Finally got my XL started!!

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ezl_oo

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Messages
24
On Friday after work I decided to try to start my savage xl that I bought used with like 4 tanks through it. This is my first RC car ever and I'm a complete newb!! It was pretty cold out and tried to start the truck with no luck for like 30 mins I had aluminum foil on the header and had the truck by my exhaust of my car to heat it up and it still wouldn't start.

So, I decided to go back home to my garage (its very cold in my garage too, almost as cold as outside) and play with it some more and try to start it. I first warmed up the engine with a hair dryer and tried starting it but couldn't. After an hour I still couldn't start the car and I was so frustrated I want to throw the truck at the wall!! lol I tried everything ppl had told me to try to start the car but it still woulnd't start. So, after about 2 hours in my garage and me playing with the glow plug, high speed needle, and idle it finally started!!! It was a very happy moment for me and I had a smile from ear to ear...lol Now my problem was keeping the engine alive as it was cutting out after it would start. I finally got it to start and idle without it dying out I was sooo happy and was riding it around for like 10 minutes as it was too loud and the neighbors were going to complain so I decided to call it a day!

Next day on Saturday me and my brother (who just recently also got his first RC truck a brand new Savage X4.6 for X-mas) decided to drive the trucks and break them in some more while it was snowing lightly. I heated up my truck in my car and got it started inside the car then went outside and started to drive it. I put a sock around the heat sink and was doing a little bit of offroading in the park. I pulled my truck in to check the temp and it was at 300 degrees F, so I decided to richen it a lot more to bring the temp down. After the first tank was done I checked the temp again and it was at 270 degrees F so I decided to let the truck cool down and richen it alot more this time. The sock around the heat sink was burned up a little bit.

My brother could not get his truck started so I helped him to start the truck and it turned out that his glow plug igniter had ran out of juice and roto start too!! So, I lend him my roto start and glow plug igniter and finally got the truck up and running but it would shut off everytime you let go of the throttle. We played with the high speed needle, idle, and throttle trim but we had no luck in getting the truck to idle and not shut off once we let go of the throttle.

After about an hour I decided to start my truck and it wouldn't start!! It started up once and took off by itself luckily I had the remote next to me and applied the brakes. It never wanted to start after that, and I was messing around with the hsn and idle but with no luck!! I had the engine warm as it was in my car for like an hour with the heater on full blast facing the truck. To top things off my roto start starter shaft pins broke off while trying to start the car. So now I have a shaft with the ball at the end with no pins just holes on the end of the ball and I can't start my truck up. I was thinking of buying 2 starter shafts or maybe going to a pull start system?

Sorry for the long story but that was my and my brother's weekend with are new trucks!! I really want to start, starting the truck more consistenly. Not one day it starts and runs and the other day I can't get it to start which sucks!! :duh:

Any opinions and comments would be apprecitated!! Thanks!!
 
I have another problem...lol I went to the lhs on my lunch break as it's 4 blocks from my job. I bought a new starter shaft ($5) and a small heat torch gun ($15) to warm up the engine on cold days. So, I decided to try to start my truck before my lunch break ends...and it started with like 3 trys!!! I was amazed since it was cold outside. I was so happy that I decided to drive the truck until I wasted the tank of fuel. As, I was running the truck 1/2 - 3/4 throttle on its 6 tank of gas I ran it straight into the curb as it hopped onto the side walk and when I pressed the gas the truck didn't move! It was going about 20 mph when it ran into the curb. I went to see what was wrong and I see the left front dogbone next to the truck. The left front wheel was hanging down. I saw the plastic piece that held the dog bone broke, but I didn't inspect it to much after that as I had to go back to work. I was running the truck for like 20 minutes before this happened and let me tell you that this truck is powerful and fast! I was so happy until this happened I don't know if I should save money and order the parts I need online and have more down time, or go to the lhs either today or tomm. and pay more money but be up and running faster? What brand of parts should I get?
 
I'm new at this stuff to so I'm not 100% sure on choice of parts but i bought mostly hpi parts for my xl just so i knew everything would work. I know it sucks having a down truck but I'd check for deals online. Sorry to hear bout the truck.
 
ezl, just saw your post. what did you break an a-arm? or steering knuckle?

i say you go to the LHS & get the parts you need to get up & running & then get some xtras on ebay so your prepared not 'if', but 'when' it happens again (if your a basher)
.
check out this price ---- > complete a-arms

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& then this 1 ---> knuckles with bearings
 
I'm glad to report that I received my 2 stock complete sets of A-Arms for $25 shipped off ebay, over the weekend. It was pretty easy to install and now I'm waiting for the weather to get a little better to get the truck running outside. Thanks for all the help!
 

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