Startup Failure

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cs49230

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New Redcat MT won't start. After what appeared to be a flooded condition I aired out the cylinder, while pulling the cord without a plug the sound doesn't sound quite right to me.

(You Tube)
So far I have made 3 attempts at starting with airing out between, not so much as a pop yet. Not using any choke since first round. Spark plug gap is good and see a good spark and can see gas on the piston with vapor puffs while pulling without plug. Screws are set H 1 1/2 L 1 1/4 with 25:1 fuel:oil 92 octane and Yamalube 2s getting nothing but a sore arm...
 
I usually pull the plug and blow air in the cylinder if I think it's flooded. Are you using the factory plug? Try getting an NGK it usually solves the problem. Did you say you haven't been using the choke? I would try closing the choke, 2-3 slow pulls to suck some fuel into the chamber and give it a pull now. 2-3 and you should hear a pop, open the choke and pull again 2-3 times, should start right up. Worst case scenario, check the gap on the coil. the gap should be the thickness of a business card.
 
When you pull the plug turn the vehicle upside down. Give a few pulls to drain the fuel built up in the crank case.

After airing out the cylinder do not use the choke on the next attempt.

Under normal conditions never pull more than 3 times with the choke on, even if you don't here a pop. Any extra pulls with the choke on will flood it.
 
Well blew out the cylinder and plug with compressed air. Getting spark when plug held to cylinder looks good. Set choke, pulled several times (6-7 pulls) no pops. Blew clear again rinse and repeat (3 pulls choked then off for 6) still no pop or any signs of life. Clear cylinder with air again and half a dozen pulls no choke and nothing. Is there a number to go with the NGK plug type?

Getting very disappointed after saving pennies for months to scrape together the money for this truck. Then waiting a week for missing parts from Redcat. Now it still won't make noise. I can see an electric start in the future already getting a blister and sore arm from the pull start. :mad:
 
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Most of the time you don't get a pop.

6-7 pulls with choke will flood it every time. :eek: Never more 3 pulls using choke.
 
Dad

Well I pulled the plug flipped truck upside down and got quite a bit of fuel out the hole. Blew it clean, put the truck upside down on a piece of cardboard gave a few more pulls and it didn't create a wet spot on the cardboard anymore. Left to sit for about 20 minutes then blew clear all wetness (not much) from on top of the cylinder and dropped the plug back in. No choke, pulled slow 3x to pull some gas in and pulled hard 8x. Sounds better but still no pops or tries to fire. Guess in the morning I'll pull the starter cover and check the ignitor gap (even though it looks like a good spark).

Nearest place for me to maybe find a plug is 15 miles away. Guess if the gap is good I'll take a drive tomorrow... another day down... least I didn't break anything... but then again I didn't even get the chance too...
 
If it has spark....its not the plug! It's your tune on the carb is not set right....Almost all starting issues have ended with carb needle's out of adjustment.
 
Did you make sure everything is tight as well. Like your head bolts manifold and so on. Just to make sure you have no air leaks. Most of the time it something simple that gets over looked. You also might want to try with the fuel cap off to eliminate a plugged vent hole too. Also try and let it sit over night with no plug in to let any fuel evaporate as well. Good luck, hope tomorrow is a better day!
 
Well this is getting to be an experience! Never over the last 40 years have I seen such a stubborn engine to start.

I tried for several days to start by pull cord with never even a pop. My shoulder will only let me pull so hard and I felt I wasn't getting 1200 rpm to get a good spark.

Ordered a KillerRC Powerstarter and waited 5 days for it to come in. Tried a new plug 6H which shows a nicer spark, couldn't find a 7H locally, cranked and cranked with 4-5 minutes between 7-10 second cranks, to let the starter clutch cool down. (It can get pretty hot quickly) Came back to the research box (computer) and found on Killer RC that my 14.4 v drill wasn't enough when they call for a min 18 v so ordered an 18 v Ryobi from Home Depot. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-18-Volt-One-Plus-Lithium-Plus-Drill-Kit-P818/203466926 Specs say a no load speed of 1600 rpm and most of the other drills I checked out under $200 had lower no load speeds.

Anyway that came in today and seems to spin the motor faster than I could pull it. The starter clutch adapter is not very smooth going in or out of the starter very difficult to disengage and seems to bind but that could be compression it is not as bad without the plug. But still takes a lot of pulling to get the adapter out of the starter.

