Help with starter box...

[SkyMaxx]

Okay, tonight I finally got a chance to try out the new buggy. Of course, I still need to break in the engine. So I charge everything up, grab the buggy, fuel, glo-ignitor, radio, AND the starter box.

The Team Associated POS. Why is it a POS? Maybe it isn't. Afterall I am not big on starter boxes (this is my first one). I guess I should get to the problem...

The starter box motor and batteries get smoking hot (and I am not exagerating...the freaking motor was smoking). The thing would barely turn over my .21 S7 eninge...I think I may have gotten one or two brrrps out of the engine before the batteries were too hot to handle and the starter box motor was smoking.

My question: Is this normal? The only time I have seen batteries get this hot was when they were plugged in wrong. Regardless, all of the wires were hot enough to melt their casing. The motor was smoking and smelling of charred wiring. Is this starter box a POS? or am I screwed up?

Help.

 

[RiceLaxer06]

check the wiring, there has got to be a short circuit somewhere. That is definitely not right.
Andrew

 

[Candyman]

OK, remeber this is coming from someone who has never used a box. But from everything I have heard, I would suspect 2 things. One might be a short. That could bake the electronics quickly. The other thing is that I have read a number of post where people have said that their starter boxes have had trouble turning over their big blocks during break-in. If you're leaning that high compression mill on a starter and the starter can't kick it over, the motor in the starter is going to sit there and work it's ass off. But without turning the engine over, the starter motor will just fry and will fry the batteries, too. I'm wondering if the old "loosen the glow plug" trick will work until the mill is broken in...

 

[SkyMaxx]

I am not electrically challenged, so the short was the first thing I looked for. Could not find one.

Have tried the glo-plug bit, but still seem to be frying the motor. I guess I'll have to give it a few more tries and see if I can track the problem down.

Thanks for the rapid response....back to the front porch and yet another attempt at turning this engine over.

 

[Diver6127]

Sky, I too was a bumpbox newbie a couple weeks ago. I also know that the .21 and .15 are beasts of a different nature BUT here's a trick that might work, it worked for me. Also worked for a guy at my LHS breaking in his 21 for the inferno 7.5 rtr.

1. Make sure you have the alignment right. I didn't and it bogged down the starter motor. To make sure you got it right, take out the glow plug and just see if you got the alignment right. If it is right you should be able to turn the piston with ease when it makes contact with the rubber wheel. If all is well, replace the plug.

2. Give the starter motor a "running start" and make contact with the rubber wheel. Of course make sure the glow starter is on. I didn't for the first couple of tries before I realized it was on the work bench.

3. Make sure the piston is at the bottom of it's stroke so it can be turned easier.

Sounds pretty ease huh? hardest part is just making sure it's aligned right.

BTW, I loosened my glow plug just a little bit for break in, didn't seem to do anything. Started up fine when it was tight. You could also heat the head with a hair dryer to expand the top of the sleeve and make it easier for the piston to cycle. That was suggested to me when I was learning, by a member here .
BTW, I have no experience with the AE starter box, I bought my box from Nitromaniac. It's the Dynamite Heavy Duty High Torque box. If I am correct, the AE box uses gear reduction, mine uses a wheel mounted directly to the motor.

 

[FlyinRazorback]

Sky,
RB engines are notorious for being hard as hell to get started when new. Get out your hairdryer and heat the engine up to around 150 F before you try to start it.

 

[SkyMaxx]

Thanks for all the good info guys. I think I actually got a bad box. I tried running the sucker up for a couple seconds without any contact on the engine...the starter box motor drained the batteries in no time flat and smoke checked itself.

I have been over this thing pretty extensively looking for someking of short. Nothing found. Tomorrow...off to the LHS to as them WTF.

Again, thanks for the quick replies. If I got a bogus box and they replace it tomorrow, I'll use all the tips supplied by you ... and try and get the engine running again.

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

Lastly, take it back and get an OFNA box for the 8th scale.

AND a 12v gel cell.

I own 3 different boxes by OFNA. Each one has their own purpose. I know it may be overkill and I 'should' be able to use one box for all 3 rides, but I prefer the right box for the ride.

This is the one I STRONGLY suggest for 8th scale buggies and big blocks. Its an oversize box as well which is awesome for buggies.

PART NUMBER: 10250
PART NUMBER: 10253 - w/Power Panel
Used For: 1/10 On/Off Road, 1/8 On/Off Road


I skipped out on the power panel. I have it on one and dont find myself using it so......

http://www.ofna.com/starters.html

 

[SkyMaxx]

Thanks for the info Chris. I had seen some other starter boxes of similar capability in my search prior to posting this thread. I guess the LHS better have one...or I'm SOL.

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

If not, and you can wait, I'm certain I can get you a great deal through Fields Hobby here in Buffalo. Let me know.