wtf - T-Maxx engine flywheel won't move or start

[alpinehyperlite]

So i went out to my local track today, and was just about to run my last tank from my first gallon of fuel through my t-maxx 3.3 and all of a sudden it started flipping forward, and died. Couldnt move the fly wheel, nothing would move, and i broke my connecting rod. WTF!?!?! first gallon? Anyone else had this problem?

 

[rckid91]

call traxxas they have a great tech support and may replace it for you under warantee
i have a tmaxx 3.3 with prolly 2 on it and not one problem my revo 2.5r is worse

 

[nitroghost]

I agree cell traxxas and see if thay can help. I have a 3.3 in my t-maxx 2.5 and have run 4.5 gallons in it and it still one great mill Not one problem with it ever.

 

[SublimeRevo]

Sounds like it may have been a bit rich hydro-locked and broke the conrod. On the first gallon though I would call traxxas. They will probaly send you another one. These engines are a drop in a bucket for them. They will send you a new one to keep you as a customer.

Edit: Sorry I didn't think of this at first but 2 stroke motors have a tendency to have a cold seizure problem, where the piston expands faster than the cylinder sleeve due to inproper warm up which could also snap the rod. Either way traxxas should hook you up.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

Well, just got off the phone with traxxas, who stated "Anything after the 5th tank of fuel, is your problem. So pretty much they said, after breakin, screw you. So now i have to buy piston, sleeve, and connecting rod because traxxas people are bitches. Screw this crap, they have lost my business.

 

[joneser4u]

swap that poop out. the traxxas junk aint worth the rebuild. buy a good os engine or something.

 

[Cupooterluvr]

I don't know. The guy I talked to was pretty friendly and straightforward. He talked to me like I was right there with him, not some guy on the phone 1000 miles away.

"Traxxas Nitro support, how may I help you?" .... "Sure, we can have that fixed. Send in an email and they can help you out." .... "Alright, good luck on that! Bye."

That was for my 3.3 that had over a gallon through it. All it took after that was a few email exchanges and my engine is currently at the plant being repaired. I've heard many a good thing about Traxxas's good support, and they have me for life as a customer.

I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience though. Maybe the guy just didn't feel like dealing with ch!t that day.

EDIT: Though, I do agree with Jon. Traxxas engines aren't the best engines you can get. An OS will save you alot of tuning.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

I'm probably gona just swap to a different engine, but i wana keep it a small block. What do yall think about the OS .18 CV-R? Better or worse than the Traxxas 3.3?

 

[joneser4u]

I had one on a maxx,it was a good mill. i now have one on a touring car. plenty of power and was a breeze to tune. never had a 3.3 to comment about. but you can get the .18cvrx for about $100 so id say go for it.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

I already have the .18 CV-R on a duratrax that i really dont drive anymore, and its only got like 4 tanks after break-in through it, I'm just worried about losing power.

 

[joneser4u]

if there is any power loss it wont be missed i wouldnt think. hell the reliability and easy tune would more than make up for any minute power loss. i had the engine on a maxx that had FOC,aluminum braces,bulks,rpm arms it was my beater maxx. it was plenty of power. really all the power the diffs in a maxx need.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

Would the EZ-Start system work with this engine or would i need to use the pull start?

 

[joneser4u]

pullstart,you have to get the .18tm or .21tm to use the ezstart. just look at it like this you are saving weight,less weight means more performance.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

my OS .18 will not fit in the tmax. bummer.

 

[joneser4u]

why? i dont understand. it should.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

the pull start wont fit because the "bolt" or whatever that the clutches fit on is too long.

 

[joneser4u]

your crank? if thats all just cut it? its pretty common to cut the crankshaft to make it short to fit a maxx or stadium truck. you just need a nut to skrew up on the crank to use for a guide and after you cut it you back it off to clean the threads where you cut. its not hard at all. a search on the subject may turn up some step by step instuctions on exacly how to do it,how much to cut off and what not.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

Ill try that.

 

[91332]

vmy engine has the same problem do u really need to switch it out for a new engine?

 

[alpinehyperlite]

dont have to, but I'm considering it because i have a spare that might upgrade my system