Which starter are you using for your 90 size Helicopter

[HeliRaptor]

Guys I am wondering what people are using to start their 90's with.

My Current starter Hobbico TorqMaster 90 Deluxe will not turn over my new OS 91.

I was looking at replacing it with the Hobbico TorqMaster 180 or the Sullivan Dynatron.

I know several people with the Sullivan and that will not turn over the OS 91 unless you loosen the glow plug. I wish to avoid loosening anything if possible.

Share your setups so I can make a wise purchase soon. Your experience here will help me and others make the right choice.

I am running this with 2 3300 mah NiMh at 14.4 volts. If I go with the TorqMaster 180 I can bolt this on and wire it.

Does anyone know if the TorqMaster 180 will start a OS 91?

[blax1]

This is totally out of my league!!! :) But could you contact the engine manufacture for any assistance with your starter question, they must a have some sort of info- on starters??? for the various engines etc :cool:
BTW sounds like you are about to try her out :cool:
Good luck with it have fun!! :)
Cheers Ralph

[AaronS]

a dynatron should do it without a fuss if you haven't flooded the engine. I have been using a standard cheapo airplane starter with a 12v hobby gel cell without a problem

[HeliRaptor]

I haven't attempted to start mines as I do not have a started that can turn over this engine. But I know many pilots with issues with this engine and the Dynatron. Scott Cathay from Team JR has the same issue on his on his vibe (I am not sure if it is the same engine though). He has to loosen the glow plug in order to turn it over with the Dynatron.

I am willing to buy one but I am not going to buy one then have to get a different starter. I know to many people with this issue. I am confused at why many people have this issue while others do not.

[heli-cuzz]

I don't own a 90 YET. I do have the Hangar9 HD starter and it will turn over any 90 engine as long as there's no vapor lock going on. I use it on a 25.5cc gasser engine for my 1/4 scale ultra stick, it turns that over with no problems. As for loosening a glo-plug to get it started, that's a lot of runtime lost and it sounds like a pain in the heli to go through that.

[theBZA]

I have a Magnum starter.

It turns over a .91 no problem. It is rated to turn up to a 1.80 (havent tried it yet)
Give it a tad bit more juice than just 12V, and that thing spins ANYTHING up.

[theBZA]

Ha Ha!!

I've got the answer!!

My Current starter Hobbico TorqMaster 90 Deluxe will not turn over my new OS 91

well, your Hobbico Torqmaster is rated up to a 0.90 ci engine.
Your OS 91 is 0.91 ci.

There you have it. Your OS is 0.01 cubic inches too big.

:D

[tdswan]

I just use the recoil on my gasser. :confused:

Seriously....A guy at a fun-fly wanted to see if a starter her had would turn over my gasser (It also has a hex start option as well as a recoil) and that little thing spun it over like it wasn't even there. This is on a 23 CC engine. It was smaller than the Dynatron starter you were referring to. My glow starter is the standard Hangar 9 starter and it won't turn over my gasser either. I think the starter he had was THIS ONE. (http://www.heliproz.com/prodinfo.asp?number=804577)

[Rappy1]

As silly as it may seem i sometimes use my cordless drill to start my heli when the starter battery is flat. it always seems to work a treat and still has plenty of grunt. it is a black and deker firestorn with a high speed setting. it never gives any indication like it is under load and because it is geared down it has a lot of torque. give it a shot if you have one, it may save you some money. note i dont no how you would get on if you need to use a cone start i have only ever used hex start on heli

[heli-cuzz]

I just use the recoil on my gasser. :confused:

My glow starter is the standard Hangar 9 starter and it won't turn over my gasser either.

Yeah, td, you need the Hangar9HD starter to turn the 23 cc engine over. My HD starter turns over my 25.5cc engine with no probs. :p

[HeliRaptor]

I just use the recoil on my gasser. :confused:

Seriously....A guy at a fun-fly wanted to see if a starter her had would turn over my gasser (It also has a hex start option as well as a recoil) and that little thing spun it over like it wasn't even there. This is on a 23 CC engine. It was smaller than the Dynatron starter you were referring to. My glow starter is the standard Hangar 9 starter and it won't turn over my gasser either. I think the starter he had was THIS ONE. (http://www.heliproz.com/prodinfo.asp?number=804577)


Hmm, I know a couple guys that had that Maverikk starter, if I remember correctly they had trouble starting a 90 size engine. I could be wrong on this though.

