Short story - I worked my butt off today to try and get some snow bashing time but it didn't pan out. Too many issues and I ran out of time. :\
That's really the point of this post so you can stop here and move on. If you want full details,keep reading. I was bored so I typed out the whole story below.
Here in Joplin MO we got our first snow of the year,well actually 2 years. Nothing lasted a full day last year. And it's been a long time since I had time and bashed any of my nitro rigs so I figured today it was on!
I quickly ran into road block #1. My usual basher,the Savage,has a blown diff from it's last time out and I don't have parts to fix it yet.
Switch to plan B - my Associated SC8. The road is hard packed so I figured it would be a blast to run on it. The SC8 has been on the shelf untouched for at least 2-3 years now so I figure there will be a little to do before I can bash,but shouldn't be a real problem. WRONG!
I pull it out and take the lid off and OMG! Last time out with it I apparently forgot to do any after run maintenance. I don't know what's worse,the fact I didn't clean it up or the fact I can't remember getting it dirty LOL. Anyways,time to get it ready.
First I break out all 3 chargers and get the receiver pack,glow ignitor and roto start batteries charging. Meanwhile I check the truck and find that the filler cap has broken off the the gas tank and the engine is froze up. I also just now remember I needed money a while back and sold the transmitter and receiver out of it so I have to find some thing to use. Hmmm... going to be more work than anticipated.
The gas tank is a non-issue,I know I have a new one for it so I focus on the engine. Upon removal and dis-assembly,I find everything in good shape,just gummed up. I soaked the one-way bearing in WD-40 and also used it to free up the piston and bearings. A little cleaning and some lubrication and the engine is free and well again. Bolt it back in the chassis and the worst should be done.
A little digging in my part drawers and bingo! I found the new fuel tank complete with new hoses already cut to fit. A simple sit it in place and two clips the tank is good.
Now it's time to figure out the tx/rx issue. Time to rob the Savage! While removing the receiver from the Savage,the battery chargers start chiming that they are done. I still need the transmitter charged so I start it then go to hooking up the receiver. And then here is another problem. The battery/receiver box is small on this truck,the receiver is big.
To get past this I ended up with hillbilly fix. The battery is a small LiPo,not a hump pack so I am able to fit it and the receiver in the bottom of the box by standing them on their sides. However the cover will not work this way so I used some velcro straps to hold them down. Should be fine,I don't plan on jumping or anything,just some flat track drifting.
Transmitter charge is done,should be time to fire it up and play right? Nope I turn the transmitter on,solid red light - good. I turn on the receiver,nothing. I check connections at the switch - good. Check the receiver - good. Still nothing. Remember this is a LiPo battery so I have a regulator in line to the receiver.Turns out one end of it is loose but looked like it was connected good.
Now it's time to fire it up. I head out to garage,fill it up with fuel,turn on the transmitter,receiver and check all functions - good. I use the roto start and spin the engine to prime it,then attach the ignitor and spin it some more. Nothing. I recheck the ignitor and it's already dead. The battery did not hold it's charge. It's a sub c and I don't have any others so it's hillbilly time again. I wrapped some paper around an AA battery and I'm able to make it work.
Try again. Nothing. I look outside and see it's getting dark - game over for today. After dinner,I start thinking about what could be the issue and conclude the carb must be plugged up. I check further and find out fuel isn't even getting to the carb. Lighting isn't real good in my garage and the fuel I'm running is Losi Nitortane and it is clear so it really wasn't getting it primed. I did a little carb cleaning so maybe it's good to go. keep my fingers crossed!
Enough for tonight,hopefully I can get some run time and video tomorrow but I'm not sure if that can happen either. I have church in the morning and a church board meeting at 2 in the afternoon then another class at 6. My snow bashing this go around may be a total bust :\
That's really the point of this post so you can stop here and move on. If you want full details,keep reading. I was bored so I typed out the whole story below.
Here in Joplin MO we got our first snow of the year,well actually 2 years. Nothing lasted a full day last year. And it's been a long time since I had time and bashed any of my nitro rigs so I figured today it was on!
I quickly ran into road block #1. My usual basher,the Savage,has a blown diff from it's last time out and I don't have parts to fix it yet.
Switch to plan B - my Associated SC8. The road is hard packed so I figured it would be a blast to run on it. The SC8 has been on the shelf untouched for at least 2-3 years now so I figure there will be a little to do before I can bash,but shouldn't be a real problem. WRONG!
I pull it out and take the lid off and OMG! Last time out with it I apparently forgot to do any after run maintenance. I don't know what's worse,the fact I didn't clean it up or the fact I can't remember getting it dirty LOL. Anyways,time to get it ready.
First I break out all 3 chargers and get the receiver pack,glow ignitor and roto start batteries charging. Meanwhile I check the truck and find that the filler cap has broken off the the gas tank and the engine is froze up. I also just now remember I needed money a while back and sold the transmitter and receiver out of it so I have to find some thing to use. Hmmm... going to be more work than anticipated.
The gas tank is a non-issue,I know I have a new one for it so I focus on the engine. Upon removal and dis-assembly,I find everything in good shape,just gummed up. I soaked the one-way bearing in WD-40 and also used it to free up the piston and bearings. A little cleaning and some lubrication and the engine is free and well again. Bolt it back in the chassis and the worst should be done.
A little digging in my part drawers and bingo! I found the new fuel tank complete with new hoses already cut to fit. A simple sit it in place and two clips the tank is good.
Now it's time to figure out the tx/rx issue. Time to rob the Savage! While removing the receiver from the Savage,the battery chargers start chiming that they are done. I still need the transmitter charged so I start it then go to hooking up the receiver. And then here is another problem. The battery/receiver box is small on this truck,the receiver is big.
To get past this I ended up with hillbilly fix. The battery is a small LiPo,not a hump pack so I am able to fit it and the receiver in the bottom of the box by standing them on their sides. However the cover will not work this way so I used some velcro straps to hold them down. Should be fine,I don't plan on jumping or anything,just some flat track drifting.
Transmitter charge is done,should be time to fire it up and play right? Nope
I turn the transmitter on,solid red light - good. I turn on the receiver,nothing. I check connections at the switch - good. Check the receiver - good. Still nothing. Remember this is a LiPo battery so I have a regulator in line to the receiver.Turns out one end of it is loose but looked like it was connected good.Now it's time to fire it up. I head out to garage,fill it up with fuel,turn on the transmitter,receiver and check all functions - good. I use the roto start and spin the engine to prime it,then attach the ignitor and spin it some more. Nothing. I recheck the ignitor and it's already dead. The battery did not hold it's charge. It's a sub c and I don't have any others so it's hillbilly time again. I wrapped some paper around an AA battery and I'm able to make it work.
Try again. Nothing. I look outside and see it's getting dark - game over for today. After dinner,I start thinking about what could be the issue and conclude the carb must be plugged up. I check further and find out fuel isn't even getting to the carb. Lighting isn't real good in my garage and the fuel I'm running is Losi Nitortane and it is clear so it really wasn't getting it primed. I did a little carb cleaning so maybe it's good to go. keep my fingers crossed!
Enough for tonight,hopefully I can get some run time and video tomorrow but I'm not sure if that can happen either. I have church in the morning and a church board meeting at 2 in the afternoon then another class at 6. My snow bashing this go around may be a total bust :\
