Answers.Body: <p>Being very curious as a kid, I tried to disassemble one; from what I remember the cap where the plug goes in was sealed/glued quite firmly and not only was removing it a challenge; putting it back together proved nearly impossible. Maybe a more careful adult would have more success, but I wouldn't recommend it.</p>
  
  <p>As for what's inside - two square metallic parts with holes are lodged in the cavity where they'll receive the plugs, and small copper brushes extend from them to contact the motor axle directly. So it's a custom build, there's not a motor in it as in the bigger train motors of the time that you could replace.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-04-24T16:41:12.057Z
Answers.Text: That's useful to know. I was assuming there'd be something like a Mabuchi 280 hiding in there.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Chris
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-04-24T13:42:11.643Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-04-24T13:42:11.643Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Answers.Body: <p>While it is important to keep old and rare Lego pieces in good condition;
  looking at the part in LDCAD, it does not look like there are any screws to take it to pieces, so I think it is internally clipped together, where such clips cannot be pulled back apart again after they snap in. Several Lego motors use these clips.</p>
  
  <p>However since you cannot see them it is debatable weather it matters if they are broken/cut because you can probably super glue it back together and since the glue will be on the inside you won't see that either, but I will leave that risk up to you :)</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-05-29T09:13:37.183Z
Answers.Text: "However since you cannot see them it is debatable weather it matters if they are broken/cut because you can probably super glue it back together and since the glue will be on the inside you won't see that either" It'd probably reduce the value of the part, regardless.
Answers.UserDisplayName: nick012000
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-04-19T03:32:55.113Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-12-23T06:37:15.273Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-12-23T06:37:15.273Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: TechnicTechnician
Body: <p>I have a couple of ancient <a href="https://brickset.com/sets/870-1/Technical-Motor-4-5-V" rel="noreferrer">870 motors (the 4.5v ones)</a> that run but don't sound great. I've looked for, but can't find, a guide on how to dismantle them. I'd like to either get in there and clean/lubricate them selectively, or perhaps even replace the motor element.</p>
  
  <p>The end cap where power is supplied is clearly where they went together, but some gentle wiggling and pulling suggests there's probably some internal one-time assembly clips.</p>
  
  <p>Is there a trick to get them apart?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Edited to add:</strong></p>
  
  <p>Further wiggling and poking makes me believe that unfortunately any clip is in the curved sides of the motor casing, which are very resistant to flexing. A thin blade passes into the top or bottom straight edges with little to no resistance.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2018-11-29T15:04:50.193Z
Comments.Text: Great question, and welcome to Bricks.SE!
Comments.UserDisplayName: jncraton
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2018-12-01T13:55:01.233Z
Comments.Text: @jncraton Thanks. Now all I need is a great answer to got with it!
Comments.UserDisplayName: Chris
Tags: <technic><motor><repair><cleaning><vintage>
Title: Is it possible to dismantle and refurbish an original 870 Technic motor?
UserDisplayName: Chris
ThreadText: # Is it possible to dismantle and refurbish an original 870 Technic motor?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2018-11-29)
  
  I have a couple of ancient [870 motors (the 4.5v ones)](https://brickset.com/sets/870-1/Technical-Motor-4-5-V) that run but don't sound great. I've looked for, but can't find, a guide on how to dismantle them. I'd like to either get in there and clean/lubricate them selectively, or perhaps even replace the motor element.
  
  The end cap where power is supplied is clearly where they went together, but some gentle wiggling and pulling suggests there's probably some internal one-time assembly clips.
  
  Is there a trick to get them apart?
  
  **Edited to add:**
  
  Further wiggling and poking makes me believe that unfortunately any clip is in the curved sides of the motor casing, which are very resistant to flexing. A thin blade passes into the top or bottom straight edges with little to no resistance.
  
  **Tags:** technic, motor, repair, cleaning, vintage
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Great question, and welcome to Bricks.SE!  
  > **username_0**: @jncraton Thanks. Now all I need is a great answer to got with it!  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2019-04-24. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
  
  Being very curious as a kid, I tried to disassemble one; from what I remember the cap where the plug goes in was sealed/glued quite firmly and not only was removing it a challenge; putting it back together proved nearly impossible. Maybe a more careful adult would have more success, but I wouldn't recommend it.
  
  As for what's inside - two square metallic parts with holes are lodged in the cavity where they'll receive the plugs, and small copper brushes extend from them to contact the motor axle directly. So it's a custom build, there's not a motor in it as in the bigger train motors of the time that you could replace.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: That's useful to know. I was assuming there'd be something like a Mabuchi 280 hiding in there.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2019-04-19. Score: 2
  
  While it is important to keep old and rare Lego pieces in good condition;
  looking at the part in LDCAD, it does not look like there are any screws to take it to pieces, so I think it is internally clipped together, where such clips cannot be pulled back apart again after they snap in. Several Lego motors use these clips.
  
  However since you cannot see them it is debatable weather it matters if they are broken/cut because you can probably super glue it back together and since the glue will be on the inside you won't see that either, but I will leave that risk up to you :)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: "However since you cannot see them it is debatable weather it matters if they are broken/cut because you can probably super glue it back together and since the glue will be on the inside you won't see that either" It'd probably reduce the value of the part, regardless.  
  
  ---
  
  