Boat died need help!!!!

[tapeworm]

I hit the pond for the first time and ran into two issues. After taking everything off and sealing the transom hardware because it was leaking, I guess I forgot to boudle check the collett. Everything seemed fine and I sent her on the pond. Within two seconds, the flex shaft wasn't spinning. My bad I guess had to tighten the collet. Guess I figured that would be tight from the factory.

Second issue was on the second trip out, I made one speed run and was on the way back when it cut out. I heard one beep in the boat then nothing. When I got it in the engine and esc hadn't even had a chance to get hot yet. I disconnected the batteries and started again. On land it fired back up and everything seemed to be ok again. Needless to say I didn't send it out again yet today.

Any ideas what went wrong that made it cut out?

Also, it's been 25 years since I have owned a rc boat and am running two EP4500 6 Cell 7.2volt NiMh Sub C Pack. Do I have to discharge the NiMh packs after every use if they are not dead?

Thanks to all, Aaron

[Rex R]

do not discharge nimhs just 'refill them'. I would suggest that you check all your connectors, there may be one or more bad solder joints(assuming that your batteries are not 'sagging' under load.

[tapeworm]

Thanks Rex R. Do I charge them before I put them up of just leave them where they are at and charge them when I need them next?

[z400]

How old are these packs your running?

[tapeworm]

They are Brand new. Just got them from OSE Monday.

[z400]

Check all of the solder points.

Try to wiggle around the wires leaving the ESC while the motor is being powered.
See if it cuts out which would point out a bad/loose connection.
Check out your radio's receiver. Make sure the plug for the esc is seating properly into the esc, check the connection for it the same way for the esc that i explained above.

Do the same for the wires leaving the motor.
wiggle them and tug on them gently while the motor is being powered.
Ive heard of solder issues inside the motor.
This may be your issue.

I bought a used SV not to long ago, guy i bought it from bench tested it and all seemed well.
By the time it arrived at my house via mail, i bench tested it and couldnt get the motor to do anything but chirp and twitch a bit. More then likely it was a bad solder joint.

[Rex R]

for best results/life you need to store them charged...which can be a real p.i.t.a. during the off season since you need to charge them once a month.
one other tidbit: nimh cells need a few charge/discharge cycles before they reach full capacity.

[tapeworm]

Thanks guys for the info. I will bench test it tonight and check all the connections. As far as the battery, I will charge them up and put them on the same schedule as my motorcycle battery over the off season.

When I heard the beep yesterday after it quite, if I had thought quick enough could I have pulled the trigger all the was in to re-set the ESC.? May have avoided a trip into the pond to get it.

One last question. When I check for play in my flex cable the shaft of the motor actually has goes in and out a bit as well. Is that normal?

[z400]

The beep is usually saying that the esc needs to be re-armed.

Did you try to arm it while it was out in the water?

I had this same problem and it was a dead cell in one of my battery packs.


The shaft inside the motor was forard and backward play?
Thats not good at all.

This boat is brand new?

[tapeworm]

Yes it is brand new!

[egneg]

A little play is ok - how much did it move?

[z400]

Ive never had any play in mine.
Ive always heard play in the SV motors was bad.

[tapeworm]

I will try to measure it tonight. It's not tons, but enough to definately notice.

[Mash13]

I had this cut out problem. it seems it water getting into my packs. I sealed them up with silicon :) all good now!

[tapeworm]

I bench tested all the connections tonight with no adverse effects. All connections seem to be ok. We will give her another water test this weekend.