Llumar leakage and upgrades

[shatogar]

I purchased a new Llumar 1/12 last week and have just finished breaking it in. I really like this boat, but there are a couple of things that I need to address to make it perform a bit better.

First, when I round a corner, if I let it slow a bit too much the engine revs and the boat slows to a crawl before the prop bites and it takes off again. I assume this is caused by cavitation. I have read that a octura y535 prop would help with this problem. I cannot find this prop anywhere. Does anyone know where I can pick one up? It is 1.38" with a pitch of 2.125. Are there any other props out there that could be used as a sub?

Second, the hull seems to leak on my boat. After every run I pull the plug in the back and drain a substantial ammount of water. Has anyone else seen this? Is there a common area of leakage, and is there a remedy that anyone knows of? I'm sure the extra weight slows the boat throughout the run.

Third, the hull seems pretty weak in some areas. There is quite a bit of flex in front of the engine where the cowl is inserted. The pull starter snapped out of my hand a couple of times during the furious battle to get it running during the break in period and each time the handle damaged the hull. Can I just use some fiberglass and epoxy to strengthen the hull in the weak areas?

Like I said, the boat is really great. I like to bring it in close to shore and splash the onlookers with the rooster in tight turns. I am suprised at how quickly this boat can take the right hand turns. If I could take care of the above mentioned problems, I would be completely satisfied with this boat.

On another note, I am purchasing a Hobbico AquaCraft Hammer EP for my son to race with me. I actually intended for him to race the Llumar but after running it during break in I decided it is far to fast and touchy for him to handle, especially since the pond is lined with rocks. Does anyone have any experience with the Hammer?

[69dart]

hello
for the props go to www.offshoreelectrics.com i suggest laying down the money and buying one of their sharpened and balanced props because it aint exactly easy or a quick thing to do

[shatogar]

Thanks for the information. That is just what I was looking for.

[abx131]

As far as the troubles you are having, they sound no different than the ones the original miss bud has. Run a search and you will find PLENTY of threads and fixes for most of these. Replace the drainplug with an auto bailer. Your boat will stay much drier inside.

[yellow-hydro]

As far as the troubles you are having, they sound no different than the ones the original miss bud has. Replace the drainplug with an auto bailer. Your boat will stay much drier inside.

that is a no-no, the drain plug is located too high up on the hull, should some boady install an auto bailer a new hole would have to be drilled at a lower psotion., also the hull is angled upwardwhere the drian plug located.

I have a lumar and I never ever get water to drain from the hull at the drain plug, except when I forgot to put the plug in. (left it at home.)

a couple thing I could think of;
your hull may have a hair line crack,
I assume you get water accumulating in the engine area? if not than it drains from the engine area to the hull into your hull some where.
also check or seal the area where the prop shaft is mounted via a strut to the hull I gues water could leak where it is screwed in to the hull

[yellow-hydro]

a few mor things, I just checke dmine to see other possible places fro leak.
check where the cooling water enters the hull from the water pickup there is a rubber boot.
check where your rudder control rod enters the hull , add some vasoline inside the rubber boot
check where your cooling water comes out of the engine and goes out to the hull , make sure none of that cooling water enters the hull some where.
do you see a steady stream of cooling water coming out on the side when you run the boat?
oh yes ....check the area where the flex shaft housing comes out of the hull, mine had a pin hole right where it meets the hull , I filled it with silicone sealer before the boat was ever put in water.

[ejp]

I would recomend the Nitro Hammer rather then the EP. The nitro is close or as fast as the Miss Bud and ML with a few small mods.

[Austinlake]

[B]Hi! I have two MS Buds and have found that the Octura X435 works real well for me. They don't seem to cavitate as much as the stock plastic prop did, also they don't break when you engage a piece of aquatic plant or small stick in the lake.

[shatogar]

a few mor things, I just checke dmine to see other possible places fro leak.
check where the cooling water enters the hull from the water pickup there is a rubber boot.
check where your rudder control rod enters the hull , add some vasoline inside the rubber boot
check where your cooling water comes out of the engine and goes out to the hull , make sure none of that cooling water enters the hull some where.
do you see a steady stream of cooling water coming out on the side when you run the boat?
oh yes ....check the area where the flex shaft housing comes out of the hull, mine had a pin hole right where it meets the hull , I filled it with silicone sealer before the boat was ever put in water.


Thanks for all the tips. Mine has been in dry dock for about a week while I was waiting for a new glow lighter. Now that I have that, it starts on the first or second pull every time. I located a tiny crack in one of the sponsons and filled it with a dab of epoxy, so that may stop the leakage problem. I do not have any water accumulating in the engine area though, so that is another likely suspect. I just checked the spot where the flex shaft enters the hull, and bingo, there is a big crack. I'll patch that up and check it out tomorrow. ONce again, thanks for the tips.

[shatogar]

I would recomend the Nitro Hammer rather then the EP. The nitro is close or as fast as the Miss Bud and ML with a few small mods.

I would go with the nitro, but my son is only 5 years old, so I think that would be a bit much for him. I just got the EP today and he has already managed to beach the boat once and break the original prop off. Good thing I have some spair parts laying around.

[yellow-hydro]

I would go with the nitro, but my son is only 5 years old, so I think that would be a bit much for him. I just got the EP today and he has already managed to beach the boat once and break the original prop off. Good thing I have some spair parts laying around.

agree with you....get something(well too late) that has reverse, has a big skeg front of the prop,
my 4 year old loves to drive the boat back and forth, on to the beach, crash into his sisters Rc boats. he has a $40 nikko boat, with a 9.6 rechargable. it keeps him busy for 10 minutes than he gets bored , goes and plays elsewhere.

[shatogar]

agree with you....get something(well too late) that has reverse, has a big skeg front of the prop,
my 4 year old loves to drive the boat back and forth, on to the beach, crash into his sisters Rc boats. he has a $40 nikko boat, with a 9.6 rechargable. it keeps him busy for 10 minutes than he gets bored , goes and plays elsewhere.

We had a couple of little nikko boats last year but we wore them out. He does not tire of racing the boat but he hates waiting for the batteries to recharge, so we bought four packs. I think I upgraded him a bit too much though. A smaller, more durable boat would probably have been more up his alley at this age.

[shatogar]

Hey Yellow Hydro,

How long does a set of receiver batteries last in your yellow hydro? I plan on running my boat for a long time tomorrow, so I am curious. I've never run out of range or power, but I would sure hate have my boat skipping accross the beach at full throttle.

[yellow-hydro]

Hey Yellow Hydro,

How long does a set of receiver batteries last in your yellow hydro? .

can't really say exactly how many minutes, because when I go out to the lake I take 3 boats with me, so the run times gets divided.
I usually run 2-3 tank of nitro through the lumar, I use 2500 Mah NMH rechargable AA batteries, and have a charging port wired up so never really pull the batteries out. when I get home and charge the batteies pack it take about 200-300 ma charge

you could also intall a "failsafe " which would cut trottle if the boat gets out of range or the battery level gets too low, I paid $29 for my fail safe but it is only installed in the 46" enforcer boat.