a list of my go-to white lithium grease tubes.
- WD-40 Specialist Protective White Lithium Grease Spray – Sprays on evenly as a liquid and sets dry for a thick, protective coating that won’t run off.
- Lucas Oil White Lithium Grease – Perfect for heavy-duty lubrication.
- Permatex White Lithium Grease – Protects against rust and makes surfaces friction-free on top of lubrication.
Get a tube of white lithium grease from the above list. Then move up the extra gear back out of the way. Fill up the area with grease. Here just spread the grease around the base. Then go to the side of the spline.
After the adequate application of grease, put the top back on. And retighten the screws. Don’t over-tighten the screws. Which suggests you can break them if you put extra pressure on them.
Step 3: Use Plasti Dip Spray
Don’t seal up the rubberized onto your spline. You need those teeth to be exposed. So that your servo saver or your servo horn fit on there. And you of course don’t want to block up the end where your screw goes in.
Make sure you don’t cover up the case of aluminium on the surface. Because it transfers the heat out of a Hitec servo. Also don’t cover the ears of the servo. If those get grouped up it makes them harder to attach.
Just mask off these areas with masking tape then they won’t be sealed. Right there it’s ready for the application of sealant.
Only seal the seam around the bottom and the exit where the wires come out. And the seam that goes around in the middle too.
Use Plasti Dip because it’s a spray and easier to put on. Spray two or three light coats of the Plasti Dip on the remaining spots after the masking. Allowing it time to tack up in between the coats.
Finally, after the Plasti Dip application, take off the masking tape. You’ll get a nice shiny waterproof servo.
Tips
The sole flimsy point in this technique is the grease. The more you wield the servo the slender the grease will get. Watch out for it and cram with new grease at whatever point is required. This should make your servo durable and uphold your boat during driving.
On the other hand, Plasti Dip could keep going up to 3 years. Without being modified. You just need to apply it adequately.
It’s quite tough and won’t lose its bond. The number of layers sprayed will greatly decide the lifespan of the item.
Stir Plasti Dip Spray completely before each application. A consistency of 10 mils is suggested for every layer. It’ll ensure useful rendition and simple disposal. Enable 4 hours of fix period for each layer applied before spraying.
Follow the steps without making any mistakes. The outcome of the procedure will be a nice waterproof servo.
FAQ
Question: Does the balloon method work to waterproof the servo?
Answer: The balloon method could serve for snow sealing, however not certainly water. Just grab a servo and settle it inside a balloon. Then hope that water doesn’t reach the pit that the shaft stands out of.
Question: what happens if you blend varied kinds of lubricant?
Answer: Lubricants are blendable if they obtain a similar base oil. Like mineral base oils. They’re unmixable when base oils are of various categories. Such as synthetic and mineral base oils.
Question: Does oil work in waterproofing?
Answer: Yes, the non-conductive oil performs three things. It covers your elements to deter corroding and shorting. Plugs the holes in the seal to protect the servo from water. Pertains to a counter strength for severe dips.
Last Words
Good news! Now you can waterproof your servo at your home.
Hope this writing guided you enough about how to waterproof a servo. It’s all about finding where water can get in. And sealing up those areas without sealing everything that shouldn’t be concealed.
Enjoy that and hope to see you later!
