Volantex Tumbler User manual

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Owners Manual
Length:
260mm
Width:
100mm
Motor:
370A brushed motor
ESC:
Advanced micro Receiver & ESC 2 in 1
Radio:
2.4GHz advanced radio control system.
Specifications
Tumbler — Auto roll from upside down

!
Safety Precautions!
!
As the user of this product, you are solely responsible for operating in a manner that does not
endanger yourself and others or result in damage to the product or the property of others.!
!
•Never attempt to swim after a stalled RC boat. !
•Never operate your RC boat while standing in the water. !
•Never operate your RC boat in the presence of swimmers. !
•NOTE: Because of the sharp running hardware included with this RC boat,!
•We do not recommend a rubber blow up raft. !
•RC boat running hardware is very sharp. Be very careful when working on "
and around the metal parts. !
•While the motor is running pay close attention to the propeller. Do not "
come in contact with the propeller at any time the engine is running or "
serious injury will result. !
•Always keep a safe distance in all directions around your model to avoid "
collisions or injury. This model is controlled by a radio signal subject to interference from many
sources outside your control. Interference can cause momentary loss of control. !
•Always avoid water exposure to all equipment not specifically designed and protected for this
purpose. Moisture causes damage to unprotected electronics !
•Always keep all chemicals, small parts and anything electrical out of the reach of children. !
•Never place any portion of the model in your mouth as it could cause serious injury or even
death. !
WARNING
Read the ENTIRE instruction manual to become familiar with the features of the product
before operating. Failure to operate the product correctly can result in damage to the
product, personal property and cause serious injury. !
!
This is a sophisticated hobby product and NOT a toy. It must be operated with caution and
common sense and requires some basic mechanical ability. Failure to operate this Product
in a safe and responsible manner could result in injury or damage to the product or other
property. This product is not intended for use by children without direct adult supervision.
Do not attempt to disassemble, use with incompatible components or augment product in
any way without the approval of VolantexRC Co., Ltd.. This manual contains instructions for
safety, operation and maintenance. It is essential to read and follow all the instructions and
warnings in the manual, prior to assembly, setup or use, in order to operate correctly and
avoid damage or serious injury.
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Age Recommendation:!
Not for children under 14 years. This is not a toy.!

