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MOTOR TIMING ADJUSTMENT

• Rotor Position Knowledge

--With ESC & motor continuously synchronized 

via the motor harness, the sensor-based system provides instantaneous 

throttle response & smooth neutral to drive transitions--

NO COGGING

.

• Smooth/Controlled Low Speed Driveability

--Rotor position knowledge 

is key to smooth acceleration--no abrupt/uncontrolled bursts of power.

• Strong/Consistent  Brakes  &  Starting  Torque

--Rotor  position 

knowledge results in consistent starts & stops, no lag time or hesitation 

before acceleration or braking--this translates to consistent lap times.

• Locked Rotor & Thermal Protection

--Position & temperature sensors 

inside the motor provide unparalleled protection when used with Novak 

brushless ESCs, letting you to run pack after pack without worrying 

about overheating the motor, ESC, or magnets when properly set-up.

SENSOR-BASED DESIGN BENEFITS

PRECAUTIONS

NEVER FREE-REV THE MOTOR

 

Free-running your brushless 

motor in a no-load condition can result in rotor failure and ESC 

transistor damage & will void the product’s warranty!

Never free-rev your system to “see how it runs”, or you may not get to drive it again!

• WATER & ELECTRONICS DON’T MIX

 Never allow water, moisture, or other 

foreign materials to get inside motor, or on PCBs.

• CHECK  MOTOR  SCREWS

  Remember  to  check  all  motor  screws  for 

loosening after a few runs of the motor.

• NOVAK  MOTORS  &  ESCs  FOR  BEST  RESULTS

 

Use  Novak  sensored 

motors with Novak Brushless ESCs for best performance & protection. Only 

use motors with the proper number of turns to match ESC’s rating.

Use of this brushless motor with non-Novak ESCs that advance 

motor timing can result in excessive current draw & severe motor 

damage that will NOT be covered by the product’s warranty!

• 

DO NOT use 3.5-7.5T motors with Havoc, XBR, Super Sport, or Mongoose ESCs.

• INSULATE EXPOSED WIRES

 Use heat shrink tubing to prevent shorts.

• NO SOLVENTS

 Do NOT expose the motor to any type of solvents.

• SET GEAR MESH PROPERLY

 Too tight of a gear mesh can result in 

motor pinion shaft breakage--be sure to adjust mesh properly.

MOTOR MAINTENANCE

• CHECK ALL MOTOR SCREWS

 for loosening at regular intervals, just like 

other hardware on your vehicle. 

Note: The 3 main socket head screws 

that hold the motor together may require tightening after a few runs of 

the motor.

 Also check the 3 flat head screws securing the end cap on 

the back of the motor.

• CHECK  MOTOR  BEARING  WEAR

  after  extensive  use.  The  motor’s 

closed design will keep most dirt & debris out, but some will get in 

and eventually cause wear. If the shaft does not spin freely, you may 

need bearing replacement 

(replacement bearing accessory kits are available 

from Novak)

. A small drop of light oil on the bearings periodically can 

help extend bearing life

--however, too much oil will attract dirt and will 

cause problems, so apply sparingly

.

• CLEAN  INSIDE  MOTOR

  periodically  by  removing  front  end  bell, 

removing  the  rotor,  and  blowing  out  the  inside  of  the  motor  with 

compressed air.

 Be sure not to lose any small shim washers that may be 

on the ends of the rotor shaft & keep them in the correct location.

SERVICE PROCEDURES

After reviewing instructions & tech section of website, if you feel your motor requires 

service 

(motor may appear to have failed when other problems exist)

, obtain the most 

current product service options & pricing by one of the following methods:

WEBSITE: 

Print a copy of the product

 SERVICE FORM

 from the SERVICE section of the 

Novak website. Fill out the needed information & return it with the Novak product.

PHONE/FAX/E-MAIL:

 Contact our customer service department by phone, fax, or 

e-mail, and we will supply you with current service options.

WARRANTY SERVICE:

 You 

MUST CLAIM WARRANTY

 on product

 SERVICE FORM

 & include 

a valid, itemized cash register receipt with the purchase date on it, or an invoice from previ-

ous service work.

 If warranty provisions have been voided, there will be service charges.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Consider changing out motor parts yourself. 

All of the Ballistic’s main components are 

available as service items

--Refer to ‘Accessories’ section or check out our website.

• Dealers/distributors are not authorized to replace products thought to be defective.

•  If a hobby dealer returns your product for service, submit a completed product

 SERVICE 

FORM

 to dealer & make sure it’s included with items.

