EZStart2 trouble
 

I just got a used car (partially disassembled), I believe it is a Traxxas Nitro Rustler. When I first tried the EZStart it was locked up, so I opened it up and found bits of plastic or whatever in the planetary gears. Got that cleaned out and lubed and reassembled, and reinstalled on the TRX 2.5. Trying it again it spun the engine just fine several times (and ran a couple seconds on the WD40 etc. used to free up the gummed engine, yes, glow connected).

While waiting for some replacement parts for the car I tried the starter again a week or so later and something else is wrong. At first press, the engine turns a couple times but then the starter spins free, letting up it reengages again as the starter slows down, giving a couple more revs, sometimes even a couple more revs in between (during full starter speed). Taking it off again and turning the one way bearing by hand, it securely turns the motor, no slipping. What is happening that it's losing grip on the engine? I hear no gear grinding to suggest stripping gears.

Too much oil and a highly polished starter shaft makes for a one way clutch that slips. Thoroughly rinse the one way clutch bearing with acetone. Now remove the backplate and starter shaft , and with some 600-800 grit sandpaper, sand the starter shaft the one way clutch bearing rides on down the length of the shaft taking care to not scratch the surface that rides in the bronze bushing in the backplate. Clean super super well, and reinstall in the backplate/reinstall backplate on engine. Install clean and DRY one way clutch bearing and rest of starter system. This should work well for a long time if you do it right. Ways to prevent this from happening in the future is not to run high oil fuel and super rich. 12% oil and 20% nitro is perfect for regular running. Don’t use “basher” fuel because it’s got too much oil in it - usually around 16%. Way too much.