Question/Help

[thomasc]

I have a 1/8 Scale Buggy. Make is Thunder Tiger Mirage V-Spec. I'm having some trouble getting it to crank. I know my clutch is bad. If the clutch is bad will the motor crank? My Glow Stick is fully charged and my Glow Plug is good. I have a starter wheel. When I hit the motor wheel underneath the Buggy with the starter wheel it sounds like the Buggy wants to crank, but it want. As long as I keep the starter wheel spinning the motor wheel the engine sounds like it is cranked or trying to crank, but as soon as I remove the starter wheel it cuts off. Will a bad clutch do this or should the engine start anyway? Can someone help me out? If the clutch dosent matter then what other things should I check? Does the clutch keep the motor running?

Thomas C.
thomasc@racemail.com

[Doug Carter]

The clutch has nothing to do with the motor running. The clutch is not directly connected to the flywheel like you are thinking. The flywheel is a direct link to the crank, so if you remove the starter and it doesn't stay fired, you have either a fuel problem or a spark (glow) problem.

Sounds like no fire. Check glow plug. Check glow driver battery (unscrew the glow plug from the motor and stick it into the glow driver to see if it turns glowing orange). Check all fuel lines for air leaks. Check idle setting. Make sure fuel is not old (it does get old). Check fuel filter (if you use one), clean or replace if needed. Start with the factory recommended carb settings, and try to fire the engine again.

There are a few other things you can check, too, but those are where I'd start.


Then again, if your clutch is shot, you have more problems to fix before getting your motor running.

[fletch]

This may sound crazy but i've seen a bunch of people do it a bunch of times, make sure that you are turning the crankshaft the right way. Some engines can start backwards but they won't stay running.

[mach51]

sounds like it is cranking wrong direction, look at front of motor, should rotate counter clockwise as you look at it...

[Dirtdog]

Is this engine brand new? Sometimes in a brand new engine the piston will wedge in the sleeve at the top of the stroke. When this happens the starter box usually doesn't have enough muscle to turn it over. Remove the glow plug and turn the engine over manually to free it. Preheating the head helps also. After a few more tanks of fuel this problem goes away. As far as having an engine start going the wrong direction, it has been my experience that engines will start and usually sound okay. The rear tires rotate in the wrong direction giving you your first hint that something is wrong. With the clutches being activated by centrifugal force created by a spinning crankshaft, I don't see it being a clutch problem. Like most R/C problems, there are any number of possible causes. Let an experienced racer at at a local track take a hands on look at it for you. I have been racing R/C cars for over six years, and every once in awhile I experience a problem that baffles me, but usually another racer with a fresh eye will spot the problem (making me feel like a fool, but gets us up and going again). The best part of racing R/C is the association with other racers anyway.

[races65]

The clutch has nothing to do with the motor running. The clutch is not directly connected to the flywheel like you are thinking. The flywheel is a direct link to the crank, so if you remove the starter and it doesn't stay fired, you have either a fuel problem or a spark (glow) problem.

Sounds like no fire. Check glow plug. Check glow driver battery (unscrew the glow plug from the motor and stick it into the glow driver to see if it turns glowing orange). Check all fuel lines for air leaks. Check idle setting. Make sure fuel is not old (it does get old). Check fuel filter (if you use one), clean or replace if needed. Start with the factory recommended carb settings, and try to fire the engine again.

There are a few other things you can check, too, but those are where I'd start.


Then again, if your clutch is shot, you have more problems to fix before getting your motor running.

Good advice. Just be careful when you check the glow plug after you remove it from the engine. Safety First!