Battery Safety Precautions!
!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries are significantly more volatile than the
alkaline, NiCd and NiMH batteries also used in RC applications. All instructions and warnings must
be followed exactly to prevent property damage and/ or personal injury as mishandling of LiPo
batteries can result in fire. By handling, charging or using the included LiPo battery you assume all
risks associated with LiPo batteries. If you do not agree with these conditions, please return your
complete product in new, unused condition to the place of purchase immediately. You must read
the following safety instructions and warnings before handling, charging or using the LiPo battery.!
!
•You must charge the LiPo battery in a safe area away from flammable materials.!
•Never charge the LiPo battery unattended at any time. When charging the battery you should
always remain in constant observation to monitor the charging process and react immediately to
any potential problems that may occur.!
•After discharging the battery you must allow it to cool to ambient / room temperature before
recharging. Also, it is NOT necessary or recommended to discharge the battery ‘completely’
before charging ( LiPo batteries have no ‘memory’ and it’s safe to charge partially discharged
batteries when using an appropriate charger and settings).!
•To charge the battery you must use only the stock included Charger or a suitably compatible LiPo
battery charger. Failure to do so may result in a fire causing property damage and/ or personal
injury. DO NOT use a NiCd or NiMH charger to charge Li-Po battery.!
•If at any time during the charge or discharge process the battery begins to balloon or swell,
discontinue charging or discharging immediately. Quickly and safely disconnect the battery then
place it in a safe , open area away from flammable materials to observe it for at least 15 minutes.
Continuing to charge or discharge a battery that has begun to balloon or swell can result in a fire.
A battery that has ballooned or swollen even a small amount must be removed from service
completely.!
•Never discharge a Li-Po battery below 3V per cell.!
•Always disconnect a battery from the ESC when not in use.!
•Avoid continually operating to LVC ( Low Volt Cutoff), as this could result in damage to the
battery.!
•Store the battery partially charged (approximately 50% charged/3.85V per cell), at room
temperature (approximately 68–77° Fahrenheit [F] ) and in a dry area for best results.!
•When transporting or temporarily storing the battery, the temperature range should be from
approximately 40–100°F. Do not store the battery or model in a hot storage car or direct sunlight
whenever possible. If stored in a hot garage or car the battery can be damaged or even catch
fire.!
•Do not over-discharge the LiPo flight battery. Discharging the LiPo flight battery to a voltage that
is too low can cause damage to the battery resulting in reduced power, flight duration or failure of
the battery entirely.!
•LiPo cells should not be discharged to below 3.0V each under load. In the case of the 2-Cell/ 2S
7.4V LiPo battery used to power the plane you will not want to allow the battery to fall below 6.0V
during flight.!
The included ESC features a ‘soft’ low voltage cutoff ( LVC ) that smoothly reduces power to the
motor (regardless of the power level you have set with the throttle stick) to let you know the voltage
of the battery is close to the 6.0V minimum.!
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However, even before this reduction in power , if you find that more than the typical amount of
throttle/ power is required to power up, you should return the model and disconnect the battery
immediately to prevent over-discharge. And while it is possible to continue running the model after
the soft LVC occurs, this is NOT recommended. Continued discharging can result in reaching the
5.0V ‘hard’ LVC which may cause permanent damage to the LiPo battery resulting in reduced
power and running duration during subsequent running ( or failure of the battery entirely which is
not covered under warranty).!
!
Also, it is not recommended that you run to the soft LVC every time you run. Instead you should be
aware of the power level of the battery through out, and if at any time the model begins to require
more throttle/ power than typical to maintain speed you should let the model return back and
disconnect the LiPo battery immediately. Constantly discharging the battery to the soft LVC can still
cause permanent damage to the battery so it’s best to use a timer or stop-watch to time the
duration of your running and to stop at a reasonable time before the soft LVC is reached.!
It can sometimes take a few hours or even up to a few days to over-discharge the battery this way
but doing so will likely cause permanent damage to or failure of the battery entirely (which is not
covered under warranty).!
!
IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT STORE THE LIPO FLIGHT BATTERY FULLY CHARGED. !
!
For improved safety and longevity of the LiPo battery it’s best to store it only partially charged for
any length of time. Storing the LiPo battery at approximately 50% charged (which is approximately
3.85V per cell) is typically best, however it will take some careful management of the charge time
and the use of a voltmeter to achieve this voltage. !
!
If you have the equipment and skills to achieve the 50% charge level for storage it is
recommended. If not, simply be sure to not store the battery fully charged whenever possible. In
fact, as long as the battery will be stored at approximately room temperature and for no more than
a few weeks before the next use, it may be best to store the battery in the discharged state after
the last use (as long as the battery was not over-discharged on the last use).!
!
Boat Battery pack Installation!
!
1. Rotate the hatch on the hull cover in clockwise to unlock the hatch. !
2. Open the hull cover.!
3. Adhere loop tape (included) to the battery.!
4. Secure the boat battery on the hook strip in the boat.!
5. Secure the battery in the hull with the hook and loop strap as shown.!
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IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT LEAVE THE LIPO BATTERY CONNECTED TO THE ESC UNLESS
YOU ARE READY TO RUN. IF THE BATTERY IS LEFT CONNECTED TO THE ESC WHEN IT IS
NOT IN USE THE LIPO BATTERY WILL BE OVER-DISCHARGED BY THE SMALL AMOUNT OF
CURRENT THE ESC CONSUMES.!

Getting Started!
!
1. Power on the transmitter. (Before open the
transmitter, pls make sure the Throttle Stick is on
the bottom position.)!
2. Connect the battery. (Use the VELCRO insert the
boat to stick the Battery, and make sure it will not
move by itself.)!
3. Test the transmitter’s control of the boat with the
boat on the display stand. (Make sure the
propeller running counterclockwise while you
face the stern)!
4. After launching the boat in the water, start driving
slowly. If the boat does not go straight, adjust the
trimer on the transmitter to run it straight.!
!
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Checking the Radio System!
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1. Turn the transmitter throttle and rudder trim to the middle position.!
2. Power on the transmitter.!
3. Connect a fully charged battery to the ESC.!
4. Ensure the rudder moves in the proper direction when the controller is moved left or right.!
5. Pull the throttle to full, then return the throttle to neutral, ensuring the propeller turns
counterclockwise. The ESC auto-sensing voltage cutoff will engage when the ESC detects a
low battery charge. Release the throttle and recharge the battery when necessary.!
!
Testing Your Boat in the Water!
!
1. Carefully place the boat in the water.!
2. Operate the boat at slow speeds near the shoreline. Avoid objects in the water at all times.!
3. Once you are comfortable operating the boat at slow speeds, it is safe to operate the boat
farther from the shore. !
!
Tip: If you are using too much steering trim on your transmitter to make the boat drive straight,
return the trim to neutral and mechanically center the rudder. To do this, loosen the ball link
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CAUTION: Always keep all body parts, hair and dangling or loose items away from a
spinning propeller, as these could become entangled.!
!
NOTICE: Always power on the transmitter before powering on the ESC. Always power
off the ESC before powering off the transmitter. Never transport the boat with the battery
connected to the ESC.

