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HiTec Servo Hack
by guibot on April 30, 2009
Table of Contents

License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Intro: HiTec Servo Hack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 1: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 2: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 3: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

step 4: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

step 5: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 6: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 7: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 8: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

step 9: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

step 10: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

step 11: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

step 12: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

step 13: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

step 14: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

step 15: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

step 16: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

step 17: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

step 18: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

step 19: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

step 20: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

step 21: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

step 22: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

step 23: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

step 24: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

step 25: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

step 26: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

step 27: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

step 28: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

step 29: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

step 30: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

step 31: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

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Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/
http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/
License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa)

Intro: HiTec Servo Hack

This is a quick and easy walkthrough on how to modify a HiTec Servo and make it a normal dc motor with gears.

To see how you can control your motors with the Arduino visit this instructable :

www.guilhermemartins.net

step 1:
1. Say hello to your servo, and say goodbye as well because what we are going to do here is irreversible.

We will hack essencial parts of the servo and it won�t be a servo anymore, it will be a powerfull dc motor with gears.

step 2:
2. This are the tools we need, I think I don't need to describe them :)

http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/
step 3:
3. Ok let's begin.

Start by removing the screw on the top.

step 4:
4. Remove the four little screws on the back of the case.

http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/
step 5:
5. Open the case.

step 6:
6. And remove the top carefully.

step 7:
7. We can see the gears inside the case. We only need to remove the first two gears, no need to remove the others.
Be careful enough and avoid contaminate the grease that surrounds the gears.

http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/
step 8:
8. Remove the black and white gears.

step 9:
9. Now it's time to remove the circuit on the bottom of the case, see the next foto.

step 10:
10. Use the soldering iron and gently remove the circuit.

http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/
step 11:
11. You can see now the dc motor.

step 12:
12. Cut the wires that connect the potenciometer to the circuit.

step 13:
13. Now remove the little screw inside the case.

http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/
step 14:
14. Press the potenciometer thingey to remove it.

Image Notes
1. Press this thingey

step 15:
15. Parts we don't need anymore.. I wasn't carefull enough and broke the circuit.. no problem, we won't need it anymore, at least I don't know what I can do with it... :)

step 16:
16. Now grab two wires with +- 15 cm, depends on your needs.

http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/
step 17:
17. Grab your soldering iron and solder the wires to the motor pins. Note the red mark on the motor.

step 18:
18. Now we are going to remove the thingey that tells to the servo to spin only 180º.

Image Notes
1. This must be removed.

http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/
step 19:
19. Remove the white ring.

step 20:
20. Make an horizontal cut.

step 21:
21. Then make a vertical cut.

http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/
step 22:
22. The thingey is removed.

step 23:
23. Remove any imperfections you see.

step 24:
24. Put the white ring back.

http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/
step 25:
25. Ok, now we can put our gears back.

step 26:
26. Like this.

step 27:
27. Time to close the case.

http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/
step 28:
28. Before closing the bottom, perform a knot on the wires, and adjust them to the border of the case. This will protect the solder business we've done before.

step 29:
29. Close the bottom part, and put the screws back.

step 30:
30. Say hello to your brand new DC Motor.

http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/
step 31:
31. You can use the wires and connector to be an extension to another 'real' servo, or for sensors, or for anything else.

You can use the potenciometer as well for some future project, maybe to control the motor speed?

Related Instructables

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v2.00 #19; Add
How To Modify Wallbots: modify the hitec How to modify a Remove a Servo 10-bit
A Hitec HS- Autonomous hs-325 servo for servo motor for Controller by incremental /
65HB Servo Magnetic continuous continuous randofo absolute
W/Kryptonite Robots that rotation by ayah rotation ( One encoder
Gears For Traverse motor walker feedback to
Continuous Vertical robot ) by your hobby
Rotation by Surfaces by robomaniac servo. by Antonb
Zeitron staceyk

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Comments
18 comments Add Comment

zetsway says: Jun 28, 2009. 3:24 PM REPLY

Excellent post. Thanks, I was able to follow it step by step and modify my servo. Thanks, and keep up the good work

MNskier says: May 7, 2009. 3:11 PM REPLY

You can use the servo board to make an electronic speed control. Make a note of the (+) solder pad before removing the motor from the servo board you
can then use it to drive the gate of a power mosfet (such as the IRL 520N) to have a low power ESC for approximately $2. Be sure to put a 500-1k ohm
resistor between the gate and motor output of the servo board. The PWM signal from an R/C receiver or microcontroller can now drive a small motor with
variable speed.

guibot says: May 8, 2009. 3:32 AM REPLY

very interesting!!! it would be cool to see an instructable with this subjet :)

texabyte says: May 1, 2009. 8:16 AM REPLY

I wish I could do this in reverse. I have 50,000 dc motors and want to make them into servos.

http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/
 bwpatton1 says: May 5, 2009. 1:26 PM REPLY
where did you get that many motors?? Ebay...??

texabyte says: May 5, 2009. 3:53 PM REPLY

maybe like 30. I take lots of things apart

ReCreate says: May 3, 2009. 5:08 PM REPLY

wow 50 thousand? I have half a million XP

ReCreate says: May 3, 2009. 5:07 PM REPLY

Sometimes the thing is on the thread of the gear,so if you remove it it still won't fully spin

travis7s says: May 2, 2009. 6:53 PM REPLY

Good write up, very clear pictures. If you haven't fried the board you can just replace the pot with a pair of 2.7k ohm resistors and you have a radio controlled
gearmotor.

travis7s says: May 2, 2009. 6:48 PM REPLY

You can optionally make it a much faster gearmotor (with less torque) at this stage if you want. Remove the left black gear entirely, and glue the bottom
white gear to the top black gear.

toelle says: May 1, 2009. 1:57 PM REPLY

So you basically turned a servo into a regular DC-motor? Why not just buy a DC motor with a gearbox in the first place?
Wouldn't it be smarter to turn it into a continuous rotation servo (which is even easier)? That way you would get speed control of the servo. I've done that,
and my robot runs great with it =D

Wesley666 says: May 2, 2009. 8:30 AM REPLY

Ya but this is good if you fry the board inside a servo. Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!

cyrozap says: May 1, 2009. 8:22 PM REPLY

Agreed.

guibot says: May 2, 2009. 3:34 AM REPLY

The servo h-bridge can be slightly less of a driver than needed in certain applications. The servo circuit has a limit pulse drive of the motors. Using
your own h-bridge (FET based) and electronics gets more of the power to the servo motor for better torque and speed.

Phylth says: Apr 30, 2009. 7:49 PM REPLY

Interesting, but why dismantle an otherwise good servo instead of picking up a basic DC motor from, say, Radioshack? Unless the servo's shot I wouldn't
think this would be an economical way to get my hands on a new motor.

Sparkington says: May 1, 2009. 5:18 AM REPLY

This servo has a added gear box, so not only getting a dc motor you get a good dc motor complete with gearbox :)

guibot says: May 1, 2009. 6:18 AM REPLY

Yes that´s it, you get a geared dc motor, inside of a nice case with mounting holes, and with many servo horns
http://www.futaba-rc.com/parts/servo-horns.gif

Sparkington says: May 1, 2009. 6:20 AM REPLY

Yep i have seen this hack to many to count but you have done a great i'bles 5*

Have Fun

http://www.instructables.com/id/HiTec-Servo-Hack/