My engine stalls when I remove the glow plug
There are one of two possible problems:
1) The glowplug may be faulty and require replacement.
2) Your engine may be set too rich - try retuning the engine to it's base settings are as shown in the instruction manual.
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My nitro car stalls when I apply the brake
It sounds like your idle speed is set too low. Try turning the idle screw 1/2 turn clockwise and start the engine of your car with the wheels off the ground.
Next, apply the brakes and start turning the idle screw slowly anti-clockwise until the engine stall. Once you have reached this point, turn the idle screw 1/8 turn clockwise again.
When set correctly the car should sit at a standstill when the engine is idling. You may find that on a brand new car the idle has to be set slightly higher so that the car does not stall. This is acceptable provided the car is not moving quicker than walking pace. You should be able to reduce the idle speed after a few more tanks of fuel.
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What's the best way to stop a nitro engine ?
The best way of stopping the engine is to let it run out of fuel. The best way to stop the engine is to simply pinch the fuel line between the tank and the engine, until the engine stops. Or simply wait until the fuel tank is empty. Do not push the air filter as there is a danger of forcing dirt into the engine Do not block the exhaust pipe as this increases the pressure in the fuel tank and floods the engine.
How do I run in an engine properly?
Set the car on the floor and drive in a 20 foot (6m) circle applying throttle (below 1/2 throttle), and then coast the car. The idea is to use throttle, then coast letting the engine cool down. Give a little more throttle and then coast a little more. Continue this process for a total of two tanks.
How long does a tank of fuel last?
The runtime for a tank of fuel can vary depending on the conditions that the car is being used in, but it will typically be between 10 and 15 minutes per tank on most nitro cars. Don't forget that you can refuel with the engine still running so you can enjoy the car for longer periods without stopping!
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What is a failsafe?
A failsafe is a small electronic box that plugs into the throttle channel of your receiver, then your throttle/brake servo plugs into the fail safe. They are usually mounted into the radio box of a car.
A correctly set fail safe will return the throttle/brake servo on your car to a position that you have pre-set in the event of the transmitter or receiver batteries being flat, or the car being affected by interference. We advise that this position should be approximately 50% brakes so that the car is brought to a controlled stop.
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How long does battery charging take?
Battery charging can range from 15 minutes to almost 40 minutes. Most batteries that R/C newcomers buy will be charged in 15 to 20 minutes. Each battery has a "milliampere capacity", this is the number printed on the package (1400, 1500, 1700, 2000, 2400, 3000, etc.). The higher the number, the more power the battery holds and the longer it takes to charge the battery. Also, battery chargers can charge at different "amp rates", or power output, so a battery that can charge at 6 amps will charge a particular battery faster than a charger that is charging up that same battery at 4 amps.
What is the difference between nitro and petrol rc cars?
Petrol powered RC cars run on normal petrol mixed with 2-stroke oil.
These cars are usually large 1/5th scale models powered by an engine that is similar to a lawn mower engine but optimized for RC cars.
Nitro models run on special Model Nitro fuel and cannot be run on normal petrol. Model Nitro fuel is widely available in model shops.
Nitro powered cars are the most common kind of RC cars with a combustion engine.
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How do I calibrate my electronic speed controller?
The electronic speed controller (ESC) in most cases will have been calibrated before you receive it. There are ways to check this however if you are not sure. To begin switch on the handset first and then the car. Notice how the LED reacts as you use the handset so place the car on a stand or something which will allow the wheels to spin freely i.e. tin of paint.
Forward (pull the trigger towards you and wheels should spin forwards) - LED should shine as per the motor speed.
Brake (trigger in the neutral position, wheels should now be stationary) - LED blinks.
Reverse (push the trigger away from you and the wheels should spin in reverse) - LED shines solidly.
When the car is moving in a forward motion, it can not go into a reverse motion immediately. There is brake delay time so the handset will first need to go into neutral for 0.35 seconds before you begin reversing.
If you are not experiencing forward motion or reverse motion, or both, first check your trims. If this does not make any difference your car may not be calibrated, to begin make sure the handset and the car are switched on.
With the handset in neutral, press and hold the set-up button for 1 second until the LED blinks once/motor bleeps once. Neutral set-up is finished.
