Power Wheels Motor Upgrade: An Effortless Way to Smoothen Your Experience

Peter Simms // Last Updated on September 27, 2023

What’s fun with running your power wheels at low speed? A noise-free, smooth, and fast ride with your power wheel might bring back your old memories. But when your power wheel is old and its components are soon dead, it hardly runs at over 2mph. And the battery gets consumed too frequently. So it’s high time for the power wheels motor upgrade for better user convenience.

You don’t need to navigate the whole world of the automobile for this little upgrade; it’s no rocket science. Besides, you don’t have to invest much in this project. So to make your ride faster and smoother, the following points related to motor upgrading could be a number one solution.

  • Remove Plastic Components
  • Prepare the motor
  • Remove the old motor
  • Install the new motor
  • Reinstall the plastic components
  • Prepare the power wheel for the test ride
  • Take a test ride

Trust me, these step-by-step process will be worth every dime.

Things to Consider Before Power Wheels Motor Upgrade

Things to Consider Before Power Wheels Motor Upgrade

There are many key factors, like budget and how much you expect from this power wheel motor upgrade. Besides this, the upgrade largely depends on the current condition of your power wheel with remote or normal system.

In this part of the article, we will discuss the factors that need your thoughts.

Motor and Battery

First, you must be sure what kind of motor and battery is installed on your power wheels by default. There are different kinds of motors for power wheels motor upgrades, such as 12volt 550 case motors which are pretty common these days, or 12-volt 570 case motors which are bigger than the usual ones.

Besides, the motors are classified by the RPM too. Mainly RPM of a motor means the velocity. So if you need an upgrade in your motors, you should look for a motor with a higher RPM.

Usually, the motor installed in your power wheel by default is 5 or 6volts and runs at more or less 2mph. So with an upgrade, you can easily accelerate to 5 to 6mph. But for that upgrade, you must be sure about the compatibility of the motor and the battery.

If you have a 6volt motor and a 12volt battery, it is obvious for your motor to get damaged. However, it might not be essential to match the voltage of the battery and motor. But the motor gets heated up after running for a while if the battery has a higher voltage. And after a short period, the motor gets damaged.

So it is considered to be a wise choice to buy a 12-volt 40000RPM motor to replace your built-in motor. And yes, you have to upgrade your battery to 18 volts, too, if you have a 12-volt battery because the high RPM will consume a lot of battery. Besides, it takes comparatively less time to charge and boosts the speed.

Budget

If budget is your first concern in upgrading the power wheels motor, then you don’t need to worry a bit because this will be a budget-friendly project. You only need a motor if you have the right battery of 18 or 12volts. And you can manage a 12volt 40000 RPM battery at just 12 to 15 bucks from Amazon or eBay.

How to Upgrade Power Wheels Motor

How to Upgrade Power Wheels Motor

You may have different models of power wheels from other brands, such as power wheel dune racer or power wheel jeep hurricane. Here we will show you the easiest way to power the wheels motor upgrade, which would apply to any model. You don’t have to be an expert for this task. If you are a DIY user, you will have a lot of fun upgrading this.

Things You Need:

It is a must to have the proper tools and equipment to upgrade the power wheels motor. You will need a new motor and repair tools to complete the job quickly.

a) Replacement Motor and Pinions

You must buy a better motor to upgrade the power wheel motors. Generally, the power wheels come with 550-volt stock motors, so you must get a more potent motor. A 775-volt good, the quality motor will be a perfect choice when upgrading the motor.

I recommend the Genmitsu GS-775 Micro DC motor, which is an excellent choice for high speed. It ensures 20000 RPM speed but with no noise. Its high-quality material and double ball bearing accomplishment make it powerful and give your power wheel vehicle a new life.

b) Torch or Soldering Iron

Generally, people use wire cutters to remove wires from the old motor. But it makes your job tough because wires are soldered onto the motors. You cannot properly remove them from the motor with wire cutters. Wires also cut down and become shorter.

To properly remove the wires, you must have a soldering iron or torch to melt the soldered spots. Once the soldered spots melt, you can easily remove the wires without cutting them.

If you do not have a soldering iron, I recommend an ECG J-025 Electric Corded Soldering Iron. It comes with a conical needle that makes it easy to work in tough and small spaces. It is a 25W iron that provides up to 240 C temperature for quick removal of soldered material.

