Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

I tried to start my new NexSTAR Select tonight. I bought a rechargable glow plug starter from Tower Hobbies. I filled the fuel tank with fuel, set the throttle to idle as the manual said. I turned the prop until I saw fuel flow through the line going to the carb. I installed the glow plug starter and spun the prop with my hand starter. I could not get it to start...how can I tell if my glow plug starter is working? Also, how fast do I have to spin the prop to get it to start? I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Also, I have a fuel leak somewhere. I kept having to wipe off the bottom of the fuselage...I saw no leak inside the fuselage or around the engine...it may be coming out of the line which exits the tank, but I wasn't able to tell. Any suggestions as to why I can't start it or how to know if the glow plug starter is working? I charged it for around ten hours or so. Thanks in advance.

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

to tell if your glow plug and glow plug ignitor is working, take out the glow plug and attach the glow plug ignitor onto it. it should glow red (hot)
reinstall the glow plug and use an electric started if you have one. if you dont since the engine is new it will require some hard hand flips with a chicken stick of course to get it going. also it might need primed with more fuel. just because you saw gas coming through the line doesnt mean you got enough fuel in the cylinder to ignite.

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

Your post suggests that you are new to the sport. I strongly recommend that you contact the nearest club and have someone help you troubleshoot your problem, then help you fly your aiplane. Otherwise, you will struggle with the plane and engine and end up crashing and you dont want that. Do it the easy and right way, benefit from the experience and help from others, join a club and get help.

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

oh ya you might also have the carb completely shut off. make sure the throttle barrel is open slightly about an 1/8 inch or so. then flip away like we all did at one time or another.

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

G'day Mate,
All of the above, & did you open the needle valve, you didn't mention that, READ the book that came with the motor & follow it to the letter, BUT your best bet is to get HELP.
We can only offer sugestions, a person with experience will sort it out in minutes.

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

First, there are no clubs really close by to me. I just kinda wanted to start it up tonight. I don't intend to fly alone. When I removed the glow plug igniter, it wasn't warm at all? Should it be? I did have the throttle barrel open slightly as the manual suggested.

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

First thing is to find out where the fuel leak is coming from. And get it taken care of. The select has it's engine preset from Hobbico, so there should be no fiddling with the adjustment screws to get it to start at least. But most likely you will need to adjust it a 1/2 turn or so afterwards.

As far as your glow plug starter goes. Make sure you fully charge it. The sub-c batteries they use in them are anywhere from 1400-2300 mha. So figuring a 110ma charger... 10 hours will not give you a full charge, which is what you need to have on a new battery anyways, but it's enough to get the plug hot enough.

But glow plug will draw about 3A for reference. Take the glow plug out, and connect the starter to it. If you get a nice red hot glow, the plug should be good, but it's always good to have a spare handy to swap out and double check.

I always plug the exhaust with a finger while spinning the prop to get the engine to prime (do not connect the glow plug starter just yet) on full throttle. You should get some spray back out the carb. But, be careful not to flood the engine which can hydro lock it. That can lead to a failed crank. Once you are sure the engine has fuel, attach the starter, open 1/4 turn on throttle, and hit it with the starter. It should fire up, or at least sound like it is firing. Worse comes to worse swap out glow plugs for another A3.

Your first priority is to find out where your getting fuel leaking from. It could be anything from a cracked fuel line, loose bolts, a bad gasket in the high speed needle, etc... Without this fixed anything above about starting is worthless.

What ever you do, don't rush things. This isn't a hobby where you can take too many shortcuts. Shortcuts lead to mistakes, which lead to cut fingers or crashes... and crashing sucks, so do chewed up fingers.

Good luck

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

I am new to the sport...I just got the plane and it is my first. One of the engineers at work has been flying them for years and is going to instruct me. I just wanted to fire it up tonight and break it in. I just couldn't get it to start. I'm not able to turn it very fast with the chicken stick either, and I don't know if that is a problem or not.

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

Bad plug or somethings up with your glow starter. Get another glow plug and test it out (outside the engine of course).

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

take out the glow plug and put the glow plug ignitor onto it. it should glow red hot. if so put it back into the engine. that tells you your glow plug is good and so is your ignitor.