from the rudder horn, then turn the ball link on the linkage threads until the rudder is properly
centered.!
!
4. Bring the boat back to shore when you notice the boat starting to lose speed.!
5. Power off the ESC and disconnect the battery packs.!
6. Allow the motor, ESC and battery packs to cool before charging the batteries or operating the
boat again.!
!
Boating Tips!
!
Avoid boating near other watercraft, stationary objects, waves, wakes and other rapidly moving
water, wildlife, floating debris or overhanging trees. You should also be careful to avoid boating in
areas where there are many people, such as swimming areas, park waterways or fishing areas.
Consult local laws and ordinances before choosing a location to pilot your boat. !
!
Maximum speeds are only achieved when the water conditions are smooth and there is little wind.
A sharp turn, wind or waves can turn over a boat when it is moving quickly. Always pilot your boat
for the wind and water conditions so that the boat does not turn over. !
!
When running your boat for the first time, we recommend calm wind and water conditions so that
you can learn how the boat responds to your control. !
When making turns, decrease the throttle position in order to decrease speed and probability of
flipping the boat over.!
!
Never operate your boat in less than 3 inches (8 cm) of water.!
!
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!
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NOTICE: When running at full speed in choppy waters, the prop may exit and re-enter
the water repeatedly and very quickly, subjecting the propeller to some stress. Frequent
stress may damage the propeller.!
!
CAUTION: Do not operate this product in vinyl- covered or inflatable pools. Sharp
components may cause damage to these materials.!
!
CAUTION: Never retrieve your boat from the water in extreme temperatures, turbulence
or without supervision.!
NOTICE: DO NOT TURN OFF THE TRANSMITTER FIRST OR THE RECEIVER MAY PICK UP
STRAY SIGNALS AND RUN OUT OF CONTROL.

Motor Care!
!
•Prolong motor life by preventing overheating conditions. Undue motor wear results from frequent
turns, stops and starts, pushing objects, boating in rough water or vegetation and boating
continuously at high speed.!
•Over-temperature protection is installed on the ESC to prevent circuit damage, but cannot protect
the motor from pushing against heavy resistance.!
!
!
When you Finish!
!
1. Power off the ESC. !
2. Disconnect the battery.!
3. Power off the transmitter. !
4. Remove the battery from the boat.!
!
Tip: Always store the boat open (without the hatch and inner liner sealed) or moisture may allow
mold and mildew to grow in the boat.!
!
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Maintenance!
!
Always replace the shaft when it is damaged or shows visible wear or injury and property damage
may result. !
!
Lubricating the shaft is vital to the life of the drivetrain.
The lubricant also acts as a water seal, keeping water
from entering the hull through the stuffing box.!
!
Lubricate the shaft, propeller shaft and all moving parts
after every 2–3 hours of operation. Always replace any
parts that show visible wear or damage.!
!
1. Loosen the coupling between the motor and the
shaft.!
2. Loosen the setscrew from the shaft and remove
the shaft from the back of the boat.!
!
Tip: Use paper or cloth to touch the shaft.!
!
3. Remove the drive shaft by sliding it out of the
stuffing box. Wipe lubricant and material from the
shaft. Lubricate the full length of !
the shaft assembly up to the drive !
dog using marine grease.!
!
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4. Apply thread lock to the coupling setscrew. Thread lock will help prevent the shaft from
loosening during use.!
5. Carefully reinstall the drive shaft, ensuring that there is a 1–2mm gap between the prop strut
and the drive dog to allow for shaft shrinkage under load.!
!
Check Lists!
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Before Boating!
!
•Install fully charged batteries in your boat and transmitter!
•Connect the boat’s battery to the ESC!
•Make sure the boat is bound to the transmitter (otherwise, bind the boat to the transmitter
using the included binding instructions)!
•Make sure all linkages move freely on the boat!
•Ensure the motor mount is secured to the hull so that the motor does not move!
•Perform a Control Direction Test with the transmitter!
•Adjust the steering rate on your transmitter as desired!
•Find a safe and open boating area!
•Plan a safe boating route for the water and wind conditions!
!
After Boating!
!
•Always power off the receiver before powering off the transmitter to maintain control of the
boat and to retain transmitter binding!
•Disconnect the battery from the receiver and remove the batteries from the boat!
•Fully dry the inside and outside of the boat, including the water cooling lines and jackets
around the motor and ESC. Remove the hatch and radio box cover before storing your boat!
•Repair any damage or wear to the boat.!
•Lubricate the flex shaft!
•Make note of lessons learned from the trimming of your boat, including water and wind
conditions!
!
Tip: The hook and loop strips in the boat retain water. To dry them, press on them with a dry
cloth.!
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NOTICE: Running the boat in salt water could cause some parts to corrode. If you run
the boat in salt water, rinse it thoroughly in fresh water after each use and lubricate the
drive system.!
!
NOTICE: Because of its corrosive effects, running RC boats in saltwater is at the
discretion of the modeler.!