C) Heat Sinks

Heat sinks are tiny protective items that keep your vehicles safe from overheating. So, you must invest in these small heat sinks to protect your expensive motors. Your new motor will need more power, so there are more chances it may overheat and damage the parts in its nearby.

It is an excellent idea to install heat sinks while replacing the new motor. You can use a uxcell silver tone aluminum radiator heatsink. It is affordable and comes in a 5 Pcs pack, which you can use multiple times.

D) Additional Tools

Power wheels are simple; you do not need many tools to upgrade the motor. A small flat-head screwdriver, electrical tape, zip ties, Pinion gear puller, and Allen wrench. Once you have arranged all the items, motor upgrading will be easier and will not take more than an hour.

Steps to Motor Upgrade for Power Wheels:

Steps to Motor Upgrade for Power Wheels

Here are the steps to make your power wheel motor upgrade process perfect and fast.

Step 1- Remove Plastic Components

The motor upgrade's first step is removing all the plastic components. You will need to remove the wheels, axle seat, and any of the plastic covers that restrict your access to the wiring harness and gearboxes.

This job is pretty easy, and you only need a Philips screwdriver to remove all the components. Unscrew all the items and take them apart.

Step 2- Prepare The Motor

You will need to prepare the new motor for installation at the new motor’s place. To prepare the motors, you must install the gear teeth with the motor set. It is super easy; it only needs an Allen screwdriver. Do not forget to install the heat sink to protect the motor from overheating or other damage.

Step 3- Remove The Old Motor

After, you can remove the old motor. The motor is installed onto the gearbox. It is mounted with screws. Using a Philips screwdriver, unscrew the screws and take out the old motor.

Step 4- Install the New Motor

After removing the old motor, you can install the new motor in its place. Install the new motor onto the gearbox as the previous motor was installed. You only need a Philips screwdriver to complete this job. Ensure all corners are properly tightened and there are no open areas.

Step 5- Reinstall The Plastic Components

By using the flathead screwdriver, reinstall all the plastic components in their places. If you forget the arrangement, you can also take assistance from the user manual.

Step 6- Prepare The Power Wheel For The Test Ride

Never put a load on the new motor; after upgrading the motor or power wheels power switch on the motor and leave it for 20 minutes in the running position.

Step 7- Take A Test Ride

Now your power wheel is ready for a test ride, take a few yard rides to check the motor performance. I hope you will enjoy the new motor's better and faster ride.

How to Upgrade Power Wheels/ 18 Volts on a 40,000 RPM Motor?

18 Volts on a 40,000 RPM Motor

Generally, the power wheel has 6 volts and 550 motors. You can increase their speed and performance to maximum by upgrading its motor up to 18 volts 40000RPM motor. It is pretty easy to upgrade the motor on a power wheel.

Things You Need:

  • Flat-head screwdriver
  • Drill Machine
  • 18 Volts 40000 RPM motor

Steps to Upgrade Power Wheels/ 18 Volts 40,000 RPM Motor

Step 1- Remove the Tires

To install, you will need to remove the tires to install the new motor on the power wheels; remove the tires' washer using the drill machine. After removing the washer, pull the tires out.

Step 2- Install the Motor on the Wheel Axle

The next step is to install the motor on the power wheel axle. Install the motor on the power wheels axle; you do not need any tool to install it. Just push the motor on the axle.

Once the motor is installed, put the tire back over it. Put the washer and tighten it using the drill machine.

Step 3- Connect The Motor To The Battery

You need to connect the motor to the battery; it is challenging but not very tough. You will need to identify the right terminal because motors have similar terminals. If you connect it to the wrong terminal motor will run in reverse.

So before finalizing the motor, check it and confirm the motor is running in the right direction. Connect both wires to the battery and switch on the power wheel.

Check the motor running; if the motor is running correctly, put the assembly back. Otherwise, change the wires.

Step 4- Take a Test Ride

After assembling everything, do not forget to take a test ride for the smooth performance of the new 18-volt 40000 RPM motor. If the motor works fine, now you have a faster power wheel vehicle.

