Chris Barlow Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 After nearly 18 years use in cars & planes I suspect my old Ripmax starter is not up to the job anymore and am looking for a new one. I'm looking to spend approximately £80 one a decent new one suitable for starting engines from a .25 2 stroke to currently a .91 4 stroke (and possibly a little bigger in the future) Any recommendations, prices & advice on where to but would be greatly appreciated. I will be going to Weston this weekend so could pick one up from one of the trade stalls there. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 This should last for years..if you want to take a punt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Lane Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 Hi Chris. Go for the Align Super Torque starter. It's compact, runs off a 3S 2200 lipo and it's got loads of power. And being cordless, you have no leads to worry about. Worth every penny of it's £78 price tag. Got mine from Slough RC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iqon Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 Just engines , geared starter...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David P Williams Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 +1 for the Align starter - use it for both fixed wing and helis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 +1 for the Align starter... Although I do have a Just Engines geared starter plus two NiCd packs if you are interested Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Manuel Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 For about £35, you can buy a geared starter (Just Engines is one example) - Cut the leads short - Add XT60 battery connections in line and strap a 3S 2000-3000mAh LiPo to it. Instant Hi Torque cordless starter. Mine easily turns my Saito 150 over, with power to spare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max50 Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 +1 Align starter. Starts my 2strokes, 4 strokes and 25cc petrol. Starts my mates DLE30 as well. Has an indicator telling you how much charge is left in it. Lasts quite a few weeks on the same charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted October 15, 2014 Author Share Posted October 15, 2014 Thanks for the replies guys! The Align starter looks nice and just the right price! Does it come with a cone adapter or is that extra? (also not in stock at the moment!) I also like the Dynatron on JE but compared to the Align cordless option is cumbersome and more pennies, although what has prompted me to buy a new one was using my mates old Dynatron at the weekend! I had thought of getting a geared starter to convert to cordless but the unknown is still which is a quality starter that'll last as long as my old Ripmax one. Have heard a few tales of good starters only lasting a few years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 My JE starter is rigged for cordless...if anyone is interested PM me... Ill probably put it on BMFA as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max50 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 You can buy them with the cone starter or the heli wand. Although they seem to have gone up a bit in price since i bought mine. That was 7 or 8years ago, but it's still going strong and on the same battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Just Engines Geared starter is also my pick at under £40. Looks cheap and nasty and sounds even worse but absolutely up to the job as it can turn over my 35cc and 60cc petrol engines with ease. Had it for 18 months or so and absolutely fine. Furthermore, it is designed to also take 24volts for the really big engines as well as the usual 12 volts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Green Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Align starter - had mine for a year now, excellent starter. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prop Nut Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Another vote for the Align starter. It's light and powerful and the LiPo in mine seems to last forever between charges. I originally bought a Dynatron but it's very heavy and agricultural and I returned it for the Align. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted October 16, 2014 Author Share Posted October 16, 2014 Pretty conclusive on the Align starter then! Now all I need is to find one in stock somewhere! Does anybody know what traders are going to Weston Park this weekend? Might try to phone one to pick up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hargreaves - Moderator Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Not used the Align starter but +1 for powering it with a Lipo.... Did this with my old Sulivan starter a year or two back & it's been brilliant.....more power & no lead to get in the way..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hangar 9 nut Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Midland helicopters do them Chris ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braddock, VC Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 I have two, a geared 3.8:1 with 4s 2.6 Ah lipo and a ripmax one with a 4s 5Ah lipo, the geared one starts everything up to a 160 fx glo but failed on a ST 3000 as it just had a prop nut and no spinner. I haven't used the ripmax one yet but I suspect it'll be every bit as good as the geared one. I think I bought the geared one from Als Hobbies when they were on offer for under £20 and I was given the ripmax one. Originally I had a couple of 6 pack 2.6 Ah nimh but they were drained after a morning's flying whereas the similarly sized lipos take about 500 mA to top them up after a hard day's starting. I got the lipo batteries from hobby king uk from their bargain box iirc. I also bought several of their excellent glo drivers, under a fiver each, link in a 2 cell lipo, press a button and 20 seconds of glo, works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marsh Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Chris has used my Sullivan Dynatron, even with 12v it surprised him due to the torque on start up. Even though it's a 12/24v operation, using 24v just makes the copper switch arc together and stick on. Also, up-coming swopmeets might produce a quality item as a good price. I've seen Align starter sets got for a good price, and most were brand new or hardly used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bran Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 I'm still using a Pylon brand starter I bought in 1973 running off a free battery shop throw out small car battery I blagged six years ago. Even starts 26cc petrol no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted October 19, 2014 Author Share Posted October 19, 2014 Many thanks for all the suggestions guys. I treated myself to an Align heli starter with spinner cone from RC HeliGuru at Weston Park. Nice yellow box so I can see it in my mirrors when leaving if I leave it at the field! Lots of power & very convenient epecially in the dark at Weston this weekend. I don't like spending money but I do like stuff that just works, and works well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lighten Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 is converting to cordless as simple as just connecting a Lipo battery to the starter via shortened cables and suitable connector, or do I need to use some other black art bits and know how? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 Ken, the conversions I've seen have been basically just as you describe. You can fabricate some sort of fancy bracket for attaching the LiPo to the starter - or come up with something a bit more basic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hargreaves - Moderator Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 Pretty much exactly that Ken...the real trick is attaching the Lipo to the starter in a way that keeps it out of the way. When I did mine I simply cable tied the Lipo to the starter as a temporary "lash up" to see how it worked in practice. Two years later I'm ashamed to say the Lipo is still attached to the starter with the same two cable ties.... For the connection I used an XT60. I measured the current taken by the starter turning over a cold 91 2 stroke & it was 40 odd amps so the XT60 will take that no problem. I use a 3S 2200mAh Lipo & the starter has way more power than with the 7Ah SLA that used to power it.....go for it...you'll be glad you did... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 Posted by Ken Lighten on 19/10/2014 22:31:00: is converting to cordless as simple as just connecting a Lipo battery to the starter via shortened cables and suitable connector, or do I need to use some other black art bits and know how? Try this link? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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