Help with my motor.

[Kyle McDermidParticipant @kylemcdermid42223]

Motor not responding

[Kyle McDermidParticipant @kylemcdermid42223]

Hi there, I have never owned anything rc in my life and I have purchased my son a rc boat for christmas and its not working, The suppliers have replaced the transmiter but the motor never responds. I was thinking of fixing it myself but I have no idea what needs replacing (the fastest way to learn). The rudder is working fine so I know the transmitter is working. Is there a way of testing the motor or the little box (sorry not the technical term) the motor plugs into. Thanks for your help, Kyle

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Kyle. Have you tried this boat in the water?? a lot of these toys have a safety device whereby they only work once the boat is on the water..

Failing this, is the battery ok..can you try a substitute or test the existing one.

Ashley

[shipwrightParticipant @shipwright]

Hello Kyle,

Good to know that rudder is working – so basically we know that the transmitter and receiver are working ok – or to be more precise working ok on that channel. I am guessing that this is a two channel system – one channel for motor and one channel for receiver. You should be able to see a small rectangular box with three leads plugged into it. Each lead has 3 wires. The first of these leads is providing power from the battery to the receiver – leave that lead alone. now swap the other two leads being very careful to keep the orientation the same so that you do not plug in wrong way round (make a note of/sketch the plugs/leads and wire colours before you begin the lead swapover). Now try the motor again noting that you will now have to use the rudder stick on the transmitter to control the motor – does the motor work ? If "yes" then it looks as if there is a problem with one of the channels (might be as simple as a poorly connecting contact).

If the motor still does not respond then check all the leads to make sure they are plugged in properly.

There should be another small unit that is connected to the motor – that unit controls the speed of the motor. It is possible that the problem lies with the speed controller.

If you can post a photo of the inside of the boat showing the receiver, battery and speed controller that would help people on this website to come up with other ideas. Note that if changing/moving any of the plugs it is very important that the correct polarity is observed or the rc units could be irreparably damaged.

Ian

[shipwrightParticipant @shipwright]

Kyle,

I was unaware of the cut out. Try Ashley's suggestion before looking inside the boat and trying to diagnose faults.

Ian

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

A lot of RTR models have the radio and ESC as one unit. Sometimes it is a separate radio and ESC inside one enclosure, sometimes its just a single board. Knowing the make/model might be helpful, as it might not conform to a model boat as a hobbyist would do it.

[Kimosubby ShipyardsParticipant @kimosubbyshipyards]

Kyle,

my 10p is on Ashley – if this is a ready to run boat with r/c unit (tug or lifeboat?) then it will have the water activated safety to stop the motors running at full speed out of the water.

Try it in the bath test tank.

More help to us if you can state what type, that is make and model of boat and where you got it. If its of Chinese origin then the best of luck, as these have a printed circuit board system which only the likes of our DM could read through. There will be no ESC (speed control) or identifiable receiver that we simple folk are familiar with.

Kimosubby

[LARRY WHETTONParticipant @larrywhetton68737]

Hello Kyle,

As the the advice given by forum members as not got things working on purchased bot/ toy,…

take it back to seller , its in his court …..i would have my money back, if no luck with that ,.. name and shame

the seller , best of luck Larry…

[Kyle McDermidParticipant @kylemcdermid42223]

Thanks all. I tried her in the bath and she just gurgles (I was hoping it would be that easy). The receiver has 4 plugs on it channel 1 – channel 3 and a battery plug. The rudder will only work in channel 1 so I'm assuming the motor goes in 2 or 3 and I cant find a plug from the battery. The boat is a "ARCTIC Aqua Rider 305" the idea was to upgrade the innards slowly as my son loves the technical part of it all but alas we have fallen at the first hurdle. I have tried to attach some pictures but I cant seem to do it but I will keep trying. Thanks again Kyle

[LARRY WHETTONParticipant @larrywhetton68737]

Hello Kyle,

Down loaded picture of your boat from e. bay.

if thats where bought the boat , it quite a pricey bit of kit,,…

i have seen this boat before on my local pool ,…

about 4min run time , before the packed and went home….

I would stiill return it the seller .. and buy from a UK seller have look at Howes Models good ready go boats there , and at the right price again best of luck Larry..

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

Has the battery actually fully charged? There might be enough there to work the radio and rudder servo, but not enough to power the motor up properly. The Amazon "information" is a bit sparse on the important stuff, it just mentions a "non-standard battery". I suspect it will be an 8 cell AA NiCad pack, and will probably need an overnight charge to work properly. It will probably need a few use cycles as well.

Some of the comments on Amazon indicate that it has a 2.4GHz radio. The fact that the rudder works suggest that this part works OK, it also suggests that, since the radio generally works, if a BEC is fitted in the ESC, that is working as well. If it is "forward only", it might need arming by sitting with the throttle full back for a few seconds while the electronics settles down and sorts itself out. Again, guesswork.

[Kyle McDermidParticipant @kylemcdermid42223]

Thanks again, I will recharge the battery (I think its the battery you explained Malcolm). There is no info online about the boat I will try that trick will a trigger. Strangely Larry we nearly bought a boat from Howes. Thanks again

[DanosParticipant @danos]

Hi Kyle.

I would follow Larry's recommendation. Take it back to the shop and get them to run it for you. If it doesn't get them to change it. Trying something yourself which possible void any warranty would not be a good idea.

Cheers

Danos

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