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Can't Start my Maxx, need help

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M

MaxxMasterS2

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  1. Bashing
So my T-Maxx arrived in the mail the other day, and waited until the temperature was above freezing (I live in Canada) and when the temperature hit 49 degrees, I was out trying to start it. I pushed and held the easy start for a good 3 to 5 seconds at a time. Nothing was happening, and the fuel was slowly moving through the fuel line, so I gave it another try, this time plugging the exhaust briefly to prime the engine. Still no luck, and eventually the engine stopped turning over. the glow plug light was out on my easy starter, so I went and got new glow plugs only to reallize that I had merely flooded the engine the first time. SO I followed the procedure to clear out a flooded engine and repeated my starting attempts. NO good, so I cleared the engine. I keep flooding it, and there was only one time when I thought it almost started.

What am I doing Wrong? I eventually started adjusting the fuel mixture, first richening it, then leaning it... I just don't know what to do anymore, I've tried to start it so many times I think I really did blow this glow plug. Someone please help me.

Maxx - going to master - S2
:violin:
 
1st get rid of the blue wire and get a glow plug driver...2nd do you have your settings at factory??WAS your battery in your ez start at a full charge?

And welcome to RCNT
 
Glow Plug ignitor

Yes, Battery was fully charged... I've heard about getting rid of that blue wire and getting some real power... That's funny because I had one, but i returned it because good ol' traxxas said I don't need one. Thanks for the tip, I'm gonna go back and get the glow plug ignitor I returned (across the freakin' city) and get another. It was at factory settings, I heard I should lean it as I am at a higher altitude than most cities. Thanks for the tip.


S2
 
No problem man just let us no and we can help you out any time....

we are here for you BRO

And let me no I have a battery glow plug driver ill send to you if you need one

free of charge.....
 
Using a glow ignitor will probably help a bit. But even that blue wire does work a bit. Just start from scratch. Reset both high and low needles to factory settings. Make sure the EZ Start battery is fully charged. Fresh glowplug. Fresh fuel. Prime it until fuel just reaches the carb. And since it's cold where you live, I would store the truck indoors until you're ready to start it. And if it's out in the cold for a bit, warm the engine with a hairdryer for a few minutes. Sometimes it does take a little while to get these engines up and running when they're new. Just watch your flooding. Make sure the glowplug glows bright and your batteries are good...
 
Fresh fuel

Thanks for the tips guys... I have already gone through 2 plugs... 1 definately, and I'm not sure what you mean about fresh fuel... I've flushed out the line around the glow plug, is that what you mean? I talked to my LHS, and they told me to richen my fuel mixture. I didn't buy the truck there, but I bought all the supplies there, so I don't think they will help me out without charging me out the ass... I already think this is costing enough money, especially since it hasn't started... And Zandor, are you serious about sending me free stuff? Because if you are, I'm down with that, I hate driving across the city to pick up something I just returned because I thought I didn't need it.

Thanks again. S2
 
hell ya Iam serious that is what hobbyhollics do LOL PM me your addy and were golden Bro....I live right on the boarder washington ST. Illl get it out to you tomarrow..
 
i had trouble starting my maxx the first time too, but once you get it going it will be worth it. i would do what candyman said with the hairdryer, get it nice and warm and try starting it right away before it cools down which it will do right away. when i am taking my revo somewhere i put it on the floor of my truck and put the heater of floor. and once you get it started, it would be a good idea to put something around the head to keep the temp up for a good break in.
 
Here's a few things that might help.

Make sure your glow plug and charger/ignitor are working. To do this unscrew the glow plug, clip it in the ignitor, and make sure the plug gows a nice bright orange or near white. If it takes a while to light, it's probably weak.

Try to start the engine warm. Leave it inside until the head and the engine have a chance to get to room temp. Leaving a nitro engine in a cold garage and then trying to start it in low temps is just plain difficult. I almost returned my first nitro without starting it for this very reason.

I had a lot of trouble until I started it in a warm p[lace and at room temp.

By fresh fuel, we mean fuel that has not been left opened, and is the right %. Always dump the tank from the day before and use fuel right out of the can.

Don't be afraid to prime your engine. I always take off the exhaust hose, and blow air through it until I see the fuel enter the car. These things don;t prime themselves.

For an easier start, loosen the glow plug just enough to make turning it over easier, and tighten once it has started.

Hope that helps, G' luck
 
Here's a quick tip for dealing with a flooded engine. As long as the EZ start will still spin it, keep it running while pinching the fuel line to the carb. Pinch it tight. The fuel in the engine will be flushed out, and the engine will start to sputter, and more often than not, run. If it fires, let it run 2 to 3 seconds before letting go of the pinch on the line. If it quits as soon as the fuel starts to flow again, you know it's set way too rich.
Also, there's a common problem with the EZ starts. A defect on the circuit board tends to quit, and you get NO voltage to the glow plug. You'll do everything to try to start it, and you'll wonder what's wrong.
Go with the ignitor. Using an ignitor also increases the cranking time of the EZ start, since the glow plug draws a lot of power.
Good luck with the new Tmaxx. Just remember, all the parts get more brittle in the cold weather, so avoid slamming into curbs and trees.
 
