$100 what to buy

[da_ticklah]

Here's the situation I've given myself a budget of $100.00 to have some R/C fun. I currently have a TC3 RTR with a crappy 17T motor and stock ESC, and a NTC3 (built from kit) with an pull start HPI .15SS as you could imagine the Electric TC3 feels dog slow to me. Which of the following is a better use of $100

1) A starter box for the NTC3 (busted knuckles not going over well witht he wife).

2) A faster motor and new ESC for the TC3

My questions are
A) Will I have to take off the pull start to use the starter box

B) Will I then find myself wanting better NiMh Batts and ultimately a charger, my peak chager is only good for NiCd's


opinions and comments are welcome

[tadium54]

a) nope, you should be ok.

b) don't worry, nicds will still work fine with a faster motor.

when it all comes down to it, i guess you need to see which one you drive more or which one is more fun

[gizmoguy303]

(busted knuckles not going over well witht he wife)

ROFL!! :D:D:D

I'd probably go with the starter box. ;)

[astainback]

A little off-topic, but I would save it for the future monster truck purchase.

[Fluke]

i would hop up what i run the most.i'm palning to get a cheap onroad soon but i won't hop it up.all my upgrades go in my 1/8 which i'll be racing

[TJNMT]

Go with a starter box, you can get them real cheap 30 bucks at most if you look right. That leaves you with 70 for other stuff. Hummmmmm, get the box and save the rest for future projects or parts...

[highroller]

I'm the last one to ask that question. I've gone to my LHS with the intent of purchasing just a motor but have gone home with a new kit, or ending up purchasing other items.

In the case of the motor starting box, the present engine generally requires a conversion from pull start to a system that uses a flywheel if one is available for that model - it may be easier to purchase an engine already setup. It's may also be possible of building a homemade starter box or using a hand held started which are sometimes cheaper, motor may also cheaper that the regular retail price. Some online sites may have sales on discontinued motors or inventory reduction on motors that don't sell well again saving you 15-30 dollars.

[da_ticklah]

First off thanks to all for the comments.

@highroller
Well the engine does have a flyweel (right behind the clutchbell) and it is exposed if you look under the chassis. Would bump starting an engine with a pull start ruin the engine or just the pull start if it just screws the pull start no biggie if it ruins the engine how quickly will it be ruined is important as I've ~2 gallons on this engine so it may not be long for this world and my next engine will be w/o pullstart.


What woudl be the name of the part I'm looking for if I need to remove the p/s mechanism


I'm the last one to ask that question. I've gone to my LHS with the intent of purchasing just a motor but have gone home with a new kit, or ending up purchasing other items.

In the case of the motor starting box, the present engine generally requires a conversion from pull start to a system that uses a flywheel if one is available for that model - it may be easier to purchase an engine already setup. It's may also be possible of building a homemade starter box or using a hand held started which are sometimes cheaper, motor may also cheaper that the regular retail price. Some online sites may have sales on discontinued motors or inventory reduction on motors that don't sell well again saving you 15-30 dollars.

[crawlermaxx]

you don't need to remove the pull starter. It serves as a good backup for the starter box.

[da_ticklah]

Bought a 'universal' starter box yesterday from my LHS 2x550 motors, spent a lot of time trying to get it to sit lengthwise then realized it was spinning in the wrong dir. Changed to a sideways mount and it fires up well need to mark some guide lines but that's it. probably shoulda got the AE or OFNA LD3 box whicc promise better alignment but oh well. It all cost me 55 bux and I can still get a motor and save for a better esc.

Thanks!