Help Me please

[jakesinkingboat]

Hi I'm new to RC boats, I was given a hull many years ago and had done nothign with it. It seems to be a Barrel Back Chriscraft from the 60's. Over the last couple of months I have finished it off but had no control gear...I was once and avid Tamiya fan so had various RC car parts...this is I guess part of the problem... OK:

Issue 1...The boat slowly fills with water which seems to be coming up the prop tube (original brass one). Not good but other than that it is water tight.

Issue 2 ... Battery life is about 1.5 mins..:-( I am running a Tamiya Sport tuned motor with a Tamiya electronic Speed controller, and standard 1700mh 7.2V nicad. The motor is directdrive to the propshaft via a single UJ (no gearbox)...

I'd love to resolve both these issues and run the boat at my local pond Can you help?

If so please email me ASAP with a solution and any ideas ...many thanks jake... jakemacwhirter@hotmail.com

[LtDoc]

Jake,
Fill the stuffing box (brass drive shaft tube) with a lubricant. That should prevent the water from getting through. Use a non-water soluable oil/grease. I like the stuff you lube fishing reels with, but there are a number of different options.

I'm not familiar with your motor, but if it draws a 1700 mAhr battery down in a minute and a half, that's one hell'ova motor! Make sure the battery is fully charged, and that it holds it's charge. If this battery is one of them that you used 'long ago', it may need to be replaced. You may be able to rejuvenate it by cycling it a few times.

Good luck...
- 'Doc

PS - "Cycling" a battery meansw charging and discharging it. (A few light bulbs make a fine 'load' to discharge a battery.)

[martin richards]

Both of your problems could be due to drive shaft lubrication problems. The run time could also be due to the prop size you need something around 30 mm/1·25" diameter. Your esc is going to suffer if those run times are what you get on a full 1700 mAh charge (it sounds as if you're drawing 70 amps approx .eek: ).

[Ghost 2501]

70 amps, that will probably bake the wiring as well. take the motor out and replace it as well if the greasing of the propshaft and other jobs have been done and the motor still runs the battery down. sounds to me like the shaft may have taken a knock at some time and the motor has been shock loaded, so may be struggling to turn, and so drawing mega amps. check allignment of shaft and tube to see that they are not bent, (even slightly)