Changing oil in the diffs
- Thread starter Alnz
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
jondilly1974
Speed running apprentice, motor Slayer 🤘
Lifetime Premium!
Premium Member
Excellence Award
Build Thread Contributor
- Messages
- 26,134
- Reaction score
- 38,838
- Location
- Toledo, OH
- Arrma RC's
- Granite
- Infraction
- Kraton 6s
- Kraton EXB
- Senton 3s
- Typhon 6s
- Typhon 3s
Naphtha
Willl
Active Member
- Messages
- 187
- Reaction score
- 259
- Arrma RC's
- Limitless
Naphtha. You don't have to clean them exhaustively just a couple of passes with paper towell and pour the new oil.
I put all gears and bearings metal parts in white spirit and stir round with a screwdriver to get all old oil off
Spoc85
Active Member
- Messages
- 780
- Reaction score
- 876
- Location
- Australia
- Arrma RC's
- Infraction
- Limitless
- Kraton 6s
- Kraton EXB
- Outcast 6s
You should pull the spider gears out when doing an oil change so you can give the diff a good wipe out.
If you’re feeling keen check the pins that hold the outdrive cups onto the diff. Hard bashing causes these little suckers to snap. Use the search button to see how these can be upgraded.
Drop some oil into the cup, then the spider gears. I like to spray the gears and cross pins down with contact cleaner as it will make it easier to grip the shaft when lining the tombstones up into the grooves of the diff. You can also use long nose pliers to grip the shaft in the middle with the tombstones just above the grooves of the diff. You can now slide the tombstones into position and drop them into place. Be sure not to overfill the diff. Leave room for that sun gear.
You can add extra shims behind these spider gears if need be. Use the search button to find more info.
Last edited:
Simple brake cleaner does job. Just jet it soak a bit and it comes right off.
Just remove the seals before☝
Just remove the seals before☝
I use naptha. I've read that mineral spirits works too.
I have a little cheap tupperware bowl with a lid that I reuse over and over for it, but I use fresh naptha each time and empty the bowl/wipe it out each time. I take the diff apart and drop the parts in about 1/2" of naptha, then use a little brush to scrub the parts good while under the naptha. Then I lay the parts out on a paper towel and it wicks away most of the residue. A little compressed/canned air finishes the job.
I try to avoid putting o-rings/gaskets in naptha though. I just wipe those off the best I can with a paper towel.
I've read that one of these is handy for the small bits:
https://www.amazon.com/TraderPlus-Stainless-Infuser-Strainer-Handle/dp/B07KK78FDJ
With some naptha in a jar and the small bits in that, you can just shake it around to wash the parts.
I have a little cheap tupperware bowl with a lid that I reuse over and over for it, but I use fresh naptha each time and empty the bowl/wipe it out each time. I take the diff apart and drop the parts in about 1/2" of naptha, then use a little brush to scrub the parts good while under the naptha. Then I lay the parts out on a paper towel and it wicks away most of the residue. A little compressed/canned air finishes the job.
I try to avoid putting o-rings/gaskets in naptha though. I just wipe those off the best I can with a paper towel.
I've read that one of these is handy for the small bits:
https://www.amazon.com/TraderPlus-Stainless-Infuser-Strainer-Handle/dp/B07KK78FDJ
With some naptha in a jar and the small bits in that, you can just shake it around to wash the parts.
Brittrick
Active Member
- Messages
- 94
- Reaction score
- 64
- Arrma RC's
- Granite
- Kraton 6s
The laundry soap naphtha?
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Jasco-32-fl-oz-Fast-to-Dissolve-Naphtha/1000147043
Just realized I had been spelling it wrong... lol!
Liquid SSSnake
Active Member
WD-40... it's the only thing it's good for! 
I finally found its purpose, it breaks the silicone apart.
I've tried brake cleaner, carb cleaner, gasoline, acetone.... I was close to trying the hardware store naphtha last time until I tried a can of WD I found.
I finally found its purpose, it breaks the silicone apart.I've tried brake cleaner, carb cleaner, gasoline, acetone.... I was close to trying the hardware store naphtha last time until I tried a can of WD I found.
WD-40... it's the only thing it's good for!
It also works really well to clean nitro rc air filters.
What is a nitro air filterIt also works really well to clean nitro rc air filters.
You do not know how easy you have it... lol!What is a nitro air filter
Havnt run nitro in over 20yrs but team losi lst was the last one i ran. I put an os hyperhead .30 (i think that was thesize) that was one tough truck and fun back in the day!
