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Motor Timing

Motor timing on a brushless RC motor is how far the sensor endbell is rotated relative to the rotor, advancing when each winding fires. More timing adds RPM and heat; less timing runs cooler.

Also called:
Timing, mechanical timing, can timing, endbell timing

In practice

You set mechanical timing by loosening the rear endplate screws and rotating the endplate against its reference marks. Hobbywing’s XeRun V10 G4R manual gives a 20–60 degree adjustable range with a 43 degree default, and states plainly that increasing timing “increases the motor temperature and reduces the efficiency.” Hobbywing’s own advice after a change is to run a full pack and check with an infrared thermometer, then reduce timing or gear down if it’s too hot. Class rules govern how much of this you get to use: spec and stock classes commonly require a zero-timing “blinky” ESC — ROAR specifies it for classes like FWD and LMH — and clubs differ on how much timing they allow on the can. Read the rulebook first.

Why it matters

Timing is the fastest way to add power, the fastest way to cook a motor, and in a spec class the fastest way to fail tech.

Go deeper

Read the full post:

RC Motor Timing and LiPo Care: Where the Speed Actually Comes From

Sources