Pull the trigger towards you, press and hold the set-up button for 1 second until the LED blinks twice/motor beeps twice. Forward set-up is finished.
Push the trigger away from you, press and hold the set-up button for 1 second until the LED blinks three times/motor beeps three times. Reverse set-up is finished.
Your ESC is now calibrated.
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Should I buy a nitro car or an electric car?
This is one of the most important questions that most beginners over look. Nitro powered cars are a lot faster and required more driving skill to control. We think nitro radio controlled cars are a lot more fun and realistic but there is also more maintenance required because of the nitro engine. The user will need to be prepared to learn and understand the model and mechanics of basic hobby engines. If you have patience and are looking for a hobby instead of a toy we would recommend a nitro car.
Electric powered cars are much simpler and require less maintenance than nitro. The user simply charges the batteries and runs the car. Very little adjusting is needed. Recommended for beginners who just want to get the model out and use it straight away. We would recomend starting with an electric car and then moving onto a nitro car; however in most cases boys will be boys and buy the fastest nitro car :)
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What about maintenance?
After each run you should clean the dirt off of the bottom of each shock, where the shaft enters, using an old toothbrush is usually the best tool for the job. This will make the shock seals last a lot longer.
How clean you keep the car is up to you. If you keep the various suspension hinges clean they will last longer, but if you'd rather spend time driving than cleaning that's your decision. At some point the suspension will start squeaking and feeling sticky, and this will make the car handle worse, so it is best to spend at least a few minuts cleaning after each run.
Most nitro engines rely on the air travelling through the fins on the cylinder head to keep it cool; if there is alot of dirt build-up on the engine your motor will not cool sufficiently, so try and keep it as clean as possible.
You should also regularly clean or replace your air filter after 2 or 3 tanks of fuel and lube the filter with a good air filter oil. To clean the air filter, take the foam filter element out of the rubber boot and use fresh nitro fuel to rinse the dirt from the foam element. Use your fingers to work the dirt out of the foam. When all the dirt has been removed (this may take several rinses), squeeze out any Nitro fuel then apply a small amount of foam element air filter oil. Install the foam element in the rubber air filter boot, making sure that the foam is fully seated in the boot with no open spaces around it that air can leak through.
Every so often you should strip the car down, spray out the ball bearings with motor spray, clean everything else with soap and water, replace the parts that are badly worn, and put the car back together again. This will make the car work like new and probably save you alot of money in the long run.
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How long does a battery last?
The "runtime", or the length of time you can drive an electric car, will vary depending on the type of motor you use and the type of battery you use. Runtimes can vary from about 4 minutes to up to around 40 minutes! Typically, the faster and harder you drive your car, the less time your battery will last.
To make your battery last longer, be sure to discharge it completely before you charge it again. NiCad batteries have a memory that can be affected (negative affect) by not discharging fully before charging.
If you can select a charge rate, try a nice steady rate like 3.5 amps. The higher the charge rate, the higher the voltage and performance, but the more the lifespan is sacrificed.
Over-charging your battery can also have an impact on the lifespan.
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My engine is flooded, what should I do?
There are two methods of "un-flooding" the engine.
The first requires you to use an 8mm socket to take out the glow plug (don't lose the washer!) and turn the car upside down. Pull the starter cord slowly. If the engine is flooded, you will see several drops of fuel fall out of the engine. After pulling the cord a few more times and seeing no extra fuel come out, replace the glow plug and washer, then re-prime the engine properly and it should start right up.
The second method doesn't require any tools, but if the starter cord is locked up, you must not use this method! Close the needle valve (clockwise) all the way, open it (counter-clockwise) a few clicks or 1/8 of a turn, put the glow plug igniter on the glow plug, and pull the starter cord. Closing the needle valve cuts off the fuel flow from the tank, and when the engine starts up it will run for a second or two, then cut off. This burns up the fuel that was in the engine. Now you can set the needle valve where it was previously, and re-prime and start the engine.
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How much smoke should my car make?
When the car is idling, a small amount of smoke should be coming from the muffler or tuned pipe. At full throttle, there should be a large amount of blue-white smoke coming from the muffler or tuned pipe. If you put your hand about 6 inches (15cm) from the opening of the muffler or pipe for a few seconds while the engine is running at full throttle, you should have a light coating of oil on your hand.
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