At one point i had problems with starting my maxx. As soon as i got rid of the blue wire and tried a glow plug ingitor all my starting troubles were gone. Seems like it just gives better heat to start it when its cold. Same thing happened to my friends maxx, and getting rid of the blue wire worked great also. Just thought i'd share that, lol.
Cobra198
 
This is awesome.

ZANDOR said:
Hey MaxxMasterS2 the plug driver will be sent out in the AM.Enjoy :cheers:
Click to expand...

This is awesome. I will gladly send a part to someone else in need of an extra part of mine, to mimic this extremely kind act, in an attempt to move others to do the same. What a great forum to be a part of. Thanks to everyone for all their help and suggestions, and Zandor for his donation of a driver.

One more question just to make sure you're all still paying attention... Is it okay to leave fuel in the tank of the truck for a while, or is it important to make sure it rests empty all the time when finished using it?

S2
 
Keeping fuel in the tank for an hour is probly ok but dont do it for long.Nitro Fuel will evaporate fairly quickly and leave the oil in the tank and fuel lines and that stuff can really srcew and clog the engine it is always a good idea to clean the tank at the end of the day.
P.S. I second the hairdryer method always works for me.
 
Tarant is right on.

Back before I found this forum, I was a real newb to nitro. I would have a heck of a time starting my nitro. I was trying to get it consistant for christmas. I used to leave the nitro in the tank overnight in the garage. I always wondered why I had a heck of a time starting my cold engine.

Well I started dumping the fuel and putrting fresh nitro in before I attempted the start and found I was far less frusterated when I had fresh nitro. Yes it will sometimes run, but it makes it a pain to start.

Tarants also right about the fuel evaporating leaving the oil behind. After doing this a few times, or only once leaving it in for a week or so you will have to clean the heck out of everything. At that point it's almost easier to buy a new fuel tank for the car than get the gum out. It's way easier just to get in the habit of turning the car upside down and tossing the old fuel.

The hair dryer trick servers two purposes.
#1 It expands the sleeve/piston making it way easier to start.
#2 When the engine is really cold it's a tight fit and wears the piston down quicker. So preheating the engine also makes it last a lot longer. I think it really makes the difference weather the engine lasts 2-4 gallonsm or 4-8 gallons.

Oh hey I forgot...when you are done with your nitro it;s good to rotate the engine to before dead center (out of the compression stroke) Since the sleeve is tapered, and tighter up top, you don;t want the engine cooling with the piston up high in the cylinder. It's been said that it actually warps the sleeve (more premature ear).

For some people nitro engines just don't last long. Seems some only last 1-3 gallons of fuel. Mine always seems to last 5-7, others have been known to get 8+ gallons out of a engine. I have a feeling it's all in the way you treat it.
 
Ez starter

Okay, so I finally understand the Ez starter... the e is for electric and the z is for broken. Well, either that or the blue wire can suck my fuel bottle nozzle. Can you see the glow plug glowing from the top of the engine when it's plugged in? Because if so, I swear I saw that sucker glow, but only once, the very first time I TRIED to start it. A buddy of mine told me I could plug the glow plug into the blue wire and see if it glows when the starter fires, so I did that, and it didn't, so I figure the blue wire is buggered. I fullly charged the ezstart before this. I've read around on other forums and noticed that people say the ezstarter is good for cranking but sucks for igniting glow plugs and sometimes breaks right away. I guess that could be what's happening to me... The glow plug light doesn't even light up at all anymore, and I have 3 different new glow plugs. What a hassle. I guess the Z could be fore haZZle.

S2 :nono:
 
Last edited:
I think I know what is wrong. I had a problem, my EZ start would turn the engine over but the plug would not glow.so I ended up getting a new EZ Start controller and it worked the LED were on and it glowed and turned over and started .I asked the guy at my LHS and he said that the circuit that heats the plug goes bad if the EZ start gets to hot.so I ripped my old controler apart and sure enough one of the cicuits was burned.
 
Tarant said:
I think I know what is wrong. I had a problem, my EZ start would turn the engine over but the plug would not glow.so I ended up getting a new EZ Start controller and it worked the LED were on and it glowed and turned over and started .I asked the guy at my LHS and he said that the circuit that heats the plug goes bad if the EZ start gets to hot.so I ripped my old controler apart and sure enough one of the cicuits was burned.
Click to expand...


Cool, I did my best to follow after run procedure, but tehre's still fuel in the line... I'm not sure how to flush it, should I just unplug it from the carb and let it drip out? flush with something?

Thanks again Tarant, that must be my problem too.

S2
 
all I do is take the line off the carb and fill the tank with warm water and blow in the air pressure line and the warm water cleans out the oil and crap just make sure the tank is dry after your done
 

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