Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Beginners start here...! => Topic started by: adam62 on August 17, 2011, 02:02:56 pm

Title: smoke in the cockpit!!!!!
Post by: adam62 on August 17, 2011, 02:02:56 pm
Afternoon
 I am totally new to boats and am after some advise . A month ago i purchased a Swordsman from this forum , i have installed radio gear and toddled of to Portishead for a sea trial . Just got back 'cos i was worried i might fry something . The boat is 24" long it has a graupner speed 500 race motor @7.2 , it has a 40mm two bladed plastic prop , i took advice from Hunters and put in an Mtroniks 20amp ESC . Before i went i put liquid vaseline down the shaft . The boat took on no water so i think the vaseline worked but after 5 minutes the boat stopped , after a couple of seconds it went again . I brought the boat back in and took off the top , the engine bay was full of smoke which smelt of nothing but the motor was boiling hot along with the ESC . Your thoughts please on what i have done wrong  %)
 Adam62
Title: Re: smoke in the cockpit!!!!!
Post by: DickyD on August 17, 2011, 02:19:10 pm
I would think your prop might be a little large. I have two boats about the same size as yours and mine run on 35mm two blade fine pitch props.

Did you use too much vaseline in the prop shaft. You dont need a lot. Too much will make the motor work harder.

A 20amp ESC should be fine.

You should have a fuse in the pos cable between the ESC and the power source of less than 20amp to protect the Esc.

Does the boat still go ? If not you have probably fried the ESC.
Title: Re: smoke in the cockpit!!!!!
Post by: LarryW on August 17, 2011, 03:20:56 pm
HI ADAM, SORRY to here you are having running problems with swordsman, as you no it went well , when i owned it ,
   i have had a problem with a tug with the same symptoms  mine was down to mcroniks 15 esc had a fault , now use action esc 
     good  service and advice from them,   i hope the problem gets sorted on forum i feel embarrassed about the problem seeing i sold you the swordsman, :((
      hope to see you at CLEVENDON one Sunday cheers LARRY.....   
Title: Re: smoke in the cockpit!!!!!
Post by: adam62 on August 17, 2011, 03:24:22 pm
Thanks DickyD for your fast response . Ill try a new prop , i might find one at Thornbury this weekend as i'm going with my RC trucks .
 Adam62
Title: Re: smoke in the cockpit!!!!!
Post by: adam62 on August 17, 2011, 03:34:51 pm
Just a thought DickyD , could you give me a few more details on the prop such as a model number or makers name ? Are the props either fine or course ? Is there an advantage for brass over plastic ?
 Adam62
Title: Re: smoke in the cockpit!!!!!
Post by: bosun on August 17, 2011, 03:39:50 pm
Hy Adam
 I noticed that, in Larry,s reply, he said that he might see you at Clevedon. Was the boat run on the Clevedon lake before you bought it. I ask because Clevedon is a salt water lake, so it may be worth checking the stern tube and shaft for rust/corrosion, this would cause the shaft to bind giving you a hot motor.
Cheer,s
Bosun
Title: Re: smoke in the cockpit!!!!!
Post by: ACTion on August 17, 2011, 03:57:20 pm
I designed it with an in-built allergy to anything but ACTion ESCs........................... 8)
30mm Prop Shop 2-blade brass cleaver type or their 3-blade scale 1.1/4" - and clean out the prop tube of all grease.
Dave M
Title: Re: smoke in the cockpit!!!!!
Post by: Martin (Admin) on August 17, 2011, 05:18:21 pm
Bath test for the next run!   O0
Title: Re: smoke in the cockpit!!!!!
Post by: adam62 on August 17, 2011, 08:18:22 pm
As regards the shaft , if i put a spanner on the u-j by the motor and grip the prop end will i be able to unscrew the shaft ? Sorry for the stupid questions but trucks are my thing .
Adam
Title: Re: smoke in the cockpit!!!!!
Post by: triumphjon on August 17, 2011, 09:13:43 pm
at the prop end of the shaft you should have a nut that locks the prop to the shaft ?
Title: Re: smoke in the cockpit!!!!!
Post by: adam62 on August 17, 2011, 09:16:25 pm
tes i have a nut but that is locked to the prop , i was thinking of the nut on the u-j end of things .
Adam
Title: Re: smoke in the cockpit!!!!!
Post by: triumphjon on August 17, 2011, 09:34:16 pm
thats what it for , put a spanner on the nut to undo the prop !
Title: Re: smoke in the cockpit!!!!!
Post by: DickyD on August 17, 2011, 09:45:18 pm
Adam go by what our man ACTion says, he designed the original model after all.

Plus Dave is always right, ask Dave, bless him.
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p8/DickyD_photos/master-1.gif)
Title: Re: smoke in the cockpit!!!!!
Post by: ACTion on August 17, 2011, 10:40:52 pm
Adam go by what our man ACTion says, he designed the original model after all.

Plus Dave is always right, ask Dave, bless him.
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p8/DickyD_photos/master-1.gif)
Only when I have Liz's permission................... :o