Newbie needs help - Engine won't start

[charg]

Hello, I am hoping someone can take pity on a newbie and help me out here. I have an older-model T-Maxx (with the Traxxas .15 engine) and it will not start. The EZ start will crank the engine but it never starts. Here is what I have tried so far:

1. A new glow plug. I also took the glow plug out and pressed it against the motor while cranking the EZ start. The plug glows brightly when I do this.

2. Disconnected the fuel line to the carb and pressed the primer button on the fuel tank. Fuel flows through the line just fine.

3. Played around with the high speed fuel mixture wheel and put it back to factory settings, moved it around, etc. No change.

OK, so my question is... what next? Should I replace the fuel lines, fuel filter, and fuel tank just in case there is an air leak somewhere? How would I know if there was an air leak?

Also, even though this is an older model T-Maxx, it has only been used like three or four times. It's never been in a crash, never even jumped with it or anything. My point is that it's still in like-new condition.

Any help on where to troubleshoot next would really be appreciated. I'm going to try to mess around with it again tomorrow.

Thanks,

Charg

 

[SkyMaxx]

The factory needle settings for that engine are 2.5 turns open (counterclockwise) on the HSN and 1.75 turns open (counterclockwise) on the LSN.

What fuel are you using? How old is it? You should try using some new fuel that is 20%nitro and formulated for RC cars/trucks.

How long has the engine been sitting idle or unused? If it has been a while, do you know if it had after run oil (ARO) placed in it? If the engine has been sitting unused for a while, it will take a bit to get it started. If the engine had ARO in it and has sat unused for a while, you are in for a tough start.

As for what you should do next, I would highly recommend picking up the T-Maxx tank that is primerless. A new or clean fuel filter is a good thing. Replacing the fuel lines (if they are old) couldn't hurt. While air leaks could stop you from getting a good start, in this case I think it might be another issue all together.

 

[charg]

It's probably been sitting unused for a good year to year and a half. I didn't put any after run oil in it. I was using 20% Traxxas nitro fuel. Perhaps I will pick up a fresh can of fuel today, new fuel lines, fuel filter and primerless fuel tank to see if any of that helps. Thanks for the advice. With a primerless tank, do you just put a little fuel in the carb to get it started? If yes, how much?

Thanks,

Charg

 

[NCNitro]

To prime the engine with the primerless tank, just put your finger over the exhaust stinger and turn the engine over until the fuel reaches the carb. Then try starting it. Are you still using the blue wire to the glow plug? If so you might want to consider getting a glow igniter, it will make starting much easier. The new tank, fresh fuel, and new fuel lines are a great place to start since it has been sitting so long. Good luck with it.

 

[charg]

Thanks for the advice... my hobby store opens in a half hour or so... I'm going to do as you both suggested and see if it helps. And yeah, I'm still using the blue wire thing to the glow plug. I'll see if I can pick up a glow ignitor while I'm there... great suggestions. I'll let you know what happens.

 

[charg]

I GOT IT STARTED! Thanks again for all of the help. I threw in new fuel lines, new fuel tank without primer pump, new fuel filter and new fuel. But I think the thing that helped the most was the suggestion of a glow plug ignitor! I bought everything at the hobby store but forgot the ignitor... the truck would start but kept dying on me. As soon as I went back and bought the ignitor it was much easier to start it.

Still have one problem that I'm not sure if it's a problem or not:

It seems like the engine has to rev up pretty high for the transmission to engage. When it does engage, it does a "CHUG CHUG CHUG" and lurches forward a few times before taking off.

Does this indicate any kind of problem?

Thanks again for the help guys.... I had a blast with it this weekend.

- Charg

 

[mcvickj]

That is normal. This is the internal tranny clutch kicking in. By removing the reverse and installing a Forward Only Conversion will remove this problem. It will breath new life into your Maxx. Its cheap to do and worth every penny.

 

[SkyMaxx]

The lurching is normal for new T-Maxx and ones that have been sitting for a while. The cause of the lurching is the tranny breaking in if you will. The parts haven't moved together in a while, and need a few runs to get used to each other again. The FOC is also a great suggestion and a good way to help remove some of the lurching. Time is the other solution. My first gen Maxx stopped lurching after about the tenth tank of fuel. No rule of thumb on the time issue, but it does go away as the tranny gets broken in.

 

[irishbrigade]

See and I thought the lurching was the engine not being tuned for performace correctly! What SkyMaxx said and makes sense that over time the gears will wear the extra bit off that catches and tries to run. :w00t:

 

[charg]

You guys are great! Thanks again for all of the help. This is a really cool board.

 

[H2MAXX]

Ok, when you say its only been run 3 or 4 times did you leave gas in the tank for a long period of time? My friend left gas in his .15 for 3 months and had the same problem. What he had to do is buy a new engine. Hope you can fix it without having to buy a new engine.

 

[SuperMaxx97]

why did he buy a new engine??? i had left my .15 engine sitting with gas in it for over 6 months and started right up.(by the way i didnt mean to do it, just didnt have AFO and then when i did forgot about it:x )

bryan