But over several start attempts I finally heard a pop, it actually tried to start for less than 2 seconds. Then on the next two attempts I got nothing. Didn't look flooded but let it dry without the plug for about 30 minutes and stuck the drill in and heard a pop on the first turn but then nothing.

My high needle appears to totally bottom the spring before or just as it hits bottom but I think I can still feel the seat set. One and a half out on high with Low at One and a quarter. Filter is not really wet to the touch and unless you really squeeze the foam between fingers they don't appear wet.

I'll see what happens in the morning, it is sitting without the plug and a rag cover for the night. If it doesn't fire in the morning I'll be talking to customer support in the morning. I've exhausted my checklist, and I keep hearing the cash registers making this a $1000 venture quickly.

13 days and counting, not really a RTR now is it. Just glad I got the truck and not some poor kid getting a giant paper weight under the Christmas tree. Doesn't look good RedCat!
 
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It's Alive!!! Ended up dropping the Low down to about 7/8 turn. It started to try at about 1. Let it sit and burn out 1/4 tank, now let it cool back to ambient and try again. At 7/8 had to crank it quite a bit before it caught. It was about the 4th adjustment and trial of the day and it had a good helping of gas cranked through it already.
 
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Beginning to think I'm jinxed on this truck. After cool down re-fueled and fired it up to start some 8's. Flat dropped the truck to the driveway from about knee high and noticed something black go shooting across the drive. Lower spring retainer from the right rear shock. The ball end broke at the shock shaft. :eek:

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cs49230 said:
Beginning to think I'm jinxed on this truck. After cool down re-fueled and fired it up to start some 8's. Flat dropped the truck to the driveway from about knee high and noticed something black go shooting across the drive. Lower spring retainer from the right rear shock. The ball end broke at the shock shaft. :eek:
I may have an extra for you. drop me an inbox with your address and I shoot it over to you.
 
Interesting things. When the shock end broke I ordered a couple shock rebuild kits (only way to buy the lower shock ends) from Rampageshop knowing it would take a day or two to process a warranty claim. Then went to Redcat to turn in a warranty form. This was all on Monday 4/21/14. I got an order confirmation from Rampageshop on the 21st but didn't have tracking till the 23rd being due Mon the 28th. On 23rd got a request from Redcat for my pictures and by 6pm had a shipping confirmation but no tracking yet. Also noticed my parts from Rampageshop were being drop shipped from Pheonix (Redcat). So I wrote off getting to play with my birthday present till after my bday on Sunday. So this morning being Sat. 4/26/14 I checked the mail and my replacement from Redcat has beaten the order from Rampage.

Hurray! put the part in and this time the truck started right up so drove it in circles at just enough throttle to make it move for about 10 minutes. Big turning radius required! Got caught on a u-turn against a fence and while I was straightening it up it stalled. So toed it back to the starter and noticed there was raw fuel behind and on the exhaust can on the starter side (left). Still dry on the right side other than a few spatters. Either the can has a leak or I need to check the gasket at the exhaust manifold. Maybe this leak is why my Lo needle is at 7/8 instead of 1 1/4 turn.

I know from my nitros you can't tune them if there are leaks at the exhaust gasket.

Camera needs charging I'll post a few pics later.
 
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Exhaust CanWell while waiting for the camera to recharge I tore into it. Appears like most of the leak is at the seam of the can. Gasket looked to have had a good seal when opened. I noticed in my pictures while uploading an area of the gasket looked like it had a bubble area at the left bolt. I went back to the shop and checked it. It is just optical there is a good impression on the entire circumference of the gasket and port. Most of the gas is in the seam area and very little is near the gasket. The gas may have just splashed the can near the gasket it sure got everywhere else. I have fuel splash all over the left side of the engine and on the chassis. Boy that is fun to clean without removing the engine. Rag and a screw driver.I'm not sitting around waiting another week for a gasket, for now I'll use a film of high temp copper silicon and it should work till I decide on a pipe or get to auto parts for some gasket material. I'll clean the can with some carb cleaner and pack the seam with high temp copper and give the seam a squeeze with some pliers to seal it up. I have some wide welding vice grips that can squeeze that whole seam in one stroke.

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Dies after it warms up

I have a 30cc Redcat that starts fine and idles ok, but when it warms up it tends to die. I tried to trim it but when I move the knob it goes from about to die to way too high idle. Great forum and thanks for your help!
 
brokeagain said:
I have a 30cc Redcat that starts fine and idles ok, but when it warms up it tends to die. I tried to trim it but when I move the knob it goes from about to die to way too high idle. Great forum and thanks for your help!
Have you vented your fuel tank?
 
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