Hi all

Does anybody know if its okay to start a heli with an OS46 engine with the starter shaft connected to a drill instead of the normal starter.

Its a long story why i need this info which i wont bore you with.

Cheers
Paul

Was the only way I started my first heli for a couple months until I finally bought the normal starter.. Never had a problem

I use my battery drills all the time, I set the clutch on the drill a little low so I don't torque through a hydro lock.

What about the helis without a one way bearing - if that makes sense, it is late at night ?

That would be like the Hawk Sport, it's a bit of a pain, but if you time it right.... I spin it till it sounds like it will start, and then pull the drill/start shaft out. The OS 37 usually starts right up almost instantly with any starter I use.

Its the best way to start it IMHO. If your heli doesnt have a 1 way bearing, you can buy a hex shaft with one built in. Most people with that design would buy one anyway.

Elmo Te

I've never seen (not that it doesnt exist, i've just never seen one) a hex shaft that will fit in a drill with a 1 way bearing.

If you don't have the one way you really should consider a standard starter w/ a wand and bearing.

You run the risk of tearing something up otherwise.

Thanks for your help

I have a shuttle ZTS which i can start wich my normal starter and shaft

I also have a Concept 46VR which i have just put into a Hughes 500 body, the problem is i have to poke the shaft through the hole in the back of the body and locate it into the hex starter thingy that i converted from the standard cone strart.

When i hold down the button on my starter it spins as normal but the shaft wobbles loose in the rubber cup and vibrates all over the place and scrapes around the edge of the hole in the body chipping off paint left, right and centre, much to my horror.

I thought i could place the shaft into a drill and cut out the wobbling problem. After speaking with a friend of mine i have discovered that K&S do a hex starter shaft with a one way bearing and no rubber cup, the unit comes in two halfs, one bit bolts onto the shaft coming out of the starter and the other bit screws onto the first bit.

Thanks again for all you help.

Paul

Hi Barry

Never seen one that wouldn't! Pemanetly mount the base to a suitable shaft, chuck the shaft in the drill!

Elmo Te

You could also consider getting a new starter cone for your starter to hold the start shaft better. I had to replace the cone on mine so the start shaft wouldn't wobble around and come out. With the new cone I have work the start shaft a bit to get in, but then it stays tight. Course it helps that my TT50 engine fires up almost instantly.

Thanks for all your help guys, over the weekend i bought a Robbe starter shaft with one way bearing that fits straight onto the shaft coming out of the starter, so problem solved.

Cheers
Paul