OS .18TM Problems

[Monkey Wrench]

Actually, the mill is fine, it's the OWB's I'm struggling with!

Does anyone else use the Duratrax Roto-Start system on their OS .18TM? I am either blowing OWB's with alarming regularity (practically every time I try to start it) or, somehow, I have worn my starter shaft down to the point the OWB won't grab.

The OWB's "seem" to grab when I put them on and twist by hand, but as soon as I screw the rotostart plate on and hit it with the starter, just spin-spin-spin! I have cleaned both the starter shaft and OWB's with brake cleaner and DA, blown them dry with a compressor and the same thing happens. On a lark, I installed an extra OWB and backplate for a HPI S-25. OWB grabs and I can spin the crank by hand, but again, plate goes on, starter goes in and just spinning!

I've never experienced a starter shaft wearing out and other than losing one OWB to traditional usage with the E-Z Start, I haven't experienced this issue with the .18 TM.

I am asking, do you think the starter could possibly be over torquing the OWB to the point that it actually has worn the shaft down or do starter shafts wear down over time from typical usage?

Yes, I realize a bump box would cure all ills, but until I find employment to get said bump box, I need to figure out what's going on here.

Any and all advice appreciated!

 

[AC48]

Monkey Wrench + OWB = Disaster

idk man, how many OWBs have you been through between this and the Wasp? It sounds to me like the OWB is dying. I've had OWBs that grab half the time, they always grab when just the power of your hand, but rotostarters are the enemy of OWBs in general.

Have you considered getting a bump box? lol but really, I think its a common problem with rotostarts and higher compression engines. My rotostart on the savage is still working fine, its the backplate thats slowly dying haha.

I've never had a starter shaft wear down on me, but then again, I've never had so many one ways slip on me. My friend's MT2 has a rotostart and his OWB is half dead and it takes him about 5 minutes of spinning it to get it to start. He recently got a brand new bearing and it grabbed fine for a while and is just starting to slip. Sometimes a pullstart is the way to so you know when its flooded so this doesn't happen.

 

[olds97_lss]

How much fuel have you run through the engine?

I installed a 2.5 pullstart on my TM.

 

[jmarzilli]

I have had a starter shaft wear down on my collari 30, so it is possible. Pull the starter shaft and try to feel if there is a difference from were the owb goes on and were it doesn't touch. Mine was noticeable on the collari, but these engines all run tight tolerances so even a tiny amount would matter.

 

[jon2]

I got to ask... Is the OWB on right?

 

[jetmechG550]

I was thinking the same thing Jon, try flipping it around El.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

How much fuel have you run through the engine?

I'd say pretty close to 2 1/2 gallons in total.

I got to ask... Is the OWB on right?

I was thinking the same thing Jon, try flipping it around El.

Perfectly legitimate questions, but the answer is yes, it is on correctly.


OK, just to update everyone, last evening I pulled the engine off the Revo completely and put a HPI OWB on there and wa-la, works fine! I have to run to the LHS anyway today, to pick up some fresher packs for my son's E-Maxx, so I may grab an additional shaft for the mill if they have one.

Thanks for the assistance, fellas! I really appreciate it!