Picco 0.26 so tight

[Llessur]

Hi I'm having problems starting the engine, it just locks up as if flooded and the easy start is struggling to turn it over then it locks solid to the point where I struggle to turn it over by hand.

I take the plug out and turn it on its side and the ez struggles to turn the engine over and its really tight to get it past TDC.

Only way I just managed to start it, was with a 11.1 V lipo and crock clips on to the motor and a clip glow ignitor.

Is the ez start motor weak or is it a problem with the engine, the ez stick seems ok as it starts my other truck ok.

 

[Scrogg]

PREHEAT THE ENGINE! Loosen the GP 1/4 turn. ALWAYS preheat a new engine during breakin. picco's are tight engines.

 

[Bartek]

PREHEAT THE ENGINE! Loosen the GP 1/4 turn. ALWAYS preheat a new engine during breakin. picco's are tight engines.

I second that,new engines can be very tight and that's a good sign,pre heat it to the normal engine temperature (220-240 degrees )
put some after run oil into the engine or wd40 (spray only a bit)
let the oil get to cylinder and move the flywheel few times,make sure that the oil is on the cylinder,when you do that pre heat the engine again and then try to start it!
should work,good luck.

 

[Llessur]

Sorry, i should have said that its already broken in, maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of a gallon through it. I have tried pre heating it with an electric paint striper with mild success, but its so frustrating driving to a car park for a bit of bashing only to find it wont start.....

I'm wondering if theirs a problem with the engine, but am reluctant to strip it down. When its running it goes great and will generally start up when its been run, its just the first start of the day thats the issue.

To get it to run at WOT it seems a bit rich else where in the rev range, and this is borne out by the flooding issues, I've been through and got it well sealed on the exhaust and tank...

Just puzzled really why it goes so tight.

 

[samrsnow]

Its not fully broken in until you have 1 gallon of fuel throught it. It will loosen up a lot more down the road.

 

[Cupooterluvr]

I have broken in the Picco before and they are very tight engines. Like sam said they only loosen up after a gallon or so.

 

[olds97_lss]

What are the ambient temps where your at? If it's below 60F, with an engine that is that new and if it's that cool out, starting will more than likely be a real bear.

With what I've read about picco's (and what's already been posted here) is that they start life with a very solid pinch and it takes quite a bit of fuel for it to let go.

Are you using an external glow heater or relying on the ez-start for that as well? Ditching the blue wire and getting an external heater will really help make your life easier. That will allow you to put the heater on for 5-10 seconds to get the glow plug nice and hot, then turn it over with the ez-starter.

Also, cracking the plug back 1/4 turn from fully tight will help relieve compression while your fighting the pinch. Just make sure to tighten it back up once it starts. If you don't, it can make a mess out of the threads in the head button.

 

[Llessur]

It 45 to 55 F here at the moment, just charged the glow igniter up so Ill give that a go.

Thanks for all the advice

 

[olds97_lss]

45-55F isn't a fun temp to get a rig running. Warm the head up to at least 80F then get it running before it cools off. Will make things much easier on you.

 

[Llessur]

This engine is frustrating the hell out of me. I'm having to start it with a glow igniter and 11.1v through the motor, to get it to fire. |Runs ok and has good power and smoke, but a couple of 5 sec WOT passes will see the temp clime to 300+. As the car comes to a halt and the cooling effect of the wind stops the plug packs up. This has happened a couple of times now , I've been recommended a OS A5 plug which is shorter than the Tmaxx ones I've been running. I'll try richening it out some more with the new plug and see if that helps. Guess the shorter plug will reduce the compression a bit. Its weird they didnt supply a plug with the engine when I bought it.

 

[Divine]

Could use heat gun too. I have a gallon through my novorassi .28 and i still have to use a heat gun to warm it up so the starter box will turn it over.

 

[Bo west]

Had the same problem
Converted the car to pull start and it fired up with ease
Also check starter motor on the car could be struggling

 

[hamz9561]

AHHHHH-Chooo! Another musty and dusty one from the basement archives.

 

[chickenman242]

I recon he probs has it sorted by now lolol