[HeliRaptor]

Well, I was correct about my Torque Master 90 not being able to start my OS 91.

I took the advice of many and charged my DeWalt 3/8" 14.4v cordless drill and brought it along just in case. I am glad I did. I tried it and it started the heli with minimal effort. It looks like I am not spending money on a starter when my drill will work.

Thanks for all the suggestions. An 18v would be a bit better but I have the 14.4v and it works.

[RaptorXP]

those hydratork starters scare me used a buddys last year my engine was a little flooded and that thing powered right thru it no damage to the motor but could have. (I didnt realize it was flooded at the time i stuck it to it) But just got done yesterday putting new batteries in my hobbico 90 took the gell cell out and put 14 3000mah nimh in it (16.8 volts) now it has the power. I was having problems starting my saito .82 four strokes

[jschief]

I own the hydratork starter and the gears are starting to go after less than a year. The hydratork uses a gear reduction to develope power.

I also own a sulivan and the sulivan only uses a dc motor no gears. I am waiting for the starting wand to come in, I do not like to use the starting cup with the wand incase you slip the wand will fly out and do some damage. :eek: Just a little warning.

[HeliRaptor]

Well after 11 flights using my drill I am not completely satisfied with the drill option. It sounds awful when starting the heli, although it works well.

I picked up a Sullivan Dynatron Started and I am having a Custom Battery Pack at 28v made. It should be ready by the end of the week. I didn't want to get into making a battery pack so I paid someone to do it, as he does it for a living for RC Models. I will get his info and post it with some pics once I receive the final product.

[larrytoelle]

Howdy HeliRaptor,


You'll like the Dynatron with the battery pack you've ordered.

It's a 24V starter and will turn over just about anything out there. A lot of guys plug it into a 12V power source and expect it to perform ... it won't. With adequate juice, it'll do the job without a problem. Another consideration, is getting cells that can deliver the amps ... I've had cheap cells that might as well have been tossed. A good low resistance sub-C cell will make a world of difference.

An electric drill will work ... but ... if you're like I am ... I occassionally screw up and hydro lock the engine. A strong drill has the potential of breaking things like connecting rods or worse.

Hope this helps ...

LT

[HeliRaptor]

Thanks for the response. I picked up the starter and custom pack yesterday. It is now 28v and produces 91 Amps upon start and will sustain a 40-50Amp continuous.

The cells are the highest quality Sanyo sub c sells and were $115 for cells and labor to build 2 - 10 cell batteries to get the 28 volts. It has massive amounts of power and turns over my 90 with ease. Now to see if it will last a full weekends worth of flying once the batteries have been properly conditioned.

[Ron K]

You have now learned the basic lesson: It's not the starter, it's how much Electromotive Force (EMF- aka voltage) you have pushing it.

Your Hobbico 90 would work fine with two 7 cell nicad RC car packs. I use the Hobbico 180 with two of these and it starts my OS 91 just fine. My Hobbico 90 has two 6 cell packs and it spins the 50, but struggles with the 90.

Your Dynatron/28 volt setup should start anything you can attach it to. :)

Take care,

Ron

[rc heli crazy]

hay this is a big starter it haz started a os 160 it is so heavy :D

[HeliRaptor]

It's been a while since I've been here. Been busy.

Anyhow, I got to try out the new starter/battery setup and it is impressive. It starts my 90 with easy. I am impressed.

Here's a pic of the new setup.

[larrytoelle]

Howdy HeliRaptor,


Nice ... that's a starter that will last a lifetime and then some. IMHO... they don't get any better than that.

LT

[Shawn K]

There's not a .91 out there (I think) that can't be started with a Sullivan Hi-Tork or Hobbico Torquemaster if you use 14 cells. Just make sure you use sub-C cells, because the smaller form factor cells (A, AA, and the like) won't put out the current.

A good friend of mine starts her .91's with a Hobbico starter with two 7-cell NiMH's, and has for years. Because I'm not too bright, I went ahead and purchased two 8-cell packs for my Sullivan Hi-Tork when my twin 6-cell packs started getting tired. 19.2 volts nominal oughtta crank it over okay, and when that starter gets tired, I'll just get on FleaBay and buy another used one for $25 and call it a day. :p

Honestly, just add a few cells to your battery packs. With the (very) intermittent use our starters see, you won't blow it up. At worst, you'll just wear out the brushes.