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Stupid roto start...

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Chumlee

Chumlee

RCTalk Basher
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Location
Colorado
RC Driving Style
  1. Bashing
  2. Racing
So I ran my 4.1 today and its running great, Roto Start worked fine and all was good.

I had sealed my engine on my new 4.6 the other day and while I was at it, I added the Roto Start backplate. I installed my freshly sealed engine today and went out to break my new beast in and my Roto Start didn't spin at all... I made sure the battery was charged and still nothing... So I took it apart and started troubleshooting it and found that the switch is bad. I searched for just the little red switch from HPI and they don't seem to sell them... I have searched on this issue for a couple of hours now and the best thing that I have come up with is using a red rocket switch, "like the kill switch on a weed eater," from an auto parts store. I'm sure I'm not the only one that has had this issue, if anyone has a better switch mod, please feel free to chime in.


Thanks,

J.T.
 
thats happend to me loads of times .but the roto start 2 hasent failed me yet .
 
I have the Hpi RS4 and I have switched to pull start. as long as your igneter is charged and you have alittle energy it will start (unless there is a problem ofcourse)
 
Mine is a Roto Start 2, and I've seen a few post around that guys had problems with the switches along with other things early on in production. Maybe my switch just failed, things do happen lol

I'm gonna hit up Auto Zone after work and see if I can find a rocker switch that will work.


If I do the mod, I will take some pics and if anybody else is interested they can let me know or I will post a mod thread for it.



J.T.
 
Try radio shack you can get a nice push button you would want normaly open switch that way when you push it it makes contact.;)
 
I figure either a car parts store or Radio Shack will have a switch. I just don't want to have to modify the Roto Start case to apply the new button. I called HPI today and they are sending me a new button with the motor and pinion all in one... HPI customer service rocks, but I don't want to wait for the new parts, I really wanna break in my new truck lol


Thanks for all the input,

J.T.
 
thats y I always have a pullstart for each rig I have just incase something goes wrong with your electrical starting system the pullstart always works (unless you break a string)
 
I ended up stopping at Checker Auto Parts on my way home from work and I picked up a small red rocker switch. It fits without moding the Roto Start case and it works great... "It doesn't look the best, but it will work til I get the new parts from HPI :)

I broke the new 4.6 SS in today and started tuning the HSN a bit, I don't know if my temp gun is shot or what, but I was only getting up to around 130* even if I leaned the HSN...

After putting it around for a few tanks, I started leaning the HSN some and it only got up to 175*

I'm wondering if altitude is messing with my tuning? I'm at around 5300-5400 feet above sea level and it was around 65* or 70*F here today... Truck starts easy and sounds good, its even shifting into 2nd perfect.

My 4.1 runs around 185*-195* and I'm tuning both just like the HPI video shows. Lean the HSN til it doesn't give any more performance and then go and 1/8th of a turn back. Then tune the LSN.

My trucks won't pull insane wheelies like on the HPI video though and I'm just at a loss of trying to pin-point it lol

I haven't run nitro in around 10 years and I'm loving it again, I'm sure things will come back to me very soon :) at least I have both trucks running and they will idle lol

This forum rocks and I really thank you all for your help...


J.T.
 
my 3.0 on my rs4 was only get 137 so far in break-in.. i have been having that problem with most of my engines... messed up my maxx runs at 160-180 and i use the tuning chart... but they un great!!!! that little rsa has amazed me and it looks kinda funny afte diving such bigger trucks like the 3.3 tmaxx.

good luck with your rigs!!
 
Thanks all,

I'm just gonna keep taking my time and make sure I do things right. I had forgotten how awesome it is to fire up a fresh nitro engine :) I have some minor suspension tuning to do on the 4.6 but I can already tell that the extra inch in width from the Maximizer's makes the truck handle better than my stock 4.1 :)


J.T.
 
if you use the lower suspension holes (if it has them like the maxx's) so you can drop the hieght alittle will also help with handling.. I have a maxx that is dropped ight down and it handles like a dream compared to one I have that is as high as it will go... just an idea..
 
Yeah, I have my shocks mounted as low as they will go. I just can't believe the difference that an inch in width makes. I really can't wait to run it in the dirt :)
 
So I'm taking my time and just putting around with the 4.6 SS and its going good :)


But I went to fire up the 4.1 so that I could drive something faster today and the fricken OWB is slipping again :(


Does it make a big difference to switch over to a pullstart? Doesn't the OWB still get oil on it and slip? I'm starting to get fed up with the Roto Start... I just want to be able to fire my trucks up and drive them...


J.T.
 
The HPI K4.6 and 5.9 both use an internal one way bearing. Which means the it sits inside the crankcase and gets saturated with oil. The F 4.6 and 4.1 as well as the Ofna Force .28 and .32 use an external owb the owb is outside the crankcase which means it doesn't get slathered in oil so they dont slip as bad.
 
That is why I'm so upset about my 4.1

Either the shaft is worn a bit or my Roto Start is just spinning to fast or something lol its driving me nuts...

I'm going to switch both trucks over to pull start and change to a lower % oil content fuel and see if it helps.

J.T.
 

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