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Starting Problems

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wroedesk

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I'm new to this site and to this hobby, I recently bought a Savage XL and have been getting it broken in. I've had about 5-6 tanks through it and the last time I ran it I really started getting it dialed. I was going much faster and was doing a ton of off roading and jumping. The truck ran great and handled awsome. So tonight I went out to run it some more and when I hit the Roto starter it just spins, almost freely without the engine even turning over. I've read some posts about this I thought, but couldn't find them. I thought I remember a plate or gear being loose from the factory or something like that...? Any ides, please hlep!?
 
Open up the engine and see if all the components are in tact. The con-rod may have snapped. Also check that you still have good compression.
 
ohmygahitscoby said:
Open up the engine and see if all the components are in tact. The con-rod may have snapped. Also check that you still have good compression.
Click to expand...

It feels like there is compression when I turn the fly wheel or would that not matter? The thing ran great and I shut it down, do you think something really could be wrong with the motor?
 
Almost a for sure you don't have fuel to the carb. I dealt with this on my xl. Try using your roto start without your igniter while plugging your exhaust till you hear a change in sound then start it up...Or if your impatient like me I pull the fuel line off the pipe and blow fuel thru the line to the carb.
 
Check the one way bearing. Openup the back plate and check the bearing.
 
After doing some research last night and talking to my lhs today he seems to think its the one way bearing. It's not turning the motor to get fuel anywhere. The plug looked good when I tested it and with the plug out the starter would turn the motor over (i'm thinking less compression so it worked)? So this bearing going bad could make sense? I can't believe it went out already. After work I'm going to pick one up and take the plate off and take a look. He's going to swap it out for free if in fact it went out already. Thanks for the all feedback and I guess we'll see if this is the problem.
 
Well I replaced the bearing and it fired right up! Thanks for the help guys!
 
Does that engine have the OWB inside the engine or is it on the outside of the engine?

The HPI OWB's were known for failure with the roto-start. When the engine floods, there's excess fuel in the engine and fluid doesn't compress (known as hydrolock). So, when you crank the roto on a flooded engine, the OWB will either slip or crack the casing then slip. Worse case scenario is busting the con-rod and destroying the bottom of the piston.

OWB's need maintenance too. If the OWB is inside the engine, a shot of WD-40 down the carb while running the rotostart without the glowplug in will help clean the bearing and make it grab again.

If the bearing is outside the engine, then soak it in DA, run a paper towel through it then spin the bearing on the towel. Clean the shaft the bearing spins on, put a drop of light oil (I use 3-in-1) on the bearing, then re-install.

Loosening the glowplug 1/4 turn from tight when starting the engine will help release compression and may allow it to start. Loosening the GP is a good practice with roto starts anyway to help reduce stress on the OWB. Once the engine fires up, tighten the glowplug back down.
 
olds97_lss said:
Does that engine have the OWB inside the engine or is it on the outside of the engine?

The HPI OWB's were known for failure with the roto-start. When the engine floods, there's excess fuel in the engine and fluid doesn't compress (known as hydrolock). So, when you crank the roto on a flooded engine, the OWB will either slip or crack the casing then slip. Worse case scenario is busting the con-rod and destroying the bottom of the piston.

OWB's need maintenance too. If the OWB is inside the engine, a shot of WD-40 down the carb while running the rotostart without the glowplug in will help clean the bearing and make it grab again.

If the bearing is outside the engine, then soak it in DA, run a paper towel through it then spin the bearing on the towel. Clean the shaft the bearing spins on, put a drop of light oil (I use 3-in-1) on the bearing, then re-install.

Loosening the glowplug 1/4 turn from tight when starting the engine will help release compression and may allow it to start. Loosening the GP is a good practice with roto starts anyway to help reduce stress on the OWB. Once the engine fires up, tighten the glowplug back down.
Click to expand...

Sounds good, thank you for all the information. The OWB is inside, so I will make sure to watch this new one and keep it maintained. Thanks for the informaiton on the glowplug as well!
 
You can also take the OWB out of the engine and clean it similarly, it just isn't as quick to get at and you risk getting an air leak. So, if you do pull the backplate off, clean the bearing, then use high temp sensor safe RTV to seal the backplate to the crankcase when you put it back together.
 

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