Season prep

[Prins Willem]

OK guys and ladies. Since Norgale has us thinking spring now we should be getting our boats ready for the season. I have noticed an increasing number of new R/C boaters coming to the forum. I suggest we post the things we do to get ready. This might also help those of us who are memory chal (I forgot what I wanted to say).

Don't just limit it to boat maintenance. What stuff do you restock in your field box? Do you hit the lawn chair with WD 40? Any prep advice is welcome.

[norgale]

Charge the batts,hook up the wires and GOOOOO>
Guys in the Dakotas and all across the Northern 48 had better wait awhile though. Gonna be cold for a few more days up there. pete

[toesup]

1/ Take out the prop shaft and clean out all the old grease from inside the tube... and replace with fresh grease. Also check shaft / bearings for wear
2/ Cycle the batteries
3/ Check through the wiring for loose conections or chaffing wires.
4/ Lube motor bearings.
5/ Check for leaks and repair any damaged paintwork.

6/ Look forward to the coming 'season'.

[pops52]

Make sure you go through all of your drive train set screws, props, and prop nuts. Especially after a new build over the winter where you might have just performed a "trial" fit-up.

Nothing worse than thinking your boat, some how, slipped into neutral when, in actuality, both props are sitting at the bottom of the pond. This happened to a...err...hmmmm....*cough*...a friend of mine. :)

[Prins Willem]

Saturday will be a good day to work in the basement. Prediction is rain/snow mix with a possible 1" accumulation. Shouldn't stick too long with the temps in the mid 30's.

I have to pick up some pipe cleaners to get as much old grease out of the stuffing tubes as possible. I also check to make sure the motor mount and servo mounts are still solidly attached to the hull. I check the holes in the servo horns for wear and bending of linkages. Also check the thrust washers on the shaft for wear or any sign of warpage.

[Hoghappy]

Must be nice only having to do the lube job on the boats annually! :rolleyes:

Really...I don't mind...it's part of the hobby. I have to pull the shaft after every outing of some of the fast boats. It's mandatory on the hydro after every few runs.

(If sailing sheet boats..don't forget to check all sheets and sails for fraying. Be sure all the knots are tight. Check cooling systems for leaks and brittle lines. If using o-rings anywhere, replace as needed. Test all electronics before getting to the pond.)

Crash

[Habanero]

2/ Cycle the batteries
How do you do that? :confused:

[Prins Willem]

I cycle my NiCads by running them down in my RC truck. The boats are too easy on them. NiCads like being drawn down hard. The tugs pull a steady slow drain. Deep cycling them extends the life. Store them mostly discharged. Gel cell batteries prefer it the opposite way. Keep them topped up. No experience with LiPo.

[Predreadnut]

Pops52, good advice!! I've heard of that happening.to...ah........ other people. :)

[boater_dave]

I have four auto signal lamps wired to a plug for drawing nicad packs down. Charge and discharge a few times the night before and the packs will work great the next day. You can get a feel for how long the boat will run by seeing how long the lights stay lit. Just remember to unplug the lamps when you hit 1 volt per cell on the pack or you may ruin the cells. I thought the bulbs had about a 6 amp load.

Dave

[Hoghappy]

I have four auto signal lamps wired to a plug for drawing nicad packs down. Charge and discharge a few times the night before and the packs will work great the next day. You can get a feel for how long the boat will run by seeing how long the lights stay lit. Just remember to unplug the lamps when you hit 1 volt per cell on the pack or you may ruin the cells. I thought the bulbs had about a 6 amp load.

Dave

A headlamp works too! :D

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Here is a message I sent out back in 2002 to our combat club members.



Lets Play Boats!!

It's what we are all thinking. I know I was this last week.
The weather here was absolutely gorgeous.
I turned to the boat, and it said no. Well at least the batteries did.
So I spent the last week cycling batteries and checking charges.
No warm batteries, and and they all seem to have a good voltage check.
I guess the real test for the batteries will be the running time on the pond.

Let's Play Boats!!

Well I better check the running gear since all the batteries are charged up.
Ready, GO!!....
What is that noise? And Why is only one propeller turning?
Ok, Glue one propeller shaft back into it's motor connection tubing.
Great,.... oh wait...Glue the other shaft back on to it's motor connection tubing.
It also seems to be loose. Ahh much better.
Lets run the boat! .... What is that noise?...
Ok reseat the propeller shafts in the set screw collars at the motor connection.
They have slipped 1/32nd of an inch or something. Much better

Lets run the boat!!!

Why are all the servo motors chattering and why is the backup battery in the
transmitter absolutely dead? Run to the hobby shop pick up 6 capacitors to
quiet the motor RF and 8 new rechargeable AA batteries, $35 bucks.
Put the battery pack together pop rivet it back onto the back of the
transmitter and solder the capacitors onto the motors. COOL! :cool:

Lets run the boat!!!

Why are the servos still chattering and shaking?
Unplug the motors...ok the servos are still chattering...check battery
connections and clear servo wire mess... Resolder one receiver battery(BEC)
connection that just fell apart in my hand. That would have been bad even if
it wasn't a battle. Still the Servos continue to chatter...

E-mail Cliff Shaw....

>> "chatter" Do you mean servo jitter, move when not commanded to do so???

Yes exactly what I mean

> > If Yes; Then Under what condition? What radio batter power are you using.
If is can not supply enough electricity (amps) then this will happen.
Check the plugs and switches and wire for corrosion and poor connections.

Done this

>>Are you using the Battery Eliminator Circuit made from 7805 regulator?
I found it take 3 of them on a heat sink to have enough power to work in our boats.

I am using the BEC on the Speed control, a duratrax "blast"


> >Also the radio receiver can be week. Moisture causes corrosion and
drains off the RF signals inside the case. Brush the circuit board, good,
with an old toothbrush.

WOW...OMG...I think the problem has just been solved. Ok most of it. Just a good brushing.
Well, Once the motors are running it picks up, but not as bad as before.

I will resolder and replace motor connections and see what happens.
I replace one old tamiya plug to the motors with a "deans Ultra-Plug".
Cool this clears up the chatter none, zero zilch.

Thanks Cliff!!

Then I get this message from Cliff:

>>BEC in speed control is not strong enough for the boat.
Back out the red wire in the servo plug from the speed control and
try 4 AA cells. (of 4.8 nicad)

Nah it's solved see Now when I turn on the boat it's.......It's chattering again. :confused:
Darn it Cliff If you wouldn't have said anything it was fine. :o

Ok rewire the receiver battery pigtails back in and disconnect the
BEC on the speed control.

Let's Run the Boat!!!

YEAH!!! its all better now. I think if I show up at the pond the boat will be
able to run. No waiting, just plug in the batteries, gas up the co2 tank and go!!!

HMMMM....

Guess I better check the guns....

Good Luck guys. I'll Sink..err, See you at the pond!

Aimee Eng