Troubleshooting Guide!
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Problem
Possible Cause!
Solution
Boat does not
respond!
to throttle but
responds!
to other controls
Throttle servo travel is lower than
100%
Make sure throttle dual rate is turned
up to 10
Throttle channel is reversed
Reverse throttle channel on
transmitter
Extra noise or extra!
vibration
Damaged propeller, shaft or
motor
Replace damaged parts
Propeller is out of balance
Balance or replace propeller
Reduced run time or!
boat underpowered
Boat battery charge is low
Completely recharge battery
Boat battery is damaged
Replace boat battery and follow!
battery instructions
Blocking or friction on shaft or
propeller
Disassemble, lubricate and correctly
align parts
Boat conditions may be too cold
Make sure battery is warm before
use
Battery capacity may be too low!
for conditions
Replace battery or use a larger
capacity battery
Drive dog is too close to the
stuffing tube
Loosen coupling at driveshaft and
move out driveshaft a small amount
Too little lubrication on driveshaft
Fully lubricate driveshaft
Vegetation or other obstacles
block the rudder or propeller
Remove boat from the water and
obstacles
Problem
Possible Cause!
Solution
Boat will not Bind!
(during binding) to!
transmitter
Transmitter is too near boat
during binding process
Move powered transmitter a few feet
from boat, disconnect and reconnect
battery to boat
Boat or transmitter is too close to
large metal object, wireless
source or another transmitter
Move boat and transmitter to another
location and attempt binding again
Boat battery/Transmitter battery
charge is too low
Replace / recharge batteries
Another compatible transmitter is
powered on within range of the
ESC
Turn off all compatible transmitters
except the one you are trying to bind
ESC switch is off
Power on ESC switch
Boat will not connect
Transmitter is too near boat
during connecting process
Move powered transmitter a few feet
from boat, disconnect and reconnect
battery to boat
Problem
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Boat will not connect
(after binding) to
transmitter!
Boat or transmitter is too close to
large metal object, wireless
source or another transmitter
Move boat and transmitter to another
location and attempt connecting
again
Boat battery/transmitter battery
charge is too low
Replace/recharge batteries
ESC switch is off
Power on ESC switch
Boat tends to dive in
the water or takes on
water!
The boat hull is not completely
closed
Dry out the boat and ensure the
hatch is fully closed on the hull
before returning the boat to the water
Center of gravity is too far
forward
Move battery back in the hull
Boat tends to turn
one direction
Rudder or rudder trim is not
centered
Repair rudder or adjust rudder and
rudder trim for straight running when
control is at neutral
Boat tends to turn
one direction
Rudder, linkage or servo damage
Replace or repair damaged parts and
adjust controls
Rudder does not
move!
Rudder, linkage or servo damage
Replace or repair damaged parts and
adjust controls
Wire is damaged or connections
are loose
Do a check of wires and connections,
connect or replace as needed
Transmitter is not bound correctly
Re-bind receiver to the transmitter
BEC (Battery Elimination Circuit)
of the ESC is damaged
Replace ESC
ESC switch is off
Power on ESC switch
Controls reversed
Transmitter settings are reversed
Do the Control Direction Test and
adjust controls on transmitter
appropriately
Motor overheats
Blocked water cooler tubes
Clean or replace water tubes
Motor power pulses
then motor loses
power
ESC uses default soft Low
Voltage Cut- off (LVC)
Recharge boat battery or replace
battery that is no longer performing
Weather conditions might be too
cold
Postpone until weather is warmer
Battery is old, worn out or
damaged
Replace battery
Battery C rating might be too
small
Use recommended battery
Possible Cause!
Solution
Problem
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© 2013 VolantexRC Co., Ltd.!
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TUMBLER - Auto-roll pool racer