Starter Box

[cold_reboot]

Alright, I think I'm going to pick up a new starter box. The Ofna compact 1/8th box isn't working (wheel doesn't make contact with flywheel). It has pretty much zero adjustability, can't move the starter wheel other than for belt tensioning. I wanted to ask you all your opinion. I'd like to have at least a 700 sized motor in the box. What are the other K8T owners using? What boxes would you all recommend?

[janderson78]

I am using the caster box. Be sure to use a heat gun if the motor is new.

[vnmsgt]

I have a CASTER box too along with a ofna chrome top. Both work great and even if you have a box with a 700 plus motor it will have a hard time starting a new motor. Have to heat it up the first few times to get it to turn over easy.

[Lee_Jones]

I have the chrome top starter box from offna part # 10248 and I had to grind away some of the Chassis in order for the starter wheel to fit through the chassis to make contact with my fly wheel. You may have to do this with your chassis.

[razzor]

I have a Team Magic X5 box and a Caster box and although teh TM looks so much better it comes now where close to the Caster box.
Havent had a issue starting any motors and its spins wickedly fast :)
I use a 12v gel cell battery inside it for portability.

[vnmsgt]

I have the chrome top starter box from offna part # 10248 and I had to grind away some of the Chassis in order for the starter wheel to fit through the chassis to make contact with my fly wheel. You may have to do this with your chassis.

That is what I have to do with all my cars with that box too.

[cold_reboot]

I'm guessing the starter wheel would be too large in circumference to fit in the hole in the bottom of the chassis instead of too wide to fit. If its too wide I'd take a straight razor to the wheel to narrow it before I dremeled on my Chassis. Of course it probably won't be that way because thats how my luck is and I'll have to Dremel the slot longer....setting off a chain reaction of extra chassis flex...attempting to install a Z brace to help the flex and screwing it up ...and running it under my daughters swing set and turning it into the shape of a J ..... damn you Murphy!

[vnmsgt]

You do not have to make the hole longer. You just have to bevel the right and left side of the hole. Gives just enough clearance for the wheel to work right. Sort of looks like the hole for a countersunk screw but only on the two sides. Know what I am saying?

[30percent]

Is the wheel worn down to small to work? You might need to replace the wheel on the box. I know the OFNA (Blue Box) only works about 1/2 the wheel circumference before it wont make contact with the flywheel.

[cold_reboot]

I wish that were the case 30...unfortunately I've only used that box about 4 times and two of those were alignment tests on the Thunder Tiger so I'm pretty certain it's not wore out. It's ok, I ordered a new bump box...same one vnm has and said it worked with both the stock and quik change engine mounts. I only got it over the Caster box because of the 12V motor. I'm all about supporting my new home :)

[razzor]

I think vnmsgt means to bevel the bottom edge of the hole on chassis like this :

________/ \________

Would give you that extra travel with out fouling the chassis.

[vnmsgt]

I think vnmsgt means to bevel the bottom edge of the hole on chassis like this :

________/ \________

Would give you that extra travel with out fouling the chassis.

Yep you got it.

[cold_reboot]

I knew what you meant. The box should be here tomorrow and I'll have a look at it. Thinking I'll go one of two ways, I'll either, (a) Bevel the Chassis, or (b) shave the starter wheel a bit with a straight razor so it fits the hole already in the Chassis. I'll just have to have a look when it gets here.

[Mr Fusion]

I use a dremel sanding drum to bevel the wheel and cut it down a little smaller. It makes a lot of smoke and mess (running both the dremel and starter box wheel in opposite directions) but it gets the job done.

I just redid my box with a single fat 700 size motor I got from a surplus place (hosfelt.com?) and it seems good, but I haven't actually used it yet. It takes a bit of work to do it so I don't recommend it unless you are up for a project.

[cold_reboot]

The smoke and mess is why I was just going to use a straight razor (like the old barbers razor or a carving type hobby knife blade) to trim it down. One way or the other, this truck is getting broken in this weekend, it looks great as a clean shelf queen don't get me wrong...but not being able to run it yet is killing me.

[3pointX]

So really, how useful or necessary is a starter box anyway? I probably sound like an idiot asking, but I have had zero issues with teh pull start. It usually only takes three or four primer pulls to get fuel in the cylinder and then once I light the plug it takes one, maybe two pulls to get it started and I'm good to go. I see all the racers using starter boxes so I guess that's why I'm asking.

[Aggressor08]

So really, how useful or necessary is a starter box anyway? I probably sound like an idiot asking, but I have had zero issues with the pull start. It usually only takes three or four primer pulls to get fuel in the cylinder and then once I light the plug it takes one, maybe two pulls to get it started and I'm good to go. I see all the racers using starter boxes so I guess that's why I'm asking.

