What other options are available for starting a nitro engine on an X-Cell 60 S.T. bird other than the stock cone? I've seen other configurations that didn't have the cone but am not certain about what will work and what won't work on the X-Cell bird... any thoughts/tips greatly appreciated!

Eventually this bird will be installed in a scale Airwolf fuse so I don't want to have a gaping big hole in the fuse to use the starter... and something that doesn't require both hands to start the engine would be a real plus (never comfortable not having a hand on the model itself when starting an engine, ya know?).

I've done some electric heli's but this is my 1st nitro bird and there's virtually nobody in my flight club that does heli's so I'm on my own here mostly.

Thanks!

- Michael

Look for a hex start adapter. Im sure there is a way to convert the start cone to a Hex drive cup. Then you would use something like a 6mm hex starter shafts to start the heli. There are some that use 5mm hexes also.

Question, I just got my chopper, and I was wondering (maybe a dum question, but 1st heli, need info) if your refering to the nut on the crank of the motor?


Thanks

Nope. The thing i mean usually is separate from the motor, only engaging it when you push the whole thing down...

The thing looks more like a socket than anything else... Thats the hex drive cup.

Is this what we're looking for: [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&W=000738534&I=LXKZA2&P=K]Hex Starter Wand[/link]

It says this one pushes into the starter cone (on your electric starter for airplanes I'm guessing, which I have one since I do fly planes as well).

That would work if his Heli didn't have a starting cone as well. As i undestood, the heli has a cone.

The cone is held on by 2 set screws... it comes off.

The more I read online the more I'm learning... seems I must use a starting wand with the 1-way bearing and I need the 6mm hex adapter to fit onto the shaft where the cone currently resides. I *think* my starting shaft on the Excel is 5 mm... I'll have to pull the cone off in a minute to make certain of that though.

Regards!

- Michael

Hex starter with one way bearing

That and a matching hex drive cup and you should be set then.

I've doing some checking, and asking around about my chopper, found out I have a old MFA Sport 500 - I was told it is a "belt start", meaning I have to get some kind of belt, that runs off my motor, and my 12v starter - does this sound right?

BUMP


PS

does anyone still sell the starting belt any more?

I hear many nitro boaters use belt starters; might ask them? I don't know anything about that otherwise.

Well I swear... I swear I measured that shaft on my 60 X-Cell and it read 5 mm! But when the hex adapter for a 5 mm shaft came in it didn't fit blast it all! Too small. So looks like I didn't measure it enough times... the shaft on an X-Cell 60 is 6 mm in diameter, not 5. Grrrrr! [:@]

Anybody flying a 30 or 50 sized bird need a hex adapter? [&o]

LOL!

- Michael

Most use 6mm adapters.

Most do NOT have 6 mm starter shafts however unless they're .60/.90 sized engines, as I now know. You're thinking of the other end of the adapter... the part that the starter wand fits into is 6 mm for almost all. But the start shaft from the engine varies depending on the size of the engine... which I found out a little too late. []

Live and learn. [&o]

- Michael

Thank you