HO-229

I am brand new to gas/glow & I am getting ready to break-in my NORVEL .074 & I am looking for an inexpensive electric starter & was thinking of using my cordless electric drill with a nut driver attachment & wanted some advise concerning this before I attempt this....
If this is not a viable solution who makes a small inexpesive starter or what alternitives do I have?

flyinrog

My Feedback: (1)

that may work but it probably wont turn the engine fast enough, Lite Machines Helicopters (LMH) has one they market for the norvel engine,there is the sullivan cricket,,but try a search for 1/2a starters, lots of folk make their own,have seen them made from rc car motors....try the drill first it may work, I think I saw where someone made on from a socket filled with silicone sealer..it just needs to turn fairly quick....Rog

Lynn S

I think the drill will turn too slowly. If you don't have everything you need to make your own (r/c car battery,charger, motor, switch) I would buy a Sullivan 1/2A starter.

I made one from parts that I already had and used a motor from an old dustbuster...all I had to buy was a horn button switch. I made the prop cone with a wood paint brush handle (foam brush)and some 1/2 inch rubber hose over that.
It works great!

BTW: The picture shows up as the actual size on my computer!

BuzzBomber

My Feedback: (4)

Lynn,

From using the dustbuster motor (which I believe should be a 540 type), do you think a 280 size motor would have enough torque to be useful as a 1/2a starter? BTW, this may sound like a backhanded compliment, but I love th pic of your rig--it looks like an artifact from an exhibit of antique farm equipment or something--low tech, but ultimately useful.

bigchap

i have used the starter motors from 50cc honda scooters in the past,they are small,powerful and cheap,what more could you want?

Lynn S

I love this thing it works so well!
I don't think a 280 will work, you need a 550 type.

BTW, I got carried away with it once and held it to a 3 1/2 inch airplane wheel and spun it up to around a zillion mph....then I found I had burned the motor out (by holding it on so long)and had to go buy one at the hobby shop. [:@]

BuzzBomber

My Feedback: (4)

Thanks, Lynn. I have seen that the 540/550 type is the main choice for this application, but I seem to remember someone adapting a speed 400, and was just curious whether the concept could be shrunken down one more step. FWIW, the 400s are probably quite a bit closer to the 550 end of the spectrum than the 280 end. Ah, well--I've got a few cars on the shelf I haven't run in years, waiting to sacrifice their good parts. There should be a 540 in one of 'em. I'll have to experiment with this a bit.

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

Starters for 1/2 A are easy and cheap to make. But being the lazy person I am, I blew the bucks and got the little Sullivan. If you get one and open it to look, you will find a 550 motor.

Perhaps Sullivan will sell the starter cone and rubber separately, would make the rest of the job trivial.

Bill.

Lynn S

The 400 size motors would probably work, it takes quite a bit of power to spin a flooded engine, even then the cone will slip on the spinner. It is just right for the smaller engines. The full size starters have way too much power.
My neighbor wants to make one of these and is trying to find an old dustbuster at his mother's house.

If you don't have everything you need to make one, the Sullivan 1/2A starter would be the best way to go.

Japanman

I have made three versions- The first using a 540 size car motor with a 1:3 reduction ratio- This worked VERY well- the battery would last for ages.
The second was a direct drive onto a 540 dustbuster motor- but this really did not have enough torque- even on 9.6V to start my V.A 049 reliably, and it chewed through the batterys.

The last version uses a motor from a makita cordless drill- which is bigger and has much more torque than the 540 motor-it probablyis not as good a solution as the geared 540 as it uses quite a bit of juice too- but i does start my V.A and norvel .074 and it was easy to bang a few wires on it and an adapter!

J.M

Bipe Flyer

I don't think that a cordless drill will spin fast enough and it would probably have enough torque to break the con-rod if you had a hydraulic lock.

I have a Sullivan 1/2A starter and a Miller RC 1/2A Starter. I like the Miller starter much better.

Zeroman

I used a Mabuchi 550 from an old Airtronics glider kit.The brass sleeve is from the plumbing section of a hardware store.

Lynn S

Japanman, Mine is prettier!

I give it a 15 min fast charge (6 cell 1500 mah)and its good for several days with a .049, and about one day with the .074

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

Lynn:

I could not agree more, yours is the prettiest. Provided, of course, your name is Rube Goldberg.

Haw.

Beauty is as beauty does. It works well, therefore it's beautiful.

Bill.

Lynn S

Compaired to Japanman's mine is beautiful....J/K

There was a Twilight Zone story about this back in the early 60s [8D]

BuzzBomber

My Feedback: (4)

Bipeflyer: Is the Miller starter still available? The only person I know using the Sullivan doesn't like it, and I thought the Miller was discontinued, so that's why I was thinking of making my own. But seeing as I need about $10 worth of parts I don't have plus a bit of headscratching, I might be persuaded to actually buy a manufactured starter.

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

Matt:

I didn't think I would like the Sullivan after I got it. When I powered it up the cone had some nasty run out. But in use it isn't noticed, I'm happy with mine.

Bill.

SST

My Feedback: (2)

I use the same Sullivan Hi torque I use on my large planes, with a small-hole cup...

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

Doug:

I have the Sullivan "Hi-Tork" also. It's just too big for me to be comfortable cranking the little engines with it. But it does a great job on the big Saito engines.

Bill.

Bipe Flyer

The reason I don't like my Sullivan Hornet is because the motor burned out after a couple of months of use.

Matt,
I've never seen the Miller 1/2A starter for sale anywhere, but you can call Miller RC at 707-833-5905 and order one direct.

ZAGNUT

My Feedback: (1)

too bad sullivan stopped making the micron. i have one with a 5 amp gell-cell strapped on and it's perfect for all my little engines of .049-.21 and with a bigger battery and a runing start it'll still get a .45 going.


dave

FrancisPerson

I have owned a Lite Machines for a few years and it works very well. I will very easly start my .15 sized diesels. It does spin very fast! I use a RC 8 cell pack for my sub .049 size engine. A 6 or 7 cell pack would be plenty. They also make two sizes of starer cones. AND I have not had to fix any thing!

Francis

rrragmanliam

My Feedback: (1)

Well what the heck ,might as well post a pic of mine. 550 motor, 7 cell nicd, doorbell button, the rubber cone is a sig heicopter adapter.

Darren

Japanman

There are not many things that while enjoyable to make carefully and well,
are not more enjoyable to make quickly and roughly

...And I do like the round starter switch on yours- do I remember you writing that it lights up when you push it ?

I would really recommend anyone with the bits at hand or the will to get them to make a geared down unit- mine is on the other side of the world right now, otherwise I`d be using it.

J.M

Lynn S

I think that was Darren's with a doorbell switch that lit up, they have a LED inside.
I paid around $5 for the horn button and it is a bit much for the job, but it does work nice.