How to Start a Non Pull Start RC Engine

Use caution when starting a radio controlled model airplane.

Nitro RC engines for model airplanes do not come with pull start mechanisms and require a special hand held electric starter that rotates the airplane's propeller cone. While many Nitro powered RC cars come with a pull start mechanism, certain racing variations do not have this option installed and require a special starting box. The starting box starts the RC vehicle's nitro engine by rotating its flywheel, which protrudes from the underside of the vehicle's chassis and meets a spinning wheel mounted on the starter box when the vehicle is placed over it.

Things You'll Need

• Glow starter
• 12-volt power source
• Electric starter for model airplane
• Starter box for RC car or truck

Instructions

Model Airplanes

1. Fill your model airplane's fuel tank with glow fuel. Turn on your radio transmitter followed by the radio receiver on the airplane.

2. Fit the glow starter on the engine's glow plug. The glow plug is located on the top, middle of the engine and may be recessed into the engine's heat sink.

3. Grip the fuselage of your plane with one hand and place the handheld electric starter's hub on the propeller cone. Make sure that your arms, fingers and clothing are safely away from the propeller. Engage the handheld starter to start the engine. Once the engine has started, pull the electric starter away from the propeller cone.

4. Move from the front of the plane to the rear of the plane and carefully remove the glow starter from the glow plug. Never remove the glow starter while you are in front of the aircraft, as you will run the risk of injury from the rotating propeller.

Nitro Powered RC Vehicles

1. Adjust the starter box's chassis alignment pegs to fit your particular vehicle, according to the documentation supplied with the starter box. This will allow for proper alignment between your engine spur gear (or flywheel) and the wheel on the starter box. Fill your vehicle's fuel tank with the appropriate amount of glow fuel.

2. Plug your starter box into a suitable 12-volt power source (refer to your start box's documentation for the exact power requirements). Turn the starter box on and fit the glow starter onto your engine's glow plug. Place the vehicle on top of the starter box, aligning the chassis with the guide pegs on the starter box.

3. Push down on the vehicle so that the engine's flywheel comes into contact with the spinning starter box wheel to start the engine. Once the engine starts running, place the vehicle on the ground and remove the glow starter.

Tips & Warnings

• Certain RC vehicles may come with the option of having a "roto start" mechanism installed on their engines. The mechanism consists of a special gearbox that installs on the rear of the engine and uses a special handheld electric starter in conjunction with a special shaft to start the engine. Check with your RC vehicle's documentation to see if your vehicle can be fitted with this type of starting system.

References

• Control Chat: Starting an RC Engine
• RC Hobby Universe: How to Start a Nitro Powered Engine