Pull start issue! I know... I know...

[Mahoooner]

Ok Here Goes! Time and time again! The pull start issue! I'm hoping my problem is a little different because I did my searching on the board and couldn't find my answer!!

Btw, nice to meet you, I'm Mahooner. I have a firestorm 10t. Everything stock RTR out of the box.

So I was running my truck and when the fuel ran out, I went to refill it and start the engine but the pull start would not crank the engine. It is like pulling a loose string and it retracting smoothly. I never got even one good pull so I knew it probably wasn't dirt, yet I took out the one way bearing and cleaned it up. Still nothing. I brought it to the hobby shop and right away they said get a new one way bearing. Bought it, installed it, still nothing.

What is wrong with my truck? I hate pull start! Is there anything I can do to mod my firestorm to get it to start some other way?

 

[srusinek]

You probably need a new pull start but to convert it to roto start I heard its not cheap. Something like 80 bucks online but maybe cheaper on eBay.

 

[Mahoooner]

So I went out to the hobby shop today and bought the new pull start assembly. I talked with the guy and he advised me that the other thing that could be the problem is the shaft that the one way bearing sits on. Anyways after installing the new assembly, same problem. Pulls but no grabbing...

I'm frustrated now.

Someone please tell me, what should it sound like or do when you take the pull start off and turn the shaft clockwise.

 

[mtaylortank]

all you should hear is the compresion in the motor and feel the piston going up/down.. it should be farely smooth but still hard enough to know you have compression... I think with that setup your only have 2 options and thats roto start or pull start.. i think you would have to get a different motor to get something like the e-z start or something.. but pull start is about the most reliable I think cause as long as you have the energy and a glow igniter thats charged you are good..

 

[Ruhel™]

So I went out to the hobby shop today and bought the new pull start assembly. I talked with the guy and he advised me that the other thing that could be the problem is the shaft that the one way bearing sits on. Anyways after installing the new assembly, same problem. Pulls but no grabbing...

I'm frustrated now.

Someone please tell me, what should it sound like or do when you take the pull start off and turn the shaft clockwise.

Hi
Think you need to open the backplate and see if the starter pin is sticking out slightly. Sometimes when it's flush you get the same symptoms you are describing.

 

[Mahoooner]

That is exactly what it was. The spring behind the starter pin was broken. After taking everything apart and removing the broken spring, the 5 dollar replacement worked fine. Why the Japanese people decided to use a spring rather then a longer pin is beyond me. Thanks for your help!

 

[Ruhel™]

Glad I could help mate.

 

[beason]

they use a spring because when the engine starts running that back plate and shaft do not spin with it. the spring allows the pin to slide around the plate that has that groove in it, without binding.