O.S. 12 pull start problems

[RC Rookie]

Can anyone tell me if a pull start can be made to work better once a
little age is on it. It doesn't always grab. Does it need cleaning
maybe? We are eventually going to get a starter box but I like the
fact right now my 8 year old can't crank it without me. Any help is
appreciated!

Many thanks!
RC Rookie

[Mr. R. Laramee]

Hello

I found if you take the pull starter off and clean it re lube it were needed
it will service you for a long time.


"RC Rookie" <rb.nospam@whatthewho.com> wrote in message
news:972a7cbc.0305210613.63846ed9@posting.google.c om...
> Can anyone tell me if a pull start can be made to work better once a
> little age is on it. It doesn't always grab. Does it need cleaning
> maybe? We are eventually going to get a starter box but I like the
> fact right now my 8 year old can't crank it without me. Any help is
> appreciated!
>
> Many thanks!
> RC Rookie

[MikeF]

I dunno if it will last a LONG time, but it does help.
If the one-way bearing is blasted out with nitro cleaner spray and lubed
*slightly* it will work ok for a little while.



"Mr. R. Laramee" <ray015@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:GEMya.44295$Vi5.1253234@news1.calgary.shaw.ca ...
> Hello
>
> I found if you take the pull starter off and clean it re lube it were
needed
> it will service you for a long time.
>
>
> "RC Rookie" <rb.nospam@whatthewho.com> wrote in message
> news:972a7cbc.0305210613.63846ed9@posting.google.c om...
> > Can anyone tell me if a pull start can be made to work better once a
> > little age is on it. It doesn't always grab. Does it need cleaning
> > maybe? We are eventually going to get a starter box but I like the
> > fact right now my 8 year old can't crank it without me. Any help is
> > appreciated!
> >
> > Many thanks!
> > RC Rookie
>
>

[Divrdan007]

>Subject: O.S. 12 pull start problems
>From: rb.nospam@whatthewho.com (RC Rookie)

>Can anyone tell me if a pull start can be made to work better once a
>little age is on it. It doesn't always grab. Does it need cleaning
>maybe?

OS is famous for those one-way bearings slipping after awhile. They ALL behave
that way, but the OS pullstarts seem to be the worst.
Clean it out with some nitro blast or denatured alcohol, and you will be ok for
awhile... the key word here being *awhile*.

>We are eventually going to get a starter box but I like the
>fact right now my 8 year old can't crank it without me.

Once you get a starter box, you will never look back. Arguably one of the best
investments you can make, if you're planning to keep up this hobby.
Starter boxes are kinda tricky to operate.
I would think your 8 yr old will still need your help to start the car.
Just bite the bullet and get the starter box.
They take all the frustration, sore fingers, tired arms, broken strings,
slipping one-ways, flying springs, and a lot of the swearing out of the hobby.

[Tom Stock]

> They take all the frustration, sore fingers, tired arms, broken strings,
> slipping one-ways, flying springs, and a lot of the swearing out of the
hobby.

This must come with time. I'm fairly new to nitro, but I find the pull
starter easier than my buddies starter box. My car almost always starts in
the first 3 pulls, and I like the fact that I dont have to carry a bunch of
extra stuff with me. I probably will get a start box eventually...but just
so that I can start it with the body in place, also so I can keep my
pullstart in good shape as a backup or for when I'm just playing in a
parking lot.

-tom

[Divrdan007]

>Subject: Re: O.S. 12 pull start problems
>From: "Tom Stock"

>> They take all the frustration, sore fingers, tired arms, broken strings,
>> slipping one-ways, flying springs, and a lot of the swearing out of the
>hobby.

>This must come with time.

Yes, it does, about the time you've run your first full gallon through your
engine, your pull-start will begin to be unreliable.

>I'm fairly new to nitro, but I find the pull
>starter easier than my buddies starter box.

What can be easier than just slappin the car on the box, connecting the glo
starter, and pushing down?

>My car almost always starts in
>the first 3 pulls

Yes, newer engines that are tuned properly will start fairly quick with a
pull-start. These engines can be pretty tempermental though.
An Engine a little cold, a little hot, slightly outta tune, a change in the
outdoor temp, barometric pressure, altitude, or an engine just having a
"bad-hair-day", can sometimes be a bear to start.
A starter box will usually start an engine under those conditions.... and you
can *fine* tune it while it's running.

>and I like the fact that I dont have to carry a bunch of
>extra stuff with me.

I heard that, but the day will come that you may just be carrying your car back
home to re-build your pull-starter.
The day after you perform your first pull start re-build... is the day you may
be shopping for a starter box.
I speak from experience here. I resisted buying a starter box for over a year.
I just didn't want to part with the extra cash.
"Hell", I thought... "you can just about buy a new engine for the cost of a
starter box." However.........
After a few broken strings, a few broken return-springs, and re-building a few
pull-starts, I had to figure a better way... or I was gonna throw something
(like my expensive RC) into a brick wall.
This hobby is a lot more fun when your engines start, trouble free,
every...single...time.
Looking back, it was the best 100 bucks I ever spent on this hobby.

PS... Mind you, I RACE my trucks.
Ever since I got the starter box, I build my kits as *non pull-start*, with NON
pull-start engines in them.
This allows me to mount the engine lower, which helps lower the center of
gravity. It's just a little over a quarter inch, but you would be amazed how
much better a truck handles on a track with the engine lowered that much.
Whatever you decide, having FUN is what it's all about.
Good Luck