Traxxas tmaxx 3.3 won’t start

[danthony828]

Hey guys new to the forum , I bought a slightly used tmaxx 3.3 from a friend of mine it’s the newest model. I had one like 10 years ago that had the pull start , this has the EZ start , and I have only gotten the thing to run once and it kept cutting off and it took forever to get running! I have tired 2 new glow plugs got a new direct glow plug starter , fresh fuel , all the connections look good! And it will not start!! Do you need to remove the bluewire that connects to the glow plug before the direct one will work? I’m completely at loss the truck is mint not a scratch on it , he said it needs to sit by heat for a while , but it stays in my living room that stays around 65 degrees. I read where I should go ahead and just install a pullstart but I would like to get it running before spending any more on it because I’m about to give it back to him , because I don’t want to fight this thing every time I wanna play with it lol

 

[CertifiedMike]

Welcome to RCTALK.COM!
I have some experience with the ez start 3.3.
So lets try to figure this out...
Have you verified that the truck has good compression?
Does it sound like there is "snap" in the morot when it turns? Good resistance to hand turning?
How are your fuel lines? All clean and clear? New lines are cheap and easy drama to eliminate as cause.
Fuel filter? Is it brand new? It should be!
Are the glow plugs the correct plugs?
They need to be correct for a 3.3 traxxas motor. (Fitting doesn't mean "right")

Def need to get that blue wire out of there to get a good contact on your glow plug!

Check this stuff out and see how it goes!

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

Welcome in!

Kinda confused here (but that’s common for me )

Do you need to remove the bluewire that connects to the glow plug before the direct one will work?

Are you talking a new glow plug ignitor like this

Or a new ez start wand?

If like pictured then the only way to get it on the glow plug is with the wire removed.

We use the ez start wand to crank our tmaxx with a glow plug ignitor like pictured

 

[danthony828]

Welcome to RCTALK.COM!
I have some experience with the ez start 3.3.
So lets try to figure this out...
Have you verified that the truck has good compression?
Does it sound like there is "snap" in the morot when it turns? Good resistance to hand turning?
How are your fuel lines? All clean and clear? New lines are cheap and easy drama to eliminate as cause.
Fuel filter? Is it brand new? It should be!
Are the glow plugs the correct plugs?
They need to be correct for a 3.3 traxxas motor. (Fitting doesn't mean "right")

Def need to get that blue wire out of there to get a good contact on your glow plug!

Check this stuff out and see how it goes!

How do I remove the blue wire from the starter insert? I took the fuel lines off and there isn’t any noticeable gunk they look brand new , and as I can tell there’s not a fuel filter in place. The plugs I got are HSP 4c engines they look identical to the original one I pulled out of it . The glow wands are brand new as well. Thank you very much for the response this is frustrating

 

[fstnd]

Indeed check for compression first. If alright, try preheating the engine block, like 200°F. That should make it easier, if anything was to happen at all. You can directly insert some fuel into the carburetor to get something going.
Glowplugs should shine bright.
If not on ground, you can run without air filter for short periods of time

 

[danthony828]

Welcome in!

Kinda confused here (but that’s common for me )



Are you talking a new glow plug ignitor like this
View attachment 211979
Or a new ez start wand?

If like pictured then the only way to get it on the glow plug is with the wire removed.

We use the ez start wand to crank our tmaxx with a glow plug ignitor like pictured

That’s what I have! I removed the blue wire from the glow plug but not the other connection to the ez start wand connection

 

[danthony828]

Indeed check for compression first. If alright, try preheating the engine block, like 200°F. That should make it easier, if anything was to happen at all. You can directly insert some fuel into the carburetor to get something going.
Glowplugs should shine bright.
If not on ground, you can run without air filter for short periods of time

The compression feels great! As well

 

[danthony828]

The compression feels great! As well

How do I check the glow plug to make sure it’s glowing brightly?