PRODUCT WARRANTY

Novak Brushless motors are guaranteed to be free from defects in materials or workmanship for a period of 

120 days from the original date of purchase 

(verified by dated, itemized sales receipt)

. Warranty does not cover 

incorrect installation, components worn by use, cross-connection of battery/motor power wires, overheating 

solder tabs, damage resulting from thermal overload or operation above 175°F, use of excessive timing or failure 

from using non-Novak ESCs that advance motor timing, splices or damage to the sensor harness, damage from 

disassembling motor, tampering with internal electronics, allowing water, moisture, or any other foreign material 

to enter motor or get onto the PC board, short-circuiting of motor by allowing exposed wiring or solder tabs to 

to cross-connect or ESC applying simultaneous power to more than one phase at a time from switching to Brush 

Mode, free-revving motor, or any damage caused by a crash, flooding, or act of God. In no case shall our liability 

exceed the product’s original cost. We reserve the right to modify warranty provisions without notice.

Because Novak Electronics, Inc. has no control over the connection & use of motor or other related electronics, no 

liability may be assumed nor will be accepted for damage resulting from the use of this product. Every motor is 

thoroughly tested and cycled before leaving our facility and is, therefore, considered operational. This product is not 

a toy, and is not intended for use by children under 14 years of age without the strict supervision of an adult. Use of 

this product in a uncontrolled manner may result in physical damage or injuries. Take extra care when operating any 

remote control vehicle. 

By the act of connecting/operating speed control, the user accepts all resulting liability.

  e-mail: 

[email protected]

 • (949) 833-8873 • FAX (949) 833-1631

©Novak Electronics, Inc. Irvine, CA, U.S.A. • Printed 7/2009

No part of these instructions may be reproduced without the written permission of Novak Electronics, Inc.

All Rights Reserved. Novak motors are proudly designed in the U.S.A.

5351  Brushless Shielded Sensor Harness--4”

--Double-ended motor sensor harness.

5352  Brushless Shielded Sensor Harness--6”

--Double-ended motor sensor harness.

5353  Brushless Shielded Sensor Harness--9”

--Double-ended motor sensor harness.

5413  Heat Sink Motor Sleeve--Black

--Replaces Novak 540 motor sleeve.

5414  Heat Sink Motor Sleeve--Purple

--Replaces Novak 540 motor sleeve.

5415  Heat Sink Motor Sleeve--Blue

--Replaces Novak 540 motor sleeve.

5416  540 Novak Brushless Motor Cooling Kit--Black

--Heat sink sleeve & 25mm fan.

5417  540 Novak Brushless Motor Cooling Kit--Purple

--Heat sink sleeve & 25mm fan.

5418  540 Novak Brushless Motor Cooling Kit--Blue

--Heat sink sleeve & 25mm fan.

S5420 540-Size Novak Brushless Motor Sleeve--Black

--Novak replacement sleeve.

S5421 540-Size Novak Brushless Motor Sleeve--Blue

--Novak replacement sleeve.

S5422 540-Size Novak Brushless Motor Sleeve--Gold

--Novak replacement sleeve.

S5423 540-Size Novak Brushless Motor Sleeve--Purple

--Novak replacement sleeve.

S5424 540-Size Novak Brushless Motor Sleeve--Orange

--Novak replacement sleeve.

5508  14GA Brushless Wire Set

--2 pieces each of 9” silicone blue, yellow, orange, black, & red.

5509  16GA Brushless Wire Set

--2 pieces each of 9” silicone blue, yellow, orange, black, & red.

5512  12GA Super-Flex Wire--Black, Red, & Blue

--3 ft each color, silicone.

5514  14GA Super-Flex Wire--Black, Red, & Blue

--3 ft each color, silicone.

5647  Black Cooling Fan--25x25x10mm

--All purpose cooling fan with 2-pin JST connector.

5648  Clear Cooling Fan--30x30x6mm

--GTB replacement fan with 2-pin JST connector.

5731  3.5mm Power Connectors--5 pair

--Gold plated low-loss connectors for 12-14G wire.

5741  4mm Power Connectors--5 pair

--Gold plated low-loss high-amp 12-14G connectors.

5810  Gold Battery Cross Bars--7pcs

--Gold plated oxygen-free copper battery bars.

5811  Gold Battery Cross Bars--28pcs

--Gold plated oxygen-free copper battery bars.

5820  Silver Battery Cross Bars--7pcs

--Oxygen-free copper battery bars, plated for easy soldering.

5821  Silver Battery Cross Bars--28pcs

--Oxygen-free copper battery bars, plated for easy soldering.

5831  Lead-Free 3% Silver Racing Solder--6g

--Low-resistance, high-conductivity solder.

