The standard 12 volt starters will work on most Ryobi's but what are you guys using on your larger engines. I have one Ryobi that can't be started with the standard starters and would like to move up to something with a little more power. Will the heavy duty starters sold by the suppliers work. Tower claims that their HD starter will work up to 1.8 cu. inch. How are starting the 46cc engines. I am presently using a 110 volt drill at home. Thanks
Cvan

I have the tower 180 and it is not that more powerfull than the smaller one ,all I do is get it to the top of compresion turn on the starter and then kick it over with my hand to get past compresion and then it will continue to turn all by its self, it just needs a little extra hand to get past the first compresion stroke.


Darin

I use a Sulivan Dyantron with the Miller R/C 4:1 belt reduction on 24 volts. This combo will start virtually ANY r/c engine. The only downside? This setup costs about $250. I figure it's a small price to pay to never have to hand start a large gasser !

I've been using a 18.8vdc Craftsman Drill to start my 51cc Sachs and 88cc Husky. I mounted a old cone off a sullivan starter with a bolt through it. It works great.

For $50 i have made starters from Honda accord or dodge colt units.

I had thought about a Snowmobile starter that I have. You guys have some great Ideas to look into. Thanks for the replies and I hope we get some more. This may give me the needed push to go pick up a new cordless drill. I'm now using a 110v drill.
Thanks again.
Cvan

I too am using the Miller RC "Persuader" on a Sullivan Dynatron (24V). They say it will turn over a Chevy and I don't doubt them. Call me what you like, but I've seen too many hand/prop accidents at our field (the prop always wins) to feel very comfortable hand flipping an engine.
-Doug C.

The Miller persuader (3:1 reduction) should be able to turn over a small block chevy. Sullivan Dynatron on 24v: output= 2hp. With 3:1 reduction = 6 hp !!! Excellent combo, but pricey. I have often joked at the field that I should be using the starter to POWER my planes, not start them.

I have the Miller 3:1 reduction unit on a standard Sullivan starter and use 24 volts on it. The reduction unit allows the starter motor to turn at a higher speed and a reduced current. Thus the Dynatron is not needed.
I have been using this combination for three years with no problems. I use it to start a ZDZ-80

hello
i also use the sullivan dynatron 24v with the miller reduction ! there is no rc engine it will not start . they are great, it sure is better than flippin. as they say you get what you get what you pay for. when your playing with the big gassers thier bite is far worse than thier bark! thats my 2 cents worth. c ya

I'm using a 18V drill on hi spd on a US 41. You can get a big cone like the one on the Sullivan model 4. I think I saw it on their web site.

I made a 2.5:1 knock-off of the persuader that I mounted on my HD starter. On a car battery it starts a ST-3000 with no hesitation. Just had some bearings and a toother belt laying around so I ordered 2 toother pulleys and welded it up. Had to grind the front of the starter flat to mount it on. Works awesome and for about $20?

Thanks for all of the replies. Doug I sure would be interested in seeing a photo of your creation. Also what does the Miller persuader cost for the standard Sullivan starter?
Cvan

I use my right hand - and now with help from my left since breaking both arms about seven years ago. I gave up on electric starters about twelve years ago, even since moving to Giant scale - and have not looked back. That is the way we started everything we flew U/C forty years ago. Carrying a starter around with a battery that never really did its job was too much. The guys I fly with do the same. If it don't start after several flips, there is something wrong anyway. Figure it out, fix it, and away it goes. This last weekend I started a new 3W-70 for the first time. Once I had everthing set correctly, is started on the fourth or fifth flip.

Dan