Incision Motor Plate Caphead Washer (4): Why Small Hardware Matters

Quick answer

Buy the Incision Motor Plate Caphead Washer 4-pack if you run a Vanquish VS4-10 or SCX10-II build and want to protect the motor plate from screw heads biting into soft aluminum. Skip it if your motor plate already has countersunk or hardened mounting holes, or if you only need standard flat washers. These are a small, cheap insurance part, not a performance upgrade.

Small hardware rarely gets attention until it fails. A motor plate washer set like the Incision Motor Plate Caphead Washer 4-pack exists because caphead screws and thin aluminum plates are a bad combination under vibration. The washer spreads the load, keeps the screw from digging in, and makes it easier to remove the motor later without damaging the plate.

This guide explains what the 4-pack actually does, how it fits into a Vanquish Products build, and when a caphead washer set is worth adding to your cart. It also covers the trade-offs so you can decide whether you need it or whether your existing hardware already does the job.

What the Incision Motor Plate Caphead Washer 4-pack does

A caphead washer sits under the head of a caphead screw. On a motor plate, the screw head contacts a thin aluminum surface that can deform or gall when tightened repeatedly. The washer distributes that clamping force over a wider area, which reduces the chance of the screw loosening or the plate wearing into an oval slot.

The 4-pack gives you enough washers for a typical motor mount pattern. If you remove and reinstall your motor often, this is the kind of small part that prevents a stripped or scarred plate later. It is not a tuning part, and it will not change how the truck drives.

• Use one washer per motor plate screw for even clamping force.
• Check that the washer outer diameter clears any nearby chassis or motor mount material before tightening.
• Re-check screw torque after the first few runs, since washers can settle.

When a motor plate washer is worth buying

If you run a Vanquish VS4-10, SCX10-II, or similar build with an aluminum motor plate, the screw heads can bite into the plate over time. A caphead washer set is a low-cost way to slow that wear. It is especially useful if you swap pinions or motors often, because repeated tightening is what causes the damage.

The same logic applies if you have already noticed shiny marks or slight dimples around the motor screws. Once the plate surface is uneven, a washer helps the screw sit flat again. If the plate is already deeply gouged, replace the plate first and then add washers to protect the new one.

• Buy if you frequently change gearing or motors.
• Buy if your motor plate shows wear marks around the screw holes.
• Skip if your plate uses countersunk screws that sit flush by design.

How the Incision washer fits into a Vanquish hardware plan

Vanquish Products builds often mix stock hardware with replacement parts like the Currie Threaded Axle Insert set or the H10 Hydro Molded Link Set. Those parts solve different problems, but they share a theme: small, specific hardware that keeps a build serviceable. A motor plate washer belongs in that same category.

If you are already ordering replacement hardware, adding a 4-pack of caphead washers is a sensible one-time purchase. It will not fix a bent motor plate or a stripped screw hole, but it can prevent the slow wear that leads to those problems. Match the washer to the screw size you actually use, and do not force a washer that does not sit flat.

• Keep a few spares in your pit box if you race or crawl often.
• Do not use a washer to compensate for a screw that is too long or too short.
• Pair with quality caphead screws for the best result.

Decision rules for buying a caphead washer set

• Rule 1: Match the washer to your screw size: Check the caphead screws on your motor plate. The washer must fit the screw shank and sit flat under the head. If it does not sit flat, it will not spread the load and can work loose. Measure or test-fit before you buy a full set.
• Rule 2: Buy if you remove the motor more than twice a year: Repeated tightening is what damages soft motor plates. If you swap pinions, motors, or gearing often, a 4-pack is cheap insurance. If you set it once and never touch it, the benefit is smaller. Frequent maintenance justifies the purchase.
• Rule 3: Skip if your plate is countersunk or hardened: Some motor plates are designed for flush countersunk screws or use hardened inserts. Adding a washer there can change the screw engagement and cause problems. Check your plate design first. Do not add hardware that fights the original design.
• Rule 4: Replace a damaged plate before adding washers: If the motor plate already has deep gouges or ovaled holes, washers will not fix it. Replace the plate, then install washers to protect the new surface. Fix the damage first, then prevent it.

Product facts

• Currie Threaded Axle Insert: Replacement set of threaded inserts used in Vanquish Currie Axles, including SCX10-II Currie RockJock Front Axle, SCX10-II Currie F9 Front Axle, SCX10-II Currie F9 Portal Front Axle, and VS4-10 Currie RockJock 44 Front Axle. Package includes 4 threaded axle inserts. Like the Incision washer, this is a small replacement part that keeps an axle serviceable. If you are already maintaining Vanquish axles, you understand why spending a few dollars on hardware prevents bigger repairs later.
• H10 Hydro Molded Link Set: VPS08808 H10 Hydro Molded link set in molded black. Replacement front axle molded link set for the H10 Platform. Compatible with VPS09010A and VPS09010B as a direct replacement. This shows the pattern of Vanquish replacement parts: specific, platform-matched, and intended to keep a build running. A motor plate washer set follows the same logic for the motor mounting area.
• F10T Aluminum Front Axle Housing - Black Anodized: Offset F10T front axle for VS4-10 based vehicles. Features an offset front differential housing, removable third member, one-piece bearing retainers, and integrated inner c-hubs. Includes easily replaceable chromoly threaded inserts. The F10T housing uses replaceable threaded inserts, which is the same design idea as using washers to protect a motor plate: put a serviceable part where wear happens so the main component lasts longer.

Who should buy the Incision Motor Plate Caphead Washer 4-pack

Best for

• Vanquish VS4-10 or SCX10-II owners who frequently change motors or gearing
• Builders who want to protect an aluminum motor plate from screw-head wear
• Anyone already ordering small replacement hardware and wanting to add a low-cost preventive part

Not for

• Drivers whose motor plate uses countersunk screws or hardened inserts
• Anyone looking for a performance upgrade rather than a wear-reduction part
• Builds where the motor plate is already damaged and needs replacement instead

The Incision Motor Plate Caphead Washer 4-pack is a small part with a narrow job: keep caphead screws from chewing into your motor plate. If you maintain a Vanquish build and remove the motor regularly, it is a sensible add-on. If your plate is countersunk or you never touch the motor, you can skip it without worry.