Hey All,

I've been lurking here a while but I just wanted to thank all ya'll for posting information.

I'm a complete n00b to the entire Nitro scene and no one around here that I know messes with it. After reading some mixed reviews I bought a Tornado XP off a net-vendor and the Redcat Starter Kit.

Now, I'm just curious because I've now been trying for 2 days to break in my engine and I'm having tons of trouble. Is this an issue with Redcat that I'm not realizing?

I started yesterday by being the excited guy pulling my new toy out of the box. I put 12 new batteries in everything, did all my checks (per the enclosed but horribly written instructions), put a few drops in the gas and took it outside. I pulled the cord a few times, nothing. I rechecked everything. Checked my glow plug, checked the fuel lines. Nothing. I took the car to the hobby shop and the guy told me my engine was flooding. Crap.

So he helped fix it and told me about another guy in our area that is having similar issues with his Redcat and he recommended me getting my money back. Well that's not going to happen. I took it home (he had just run it in the parking lot) set it up and it took off like a bat outta hell. Yay! First run. Nope. 5 minutes in the car stops. I can't get it to start working again.

Finally with the help of this forum I managed to reset my factory positions and got the engine to run long enough to run the gas outta it (and put in my after use oil). By then it was like 11 at night.

This morning I put everything back together and took it outside. I got the engine to start in the first 3 pulls. The car ran for about 1/4 a tank and stopped again. My pull starter pulled out and wouldn't go back in. I found something on another site explaining how to rebuild the pull start but after trying for about 4 hrs I realized that mine had a kink and I wouldn't be able to repair it myslf.

Is this normal? I just got done paying a good 200 for the car and 25 for the kit plus 25 more for gas. Should I really be needing to drop another 30 for a new pullstarter? If so do I buy redcat off the net or run to the LHS and buy one of HPI's starters (does that even work?). I've also heard that I could convert it to a pushbutton starter if I wanted. Is this true?

Any help or info you could offer would be appreciated.

PWR

Well its normal for pull starters to pull out when you pull them to far. I would not reccomend getting another pull starter, there are other options such as:
The Roto start- Can be purchased on-line at www.Topspeedtoys.com for a total of around 50 with the battery pack ,charger, and handle. Your knuckles will thank you.

The roto start, starts by installing a backplate where you pull start used to be. Then there is a starter wand which inserts into the handle which is powered by the 7.2 V battery pack..All you have to do is insert the wand into the "gear" in the backplate and press a button and it starts it right up in about 5 seconds. If i were you....i would get the roto start. Tiger Drive gears tend to strip.
and
Tiger Drive- Can be purchased at some LHS or on ebay for out 12-15 bucks. Works just about the same way as a roto start but cheaper
and is powered by a electric drill. You have to buy a starter wand for this aswell as the Tiger Drive it'self.

What kind of car/truck do you have?


Those are the two i reccomend.

your better of dealing with topspeed toys for the rotostart. he is a good guy and he will help you out if you have a problem

My opinion is once you get the car running right, the pull starter is just fine. Sorry just not a big fan of the roto starts and the tiger drives.

Yeah but they can be a hassle for people who are new...and constantly pull them out. Im not a big fan of the Tiger Drive, but i do like the roto start

I like my Tiger-Drive, and I didn't buy a wand...I just cut the short leg off a 7/32" allen wrench...and I use an adjustable torque dual speed 18V drill...I like this a lot better than the EZ start for the Traxxas...and the battery lasts longer...

hahaha J. i was thinking about doing the same thing. But a wand came with my drive so..didnt bother.


Great Minds think alike

Ah...I bought mine from Tower Hobbies for like $15 had it in 3 days...but didn't come with the wand...problem is, I think they're a little off on the size, or it's exactly that size, 'cause the allen wrenches are tight...I actually lost my driver bit (snapped onto the magnetic extension) because I couldn't pull it out, and thought if I just made a low speed run down and back, it would loosen up...Try finding a 1" long piece of allen key that's 7/32 on one side and 1/4 inch on the other in a gravel driveway...It looks the same as most of the stones...LOL...Just take a flapper wheel or something to the next one just to make it a hair looser...LOL.

Thanks for the suggestion. Luckily my LHS is crap so I'm going to go to topspeedtoys now by default.

Now I just need to convince the pants in the family to fork over some repair money. :-)

I drive a Tornado XP because I heard it was a good starter car.

Finally I see on Topspeedtoys 2 sets one for japanese and one of taiwanese. Is this where the motor was made and how do I tell?

Thanks in advance

The Japanes engine will say Team Infiniti somewhere on the block... mine came with a little sticker on the top of the head that said it...Oh wait...It says team infiniti on the pull start cover...and the Japanese (Team Infiniti) came with a single needle carb, and the Taiwan engine came with a 2 needle...In case you haven't had a chance to learn yet, the 2 needle has the LSN in the side of the carb barrel where the throttle linkage hooks up.