5832  Lead-Free 3% Silver Racing Solder--15g

--Low-resistance, high-conductivity solder.

5840  Double-Sided Mounting Tape--10pcs

--1”x1” high-performance clear mounting tape.

5909  Sintered 13mm Tuning Rotor

--High-power sintered neodymium tuning rotor.

S5932 Ballistic Motor Hardware Kit

--Replacement motor screws & shim washers.

5940  Ballistic Front End Bell & Bearing

--Black anodized/Ribbed/Factory-installed bearing.

5941  Sintered 12.3mm Ballistic Rotor

--Replacement Ballistic sintered neodymium rotor.

S5942 Ballistic Timing/Sensor Assembly

--Replacement timing & sensor section of motor.

S5943  Ballistic Bearing Cap & Back Bearing

--Replacement bearing cap/Factory-installed bearing.

S5944 Ballistic Back End Bell

--Replacement back end bell of motor. Black anodized/Ribbed.

S6603 Ballistic Hand-Wound Stator--3.5T

--Interchangeable Ballistic 3.5-turn stator.

S6604 Ballistic Hand-Wound Stator--4.5T

--Interchangeable Ballistic 4.5-turn stator.

S6605 Ballistic Hand-Wound Stator--5.5T

--Interchangeable Ballistic 5.5-turn stator.

S6606 Ballistic Hand-Wound Stator--6.5T

--Interchangeable Ballistic 6.5-turn stator.

S6607 Ballistic Hand-Wound Stator--7.5T

--Interchangeable Ballistic 7.5-turn stator.

S6608 Ballistic Hand-Wound Stator--8.5T

--Interchangeable Ballistic 8.5-turn stator.

S6610 Ballistic Hand-Wound Stator--10.5T

--Interchangeable Ballistic 10.5-turn stator.

S6613 Ballistic Hand-Wound Stator--13.5T

--Interchangeable Ballistic 13.5-turn stator.

S6617 Ballistic Hand-Wound Stator--17.5T

--Interchangeable Ballistic 17.5-turn stator.

S6621 Ballistic Hand-Wound Stator--21.5T

--Interchangeable Ballistic 21.5-turn stator.

ACCESSORIES

BALLISTIC BRUSHLESS

MOTOR INSTRUCTIONS

55-3600-1  Rev. B

black

orange

white

plastic

tabs

red

blue

green

metal

barbs

raised

metal

barb

metal socket on end of 

Teflon sensor harness wires

Should any of the 26G Teflon wires pull out of the motor’s sensor 

harness connector, re-insert them in the connector’s appropriate 

slot as shown below. There is a small plastic tab that grabs a small 

raised barb on the back of the metal socket crimped onto the Teflon 

wire’s end. Check the plastic tab to make sure it has not deformed 

excessively before inserting the socket into the plastic connector 

housing with the barb toward the plastic tabs.

SENSOR HARNESS WIRING

1. 

NO MOTOR CAPACITORS & SCHOTTKY NEEDED

  Novak brushless motors do not need motor capacitors or external 

Schottky diodes--

Schottky diode usage will damage ESC

.

2. CHECK MOTOR SCREW LENGTH & INSTALL MOTOR

•  Insert the motor mounting screws that came with your vehicle 

through the motor mounting plate. 

540-size motors need no 

more than 1/8” of screw extending past the vehicle’s mounting 

plate (2-4mm)--

Too little can strip the motor’s threads, too much 

will cause internal motor damage & will void warranty.

•  Attach motor to vehicle’s motor mount using one of the sets of 

threaded mounting holes--

select a mounting position that keeps the 

solder tabs clear of conductive surfaces like aluminum or graphite

.

3. INSTALL PINION GEAR 

(see GEAR SELECTION on back)

  Install pinion on motor and test fit in vehicle to align pinion and 

spur gears. Tighten pinion’s set screw on the flat of motor shaft.

4. ADJUST MOTOR FOR PROPER GEAR MESH

•  Adjust the motor position for proper amount of free play. 

You 

NEED

 to have a small amount of play between the pinion gear 

and the spur gear

 

(about the thickness of piece of paper)

--

check 

the free play at several positions around the spur gear to 

ensure a proper mesh

 (just in case the gears are out of round)

.

MAKE SURE THE PINION/SPUR GEAR MESH IS NOT TOO TIGHT!

If gear mesh is too tight, motor shaft breakage can occur.

•  Tighten motor mounting screws--Avoid using excessive force, 

as the threaded holes in motor could become stripped.

