Pullstart snapped while driving?

[HarryNuts]

The pullstart handle snapped off my Hyper 8 port today while I was driving. No string , just the handle. Does this mean the pull start is shot? Or can I restring the SOB.
I a little new to this so I'm still trying to figure out how the hell that could happen.

 

[Candyman]

If it's just the handle you should be able to restring it. Just take the pullstart off. Make sure there's no damage to the internals. Check the spool and spring and the cord. BUT don't let it come apart. It's a total pain in the ass to rebuild the whole starter. If everything looks good, just fish the cord back out through the hole in the starter and retie it to the handle. And to make sure it doesn't come untied, I usually add a drop or two of CA to the knot.

 

[SkyMaxx]

Before you finalize the knot within the handle, make certain that you get good pull and retract action from the starter. Sometimes when it pulls the string all the way into the casing, it unwinds the spring a bit and you lose some retract. If this has happened, you'll have to get a little creative in winding the spring a little to put some tension on it.

 

[HarryNuts]

Thank guys. Ill try it out today and let you know how it works

 

[HarryNuts]

I retied it and it worked. I drove it around and guess what happens. The motor screws from the bottom skid plate shook themselves loose and somehow the motor seperated from the differential. The RPM's shot up through the roof until I ran over there and killed the engine. I look at the pullstart and its snapped again with the motor completely loose and 1 missing screw to top it off with which I found later. First thing that came to my mind was LOCTITE.
I'm still wondering what caused it to snap again. Maybe the RPM from when the motor came loose? Help me out here fellows.

 

[nitromaniac]

Your RC is filled with lots of screws, all you need is one loose one to mess up your day! always check your screws b4 you run,, your engine mount screws are some of the most important to have locktite on,If your engine comes loose while running, your gonna have a serious gear mess on your hands, not to mention a bent shaft and possible diff damage.

Check your one way(in the pull asembly) for binding, the one way bearing could be catching some how and snapping the string, I would get a new pull start and go from there!

 

[HarryNuts]

I got metal gears so it held up OK. Nothing looks bent but I guess you can't tell just by looking at it. I spun the gears around by hand and it looked like everything was spinning straight. I feel like an idiot but I guess we all learn the hard way:shrug:

 

[nitromaniac]

Originally posted by HarryNuts
I feel like an idiot but I guess we all learn the hard way:shrug:

Dont feel like an idiot, it dosnt matter how we learn! the more we learn the easier it all becomes, patience is key!

 

[scottm]

My hyper 8p did the same thing. The problem is the 1-way bearing is dragging, spinning the starter backwards. Take the recoil off, pull out the starter shaft, and put a couple drops of oil in the bearing. That worked for me.

 

[SkyMaxx]

When the engine stops it tends to recoil a bit. If that recoil is strong enough it can snap the pull start string. I have seen this happen. Odds are the extreme high rpms coupled with the sudden stop of the engine caused enough recoil to snap the string.

 

[HarryNuts]

After re-stringing 3 times there is about 3-4 inches of string left untied. I just went ahead and bought a new one at the LHS for $25

Just curious. Do I have any other starting options for the Hyper 21 besides the pullstart or starter box?

 

[SkyMaxx]

You could use the rotostart that seems to be fairly popular. It might take some work to get it on there...or there might be an adapter, but it is do-able.

It isn't a bad idea to replace a bad pull start, but did you know that you could have just bought a pull start string or two for like three bucks? Just curious. I mean I have a spare pull start for each of my engines in my field kit (at least now I do), but I have also purchased a few pull start strings in the case that I need to replace just the string.

 

[HarryNuts]

It wasn't just the string. I kind of messed up the coil spring too, trying to put it together. The new one worked out good. I saved the old one for parts. Ill look into the rotostart
Thanks for the help Skymaxx and everyone else