Nexus 30 sarting problem

[cnhome1]

Hello,

I recently bought a second hand nexus 30 from my local hobby store after flying electrics for several years I was excited to finally take the plunge. Having got it home I attempted to start it with the electric starter (which took some time (5-10 mins)). Once running I reduced the throttle setting which caused the engine to stall.

Upon trying to start it again I found that my electric starter did not have enough torque to turn over the engine. My first thought was the battery so I tried a fully charged car battery, it felt as if it gave out the same amount of torque (I could prevent it from spinning with 3 fingers, is this right?). I also confirmed on the advice of the hobby store to check if the clutch is stuck which it isn't.

The problem I now have is how to identify the fault as I know no one with a RC Helli to compare with and Ive never been in contact with one prior to today to know what to expect.

1) is it my starter (hobby store says no but i can easily hold it with 3 fingers)
2) is it my Helli engine (MDS38, i can turn the starter on the Helli by hand but it takes a lot of grip and force for part of each turn.

Any help much appreciated

[Mike W]

sound like ya got a vapour lock in it ... unscrew the glowplug and turn the engine over with the plug out ... then put it back in and try it ....

[cnhome1]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your amazingly fast reply, unfortunatly I already tried that, in fact when I talk about it being difficult to turn by hand I mean with the glow plug out.

[Ade_Law]

If its been sitting around for a while it might be all gooey in there especially if it was run on cheaper fuel with castor oil in it.

start by taking the glow plug out, unclip the fuel line to allow the fuel to flow and spin the engine over. As the fresh fuel goes in you will hear it free up. Clip the fuel line and keep spinning it unti it starts to slow down again. Put the plug back in and it should fire up.

where are you going to fly? Im only 20mins down the road at ferndown and we fly just outside of wimborne.

Ade

[Made2Fade]

Might be the fan has come loose and is rubbing on the shroud. Is the engine new by the way?
Lee

[Ade_Law]

it might be worth taking the engine out and popping the head off it see what its like in there.

one word of warning the nexus is old now, spares are getting harder to get hold of too.

Ade

[Mike W]

oh ... just looked at ya engine ... Personally get rid of the MDS ...I like OS engines myself ... id the engine new ???... when the plug is out the starter shud turn the engine over pretty easily ... Have ya tried another starter on it ???? ... just to make sure ya starters not on it's way out ... Like Lee said take the engine out and see if the fan has come loose .. I had this happen on mine when i first got it as well ...

[cnhome1]

Hi Ade_law,

Yes ive taken the engine out and can see when I placed it back in that there is nothing else (Other than the engine) that could be causing it not to spin (The fan seems pretty fixed in place). I have not tried another starter but I do have a high tourqe drill. I didnt want to use this without advice as i assumed if its hard to turn there is probably a reason behind it and i did not want to risk causing any damage. To be honest I believe its the electric starter but I have nothing to compare it to. As I mentioned I can stop it from spinning with just 3 fingers which seems pretty weak to me.

WRT where I fly, I dont, this is my first outdoor helli and until i get it running I am just ground crew ;-). But I am based in Hedge end.

Cheers,
Chris

[Smoothound]

I notice Midlands are now advertising Nexus main gears again which were like hens teeth a couple of years ago

[helidriver]

yes,

mine would rip all five of king kongs fingers out. with the nexus u could try spinning the starter up then poping it down on the cup.

not ideal but i could get u going.

can i be first .....

M ine

D ont

S tart.

[Stuart]

Nothng about the thread just love "Helidrivers" avatar....

[cnhome1]

hi helidriver,

tried that, it just grinds to a halt after a few seconds.

Cheers

[helidriver]

oh well.

its an easy fix then, go get a shiny new starter. ( boring ) or spend the money on some zeal control balls. they won't make it start but you will feel special.

[jamiesawyer28041978]

No question about it the starter is the prob. I had a hellish time before getting my starter to get the raptor going and got my 18 volt ryobi out and the thing started almost instantly. Not after renewing the clutch that was . If it is strugling to turn it with no glow plug in then id say the starter is goosed.

[cnhome1]

Hi helidriver and jamiesawyer28041978,

Thanks, it sounds like your confirming what i suspeted, so to cut it short 1) its normal to need a lot of force to turn the starter cup by hand, and 2) theres no way I should be able to prevent my starter from turning with just 3 fingers (Sorry to repeat but as mentione I have no idea what to expect)

so therefore its the starter, right ?

Cheers