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

This works well, but make sure you don't get that spray in your face/eyes on a windy day --- not very nice.

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

Thanks for all the help. I will try again when I get home from work this evening and report back. Hopefully I'll be able to get it going.

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

You do need to make sure your fuel system is not leaking even if that means taking the whole thing out of the plane for examination. The plug in the front of the tank could also be loose or it could be too tight and the tank may have split at a seam. Could be a pin hole in a piece of tubing or everything may be OK. You DO need to find out because extra fuel running about in the plane will quickly destroy the wood. NEVER leave fuel in the tank when you are done flying, always drain the tank.

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

No pressure to the fuel tank?

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

Have you got it started?Is the high speed needle closed?(If it is a 46ax it should be around 2 turns out)I also reccomend getting an electric starter. You can get one at towerhobbies for 19.99 plus 11.99 for the battery.
hope this helps, Tony

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

The "leak" Might be fuel blowing out of the muffler as he try to start the engine (i have this all the time, flooded engine, ~5 flips past fuel to carb, then turn and out comes fuel), but he dose need to check for a fuel leak else where. As to how fast you need to flip it, because it is a small 2 stroke you only need to quickly flip the prop past TDC. Quickly for me is ~25% of my strength into the prop (I'm kind of small, and have seen my engine started with just the flip of the fingers on the spinner!)

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

SUCCESS! Thanks everyone for all the help. I took the wings off and took the fuselage with me to work yesterday. A friend of mine brought his kit in and we started it up. It started fine with his glow plug ignitor and electric starter. Then we stuck a glowplug in my ignitor and it glowed bright red. I went by Hobbytown USA after work and bought an Tourqemaster electric starter. It ran about $35 but I didn't want to order one and wait another week or so to be able to run my engine. I got home and got it starter up myself. Problem is, when I first tried to start it with my new electric starter, the rubber part in the end of the starter ate my nose cone up because it would not turn it over at first. Now I need to figure out what nose cone I need to order!

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

aluminum or a spinner nut they don't shatter or get chewed up

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

I think I will go back with aluminum...I just need to find one that will fit. The tech notes for my plane says the GreatPlanes 2 1/4" Nylon spinners will work. In the Tower Hobbies catalog they have a GreatPlanes 2 1/4" Aluminum for $15.99. I guess that will work.

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

You will need the adapter kit also which is about 5 or 6 bucks. You will need to know your crankshaft thread size to get the right one. Its probably 1/4"-28, but I don't know for sure. If you order from tower, they can tell you.
I have used aluminum spinners and have found that no matter which brand I buy, I always have to cut the bolt that holds the spinner on.
My advice to you (I know you didn't ask) is to save that money and buy another plastic spinner or aluminum prop nut. Aluminum spinners look nice, but they are too expensive to learn to fly with- one prop strike can bend them into uselessness. I learned the hard way.
Jason

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

Stick with the plastic spinner. Once you get used to starting the plane it will last forever(or til the first crash). Biggest points is to have firm contact between starter and spinner and have both very clean. Also back the prop up away from the compression point so you sill have a "running start" before coming up on the compression point.

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

I chewed up my Nextar spinner too, on the first try. I'll just get a new plastic one once it's worn out. I just bought my plane and want to run the engine a little before going out in the spring. I have been using the simulator and my 9 year old son is almost as good as me.

RE: Can't start my engine on new NexSTAR
 

If you are chewing up your spinners, GET A NEW STARTER SPINNER CONE INSERT!

Keep them clean too.... very important.

The starter inserts that come with the electric starters are very abrasive... I wonder if this is done purposely.

I tried several from Tower include a really soft blue one which while it worked great, it disintegrated after a few uses...

Finally I ran accross a white silicon one at my LHS... wow what a difference...

It does not even burnish my plastic spinners let alone scratch them. After repeated starts the spinners look new and untouched. It also has held up without any damage.

Unfortunately I don't have the name for the manufacturer of the insert, but try other inserts until you find one that stops scratching your spinners.

I was convinced that aluminum was the only way to go (and it also scratched/burnished with those awful inserts)... until I found the white inserts... now I only go to Aluminum for looks not need.