One reason people choose the bump start configuration on an engine is because they typically have more power than the pull start engines. I personally don't know if this is true, and if it is, the horsepower difference is probably not significant. Another reason is because some engine manufacturers do not produce their engines in a pull-start configuration. Lastly, most racers want the convenience and reliability that comes with a bump start motor and having the piece of mind that their engine will turnover (unless of course the engine floods or a bad glow plug). If you are happy with the engines you are running and your engines continue to fire after only a few pulls, I wouldn't change a thing?&^

[bc24fl]

Saw a guy with a roto start yesterday (losi ET). Can the K8T rtr engine be converted to use one. In my eyes (rookie) it appears to be a better option than the box. What do you guys think and how hard would it be to convert?

[razzor]

Most racers dont use rotor starts and pull starts since it causes drag on the crank, so the guys get a tad more performance with out it and less weight.
The starter boxes also are just easier to start engines which means no blisters and stuffed oneway bearings :)

[bc24fl]

Most racers dont use rotor starts and pull starts since it causes drag on the crank, so the guys get a tad more performance with out it and less weight.
The starter boxes also are just easier to start engines which means no blisters and stuffed oneway bearings :)

Ah ok thanks. I already have a blister on my first day of running.

[bc24fl]

So let me get this str8. The caster box will work with no modification to the k8t chassis or the starter box, right? And the ofna mentioned does require modifications.

Thanks.

[30percent]

So really, how useful or necessary is a starter box anyway? I probably sound like an idiot asking, but I have had zero issues with teh pull start. It usually only takes three or four primer pulls to get fuel in the cylinder and then once I light the plug it takes one, maybe two pulls to get it started and I'm good to go. I see all the racers using starter boxes so I guess that's why I'm asking.


Removing the pull start and adding a back plate takes away extra weight and fills up extra space in engine block. Should increase power a little.

Plus pull starting a hot engine after it flamed out is not fun... especially in the main....

[cold_reboot]

The header on my Thunder Tiger has a bunch of brown staining on it from the blood cooked onto it from my blistered bleeding hands. Yay for bump boxes.

[vnmsgt]

So let me get this str8. The caster box will work with no modification to the k8t chassis or the starter box, right? And the ofna mentioned does require modifications.

Thanks.

I could not tell you since my chassis is dremeled already. You still might need to. I think your making a big deal over dremeling the chassis, It is not as much as you think to do and does not hurt anything and takes like 2 minutes. I can post a pic for you of mine later tonight if you want to so you can see how minor it is. I can almost guarantee at the races that 8-9 out or 10 racers have this done. It is something that should be done at the factory for all RC cars.

BTW forget about the rotostart. Yes it is easy and I got a rotostart and thought it was the best thing in the world..... till my one way bearing went bad. Then there is NOTHING you can do to start your car at all and the day is done. I said I would never go to a bump box because I had to carry that thing around and after buying one because I got tired of OWB's going bad I will NEVER go back to a rotostart again, no way. If you still insist on getting one I have my old one and about 3 batteries I will sell for 20 dollars but I tell you the bump box is the way to go.

[30percent]

So let me get this str8. The caster box will work with no modification to the k8t chassis or the starter box, right? And the ofna mentioned does require modifications.

Thanks.


Sorry IDK if the OFNA box works with the Caster without modification yet, Just using it as an example of the wheel size affecting it's connection with the flywheel...

I bet it would work well though, its a good box. Fits the hyper8, RC8, and Losi8 only have to change the arms for each one, no mod required. Also holds the 12V battery.

heres a link so you know which one I'm talking about...
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXRLU1&P=ML

How does the caster box compare to this one? Same design or far from it?

[vnmsgt]

Sorry IDK if the OFNA box works with the Caster without modification yet, Just using it as an example of the wheel size affecting it's connection with the flywheel...

I bet it would work well though, its a good box. Fits the hyper8, RC8, and Losi8 only have to change the arms for each one, no mod required. Also holds the 12V battery.

heres a link so you know which one I'm talking about...
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXRLU1&P=ML

How does the caster box compare to this one? Same design or far from it?

This is EXACTLY what the Caster box is. Right down to the part numbers. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCLD8&P=ML

[30percent]

Then the blue one has to work and its the premo version. 2- 775 motors... looks like the wheel extends out a little further on the blue one too.