5. SOLDER MOTOR POWER WIRES

•  Determine the best routing in vehicle for the motor’s silicone 

power wires--

avoid any moving parts & suspension

.

• 

Prepare  ends  of  power  wires

  by  stripping  1/8-1/4”  of 

insulation from end of wire. Tin wire ends with solder.

• 

Lay tinned end of the wire flat on the solder tab and solder 

wires  to  proper  tabs  of  the  motor

 (refer to phase markings 

below solder tabs)

. Apply heat with soldering iron to the power 

wire and solder tab--begin adding solder to tip of iron and to 

wire--

Add just enough solder to form a clean & continuous joint 

from the solder tab up onto the wire.

 

WARNING: Be sure no wire strands have strayed to an adjacent solder tab--this 

will cause short-circuiting, damage electronics, & void product’s warranty.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  

DO NOT OVERHEAT SOLDER TABS

Prolonged or excessive heating of the solder tabs will

cause damage & void the product’s warranty.

6. CONNECT MOTOR SENSOR HARNESS

•  Determine the best routing in vehicle for the motor’s sensor 

harness--

securing sensor harness to the motor power wires with a 

tie-wrap can provide a good location & also act as a strain relief

• 

Connect one end of the harness to the ESC & the other end 

to the motor’s sensor harness connector located under the 

back bearing cap

. Be sure the plug on the end of the harness 

inserts all the way into the sensor harness connector--

the plug 

& connector are keyed and will only go together one direction

.

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

Motor operating temperature is the

 ONLY

way to properly set the maximum vehicle gearing

The motor should be 160-175°F 

MAX

 at end of run

!

Temperatures above 175°F will weaken the magnet & may 

melt the coils! This voids warranty & can damage ESC!

Change the gearing to avoid overheating.

Gearing Starting Points for 6-Cell (2S Li-Po) Use:

The gearing recommendations below are given in Final Drive Ratio* and Rollout**. 

For more information on how to determine proper gearing, visit the Novak website.

If you do not change gearing after switching to brushless, you will be over-

geared and will have slow acceleration & excessive temperatures!

Because of the broad power band of brushless, you can go 1-2 teeth higher pinion than the 

above recommendations for more top speed, but remember any higher will produce excessive 

ESC & motor heating. Check motor’s operating temperature after making gearing adjustments.

See our website for additional gearing recommendations, final drive 

ratios, or if your motor does not appear above.

GEAR SELECTION   

(Important)

outer sleeve

hand-wound

stator

low-loss solder tabs

timing

assembly

sensor harness

connector

back

end bell

bearing

cap

M2.5 x 10mm

flat head

cap screws

fish paper

insulator

front end bell

fiberglass

 stamping

insulator

4-40 x 1.75”

socket head

cap screws

BALLISTIC MOTOR

Exploded View

The Ballistic motor’s timing is adjustable by simply loosening the three M2.5 

flat head screws on the back bearing cap, rotating the bearing cap to desired 

setting, and re-tighten the screws.
The motor’s factory timing is marked with a ‘N’ on the timing label located 

on the side of the back bearing cap and lines up with a groove milled into the 

top of the back end bell. Novak motors are factory timed to the most efficient 

setting for their given wind.

Advancing the timing

 will increase the motor’s RPM range & reduce its torque, 

but will also make it less efficient and it will pull more current, resulting in 

higher ESC & motor operating temperatures.

Adjusting the timing beyond the ‘+’ mark on the timing label will result in 

dangerously high current draw and heating that can lead to ESC & motor 

failure, and will void the product’s warranty.

Retarding the timing

 will reduce the motor’s RPM range & increase torque--

this usually also reduces current draw and lower operating temperatures. For 

each timing mark 

(on label)

 reduced, increase pinion gear size by one tooth 

to accommodate lower RPM range.

timing groove

Refer to ‘Accessories’ section for

available replacement components.

w w w . t e a m n o v a k . c o m

Motor Turn

Touring Car*

2wd Buggy*

2wd Truck*

Oval** (4-cell/1S)

3.5T

10.5

Not Rec.

Not. Rec.

1.2”/31mm

4.5T

9.5

Not Rec.

13

1.3”/33mm

5.5T

8.5

11

12.5

1.4”/35mm

6.5T

7.5

10

11.5

1.5”/38mm

7.5T

7

9.5

11

1.6”/40.5mm

8.5T

6.5

9

10.5

1.7”/43mm

10.5T

5.5

8

9.5

2.6”/66mm

13.5T

4.5

7

8.5

2.9”/74mm

17.5T

4.0

6.5

8.0

3.2”/82mm

21.5T

3.75

6.0

7.5

3.50”/89mm

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