Power wheels Dune Extreme Motor Upgrade:

Power wheels Dune Extreme Motor Upgrade

Power Wheels dune extreme is an excellent power wheel car; you can double the fun by upgrading its motor.

Things you will need:

  • New Motor
  • Flat-head or Philips Screwdriver
  • Heat sink (Optional)

Step 1- Remove the Old Motor

To remove the power wheels motor, first, remove the nearby components. You will need to remove the tires, axle, and gearbox cover. Removing all of such parts is super easy; by using a simple screwdriver, you can remove those parts.

After removing the gearbox cover, you will get access to the motor. The motor is mounted onto the gearbox. Unscrew all the screws and remove the motor. After removing the screws, you can easily remove the motor by pulling it up.

Step 2- Install the New Motor

After removing the old motor, ready your new motor; you can attach heat sinks to protect the motor from overheating. After attaching the heat sink, install it onto the gearbox. You can install it using the Philips screwdriver.

Step 3- Reassemble

Then reassemble everything in its right place. Ensure you put back the axle, cover, tires, and other accessories properly. Otherwise, you may face trouble in riding.

Step 4- Take a Test Ride

Finally, test your job, take a few yards ride and ensure the motor is working fine.

Top 6 Points that Effects Power Wheel Motor Upgrade:

Top 6 Points that Effects Power Wheel Motor Upgrade

1. Volts

The manufacturer will recommend how much voltage you should use in your power wheel vehicles. Many of us run the 14 volts motors at 18 volts without difficulty. I also don’t have a problem running a775 motors at 24v power wheels.

2. Pinion Gears

It seems to be the gear of the power wheel motor. The power wheel motor has pinion gears that are not reusable and press-fit. You should buy the pinion gears with the same number of teeth as your existing motor. You will get the information on the page of motor description.

The 500 to 600 motors use 3mm pinions. But the power wheels 775 motors use 5mm pinions. However, it depends on which motor you want to use. But keep in mind that you are upgrading your power wheel vehicles which reject all warranties.

3. 550 Motor 21 Turn 14 Volts and Backward Rotation

550 motor works excellent in power wheel vehicles and other vehicles with the same gearbox, including the motors facing a distance. The backward rotation motor goes on the riding side of the vehicle. They are a very low-speed help for both on and off-road use.

4. 550 Size Upgraded Motor

The producer does not express the turns of the motors. They are mostly the speed of the 500 motors 21 turns listed above but provide a little more off-road speed. They are neutrally timed.

5. 550 Motor 23 Turn 14 Volts

The 550 motors will give you low-end or off-road power, which helps you go through up hills, tall grass, hauling trailers, mud and demo debris. This 550 motor with 23 turns at 14 volts will give faster speed than others.

6. 775 Motor 10 Turn 16.8 Volts

The 775 motor is best when you are riding a vehicle at 18 to 24 volts. They are all about speed to keep your power wheel spinning in any situation. You will need 775 mounting screws on power wheels as they are large enough in diameter.

Best Power Wheel Motors:

Here is the list of two best Power Wheel Motors that will perform excellently on your power wheel.

A. 2 Pcs 550 24V 40000RPM Electric Motor by KOTLXFZ

I recommend the KOTLXFZ 2Pcs 550 24v with 40000 RPM motor. It is pure copper made, ensuring excellent performance and strength. It is compatible with almost all models of power wheels. The motor is simple to install and remove.

B. DC 775 Motor 12V-36V 24V 3500-9000RPM 775 by Qianson

Another best motor for power wheels is the DC775 by Qianson. It is available in different voltages, and RPM ranges from 12v-24v and 3500RPM to 9000 RPM. It ensures a high torque but no noise and works excellently on every power wheel model.

550 vs 775 Motor: What Are the Differences

Feature

550

775

Ideal for Power Wheel model

Yes

Yes

Size

Smaller

Larger

RPM

22000

10000

Weight

Lighter

Heavier

Volt

6 V-12V

12 v-24v

Final Verdict:

Upgrading a power wheel motor can be a good decision if you pick the best motor. You can easily improve the speed and performance and cover extra mileage with the same charging by upgrading the power wheel motor.

Whatever power wheel model you have, the process of motor upgrade is simple. You do not need many tools to replace the old motor with a new, better-quality motor.