T-MAXX 3.3 OWNERS MANUAL
•
17
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE
The Traxxas EZ-Start brings the convenience of push-button electric
engine starting to your T-Maxx. The EZ-Start consists of a hand-held
control unit and an on-board motorized starter.
• Power for the EZ-Start system comes from a 7.2-volt rechargeable
battery pack installed in the hand-held control unit (battery
sold separately).
• The engine
glow plug is heated automatically by the EZ-Start system,
eliminating the need to keep up with a separate glow plug igniter.
• The voltage to the glow plug is kept constant, regardless of the load
placed on the starter by the starter motor.
• The “Glow Plug” LED (light emitting diode) on the control unit indicates
the condition of the glow plug.
• The “Motor” LED indicates the status of the EZ-Start electric
starter motor.
• The cush drive mechanism in the drive unit prevents damage to the
gears caused by engine kickback.
• Smart Start™ protection circuitry prevents damage to the motor by cutting
power if the load on the motor or other electronics exceeds safe limits.
Installing the EZ-Start Battery
The EZ-Start system requires
a fully charged 7.2-volt
rechargeable NiCad or NiMH battery
pack (not included). Use a charger
(not included) designed for
7.2-volt battery packs. Charge the
battery according to the charger
manufacturer’s directions.
1.
Press the tab in the end of the
battery compartment door to
open (A).
2.
Plug a fully charged 7.2-volt
battery pack into the
connector inside (B).
3.
Twist the battery two or three times to twirl the battery plug wires.
This helps hold the wire and battery in place when the battery is
installed in the compartment (C).
4.
Install the battery into the compartment and press the wires securely
into place.
5.
Snap the battery compartment door back on and lock the end tab (D).
Using the EZ-Start
Your EZ-Start controller plugs into a 4-prong receptacle in the
center of the bed on your T-Maxx 3.3. When the red button
on the controller is pressed, the EZ-Start motor begins to spin the engine and
power from the control unit heats the glow plug. Assuming all settings and
preparations are correct, the engine should start almost immediately.
Each of the two status indicator LEDs on the
hand-held control unit, the Motor LED and
the Glow Plug LED, should light green while
starting. If either LED fails to light while starting,
there is a fault indicated with that function.
Protection Mode
The EZ-Start uses Smart Start
™
technology to monitor the condition of
the system and detect failures. The controller monitors the load being
placed on the EZ-Start motor. If the load becomes excessive, the system
shuts off power to the motor to prevent costly damage to the motor and
the controller. This may occur, for example, if the engine floods with fuel
during starting. The starter spins at first but when excessive fuel in the
combustion chamber begins to lock up the engine, the starter motor
slows under the heavier load. This causes the protection circuit to shut
off the power to the motor. Allow at least 3 minutes for the starter motor
to cool and the circuit to automatically reset before continuing. Use the
time to find and eliminate the condition that caused the excessive load
on the starter motor.
Use a Strong Starter Battery
A weak starter battery, or one that has not been fully charged, may not
deliver enough power to crank the engine over at the appropriate rpm
to keep the piston from sticking at top dead center (TDC). A new engine
will typically have a tight fit between the piston and the top of the
sleeve. This is a tapered fit, and a tight piston sleeve fit on initial startup
is desirable for those who want the best-performing engine. Make sure
you are using a good quality battery pack that is fully charged (new
batteries usually require several charge cycles to reach peak voltage and
full capacity). This is especially important with a new engine that needs to
be broken in. If the engine sticks at TDC, see page 29 for instructions on
freeing the engine.
Shutting Off The Engine
Turning off the switch for the radio will not shut off
the engine. To shut off the engine, use the shut-off
clamp on the fuel line. Squeeze the clamp closed to
shut off the fuel supply to the engine. Don’t forget
to release it when you restart the engine.
Avoid shutting off the engine by placing your finger over the exhaust
outlet, especially if you are through driving for the day. This will leave
more unburned fuel in the engine that could lead to harmful corrosion.
Always be careful not to touch the exhaust pipe after running, it can
become very hot.
THE TRAXXAS EZ-START
®
ELECTRIC STARTING SYSTEM
A
B
C
D
Use the Right Charger
The most convenient type of charger is an AC peak-detecting
charger that plugs directly into an AC wall outlet, such as the TRX Power
Charger (see page 8 for more info). It contains special peak-detection
circuitry that automatically shuts the charger off when the battery is
fully charged.
If you’re using a 15-minute timed charger, always fully discharge the
battery pack before each charge. Some high mAh battery packs (1500
mAh or higher) require more than the standard 15 minutes of charge
time. If the battery pack is cold after 15 minutes of charging, add
another 5 minutes of charge time. Closely monitor the battery pack and
stop charging it when it begins to feel warm to the touch. Never leave
a battery charging unattended. Always follow charger manufacturer’s
instructions.
Inexpensive overnight wall chargers may also be used
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
Motor
Glow
Plug
When the EZ-Start controller is in protection mode, wait at least
three minutes before attempting to start the engine, to give the
starter motor time to cool.
It’s normal for your EZ-Start controller to become warm after
repeated use.
If the Glow Plug LED fails to
light, the glow plug may be
bad, or the glow plug wire may
be damaged or disconnected.
If the Motor LED fails to
light and the starter fails to
operate, then the EZ-Start is
in protection mode.