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

Those plugs you mentioned are short plugs, the Traxxas takes the long plug

 

[CertifiedMike]

You cam plug it into the ignitor to test fire it.
Have a pair of pliers handy to handle the hot glow plug BEFORE you test!

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

That’s what I have! I removed the blue wire from the glow plug but not the other connection to the ez start wand connection

Yeah you don’t need to remove that,you could but it won’t keep it from starting

 

[danthony828]

Yeah you don’t need to remove that,you could but it won’t keep it from starting

Ok cool like I charged the ez wand and the glow plug wand and it ran the ex start batter dead with not a chance of starting..

 

[CertifiedMike]

It sounds like you're missing something simple...
What kind of fuel are you using?
Fresh like out of a new, sealed bottle?
I would pull the fuel line and blow thru it to be sure.
How about carb settings?
messed with those yet?

 

[danthony828]

It sounds like you're missing something simple...
What kind of fuel are you using?
Fresh like out of a new, sealed bottle?
I would pull the fuel line and blow thru it to be sure.
How about carb settings?
messed with those yet?

He only ran 2 tanks of fuel though it, so it’s the fuel he bought when he bought the truck new , it’s the Traxxas top fuel 20%. he said it had been four or five months since he started it, the tank was bone dry when I received it, the truck has been stored inside since he has owned it. He said he did all the breaking procedures accordingly to Traxxas. And the guy is huge in RC. He probably has 10+ RC vehicles so I trust in what he’s saying.

 

[danthony828]

He only ran 2 tanks of fuel though it, so it’s the fuel he bought when he bought the truck new , it’s the Traxxas top fuel 20%. he said it had been four or five months since he started it, the tank was bone dry when I received it, the truck has been stored inside since he has owned it. He said he did all the breaking procedures accordingly to Traxxas. And the guy is huge in RC. He probably has 10+ RC vehicles so I trust in what he’s saying.

We also pulled the fuel lines and blew through them like you said

 

[danthony828]

He only ran 2 tanks of fuel though it, so it’s the fuel he bought when he bought the truck new , it’s the Traxxas top fuel 20%. he said it had been four or five months since he started it, the tank was bone dry when I received it, the truck has been stored inside since he has owned it. He said he did all the breaking procedures accordingly to Traxxas. And the guy is huge in RC. He probably has 10+ RC vehicles so I trust in what he’s saying.

And no, I have not messed with the carburetor settings. He said he took it to our local hobby town and they tuned it for him.

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

Ok cool like I charged the ez wand and the glow plug wand and it ran the ex start batter dead with not a chance of starting..

Not sure if ya caught my other post and I don’t know how much it would affect it, but the hsp 4c plug I searched came up with this

Which is a short plug. Says replaces os #8.

Here is this os #8 vs the LC4 that the Traxxas engines use

 

[danthony828]

Not sure if ya caught my other post and I don’t know how much it would affect it, but the hsp 4c plug I searched came up with this

View attachment 211984

Which is a short plug. Says replaces os #8.

Here is this os #8 vs the LC4 that the Traxxas engines use

View attachment 211985View attachment 211986

Ohhhhh ok I will order those !! Thank you so much !

 

[CertifiedMike]

So how old is this truck?
The fuel may or may not be ok.
For the sake of trying to fix this problem, a new bottle of fuel will eliminate questions.
I'm not saying we can't move forward to try other things BUT the fuel could be your entire issue. Traxxas fuel isn't the best fuel to buy if you're going to pick up a new bottle. See if your hobby shop has choices!
So back to carb adjustments... have you adjusted anything yet?
My suggestion is to set it back to factory settings and see what you get.
Try to count how many turns in to "closed" you make.
I want to know if the motor was tuned correctly when it was stored or if its way off of stock. The # of needle valve turns is a vague indication.

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

Ohhhhh ok I will order those !! Thank you so much !

If you got a local hobby shop that has Traxxas maybe just grab a plug from them and see if it is the problem before ordering the os plugs . Or you can find some deals on the bay for take out Traxxas plugs sometimes just to make sure.