[bc24fl]

Ok convinced the box is the way to go. vnmsgt, I'm embarrased to say but I don't even know what dremeling is. Dictionary.com shows nothing. Anyway, a picture is worth plenty so please post a pick and what tool I need to dremel :confused: .

I've also decided to go with the 12v gel instead of 2 7.2's.

vnmsgt, if you have these in stock pm me & i'll buy from you else I'll look around the web.

Thanks.

[vnmsgt]

Ok convinced the box is the way to go. vnmsgt, I'm embarrased to say but I don't even know what dremeling is. Dictionary.com shows nothing. Anyway, a picture is worth plenty so please post a pick and what tool I need to dremel :confused: .

I've also decided to go with the 12v gel instead of 2 7.2's.

vnmsgt, if you have these in stock pm me & i'll buy from you else I'll look around the web.

Thanks.

When I said dremeling I meant you have to use a dremel to grind away the portion on the chassis. I will post a pic when I get home today. You got a PM.

[30percent]

Ok convinced the box is the way to go. vnmsgt, I'm embarrased to say but I don't even know what dremeling is. Dictionary.com shows nothing. Anyway, a picture is worth plenty so please post a pick and what tool I need to dremel :confused: .

I've also decided to go with the 12v gel instead of 2 7.2's.

vnmsgt, if you have these in stock pm me & i'll buy from you else I'll look around the web.

Thanks.


It's ok , some of us were born with tools in hand...... NOT that tool hahahah.

Dremel is a rotory handheld power tool that every r/c'er should own.

They have different attachments for bits other than drill bits for grinding and cutting different materials.

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Tools/Pages/CategoryProducts.aspx?catid=13

[bc24fl]

Thanks for the description.

Things are getting expensive. I'll have to go to Hard Rock tomorrow and grind for a few hours to make up for all these purchases. I just wish they would lift that stupid cap on their NL games so I can earn my $$ quicker :p.

[vnmsgt]

Ok convinced the box is the way to go. vnmsgt, I'm embarrased to say but I don't even know what dremeling is. Dictionary.com shows nothing. Anyway, a picture is worth plenty so please post a pick and what tool I need to dremel :confused: .

I've also decided to go with the 12v gel instead of 2 7.2's.

vnmsgt, if you have these in stock pm me & i'll buy from you else I'll look around the web.

Thanks.
Here are some pics of my chassis beveled at the sides.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/vnmsgt/k8tdremel003.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/vnmsgt/k8tdremel002.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/vnmsgt/k8tdremel001.jpg

[cold_reboot]

Yup, I got her beveled. Thanks for the tip =)

[vnmsgt]

Anytime. Not so bad though. And some sounded like you had to grind half the chassis off or something!

[Aggressor08]

The caster box will work with no modification to the k8t chassis or the starter box, right? And the ofna mentioned does require modifications.

If you are using an OFNA universal starter box, the chassis will need to be beveled as shown in vnmsgt pictures, shown above. Same goes for the
Caster starter box

[bc24fl]

Wow, that looks easy. Now I have to go out and buy the tool.

[vnmsgt]

Wow, that looks easy. Now I have to go out and buy the tool.

They got the real cheap at Wal-Mart. Just make sure you get the "Dremel" brand.

[mikey]

hi , guy, i am putting my ass on the new starter box, .....so i really hope it will come soon for Caster guys

[bc24fl]

I installed a 12v gel cell batter in the caster starter box. Can I charge it using the side plugs as seen in the below image?

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m44/icarrion/caster-box-side.jpg

[lowlife88]

yes, no problem. You just y-off the wires from the gel cell to the contact brass for the push down button and the side charge jacks. Just make sure you do not use the starter box while your charging it.

[bc24fl]

yes, no problem. You just y-off the wires from the gel cell to the contact brass for the push down button and the side charge jacks. Just make sure you do not use the starter box while your charging it.

Sorry I don't understand. The Gel cell is installed and working when I power on the starter box. If I turn it off and connect the charger jacks to the side plugs will it charge the batter?

[lowlife88]

You need to rewire the stater box. Make a Y-harness that comes from the gel cell to the charge jacks as well as to the contact brass

[lowlife88]

www.ofna.com/images/man-multi.jpg
look at ofna's web site under manuals for their starter boxes to better show you.

[bc24fl]

thanks will try.

[lowlife88]

Sounds hard, but it's real easy to rewire it.

[razzor]

The Caster box you can charge the gell cell with out worrying about the switch.
2 mods we do to our Caster boxes are change wiring to a thicker gauge and solder all connections.2nd mod is to mount a large washer onto one of the motor pinion gears to act as a belt guide.
My camera is on the frits so cant take a pic at the moment will try later with wifes cell phone.