[CeeKay]

Brought her home yesterday, got everything sanitary and squared away... the lhs owner said to warm the block to around 125-200 with a hair dryer or heat gun, so I did that. Fueled it up and started pulling. 3 hours and a few carb adjustments later, and all I've got to show for it is the blisters between my fingers.

What the heck am I doing wrong!? Glow plugs get hot, fuel is going in, air filter is lightly oiled, etc. I've turned on the low-speed needle slightly, high speed needle, and idle screw, to zero effect... However, I did manage to get it turned over once; it ran for a good solid minute, then inexplicably died with no hope of restarting (cranked the hell out of it, not even a sputter)....

This sucks... I sure hope I didn't just buy a 300-some-dollar paperweight...


Thanks
- CK

[Killerush]

You really should not have to mess with the needles first, but sometimes they may be a little rich on the high speed needle. would start by setting the carb back to factory settings. You may need to adjust the trim on the throttle servo to get a little more fuel and air to the engine during break in. Good luck!

[CeeKay]

I didn't mess with anything until after a good 10 minutes of tugging... Throttle trim I played with; seems I have some slack to fix; almost all the way 'on' is where the throttle servo hits the little silver stopper on the linkage. Also, I had to pull the front end off and tighten the servo horn screw... Somebody at HPI forgot to tighten the horn screw all the way, resulting in the horn wanting to slide forward off the post...

I did get it to fire today, and I putted around the driveway at 2mph as per break-in instructions. It still wants to stall, but it seems to really want to run today. If it kills, I can usually get a little noise (about 1-3 seconds of running) out of it while tugging with glow plug on... It's far too nice a day to be sitting in the garage tinkering with a temperamental 2-stroke pseudo-diesel.... Wanna get it out on the track!!!

Also, the top-end got lost once... Last run down the driveway I'd give it a little nuts (about 3/4 throttle), and it wound up and screamed pretty decent, then outta nowhere turned to this really sickly bogging-out sound, then died. I stuck the glow igniter back on, gave it a few tugs and it started doing that 1-3 sec run thing, then came to life, and I gave it some nuts and it did fine. Absolutely fine!

Dunno what it was, but it sorta scared me... Last thing I need is a blow'd-up engine, even though HPI does a recycling program...


Thanks much!
- CK

P.s. Will the Losi 454 fit in this thing? (with or without modification; fab/mod is easy, engine work is tough)

P.p.s. If you can't tell, this is my first step onto the play field of Nitro RC.... I don't hate it, but electric seems a hell of a lot easier.

[Killerush]

You can make a big block fit in just about anything, the problem will be drivetrain reliability. If you plan to go for more power, step up to a good small block. The TRX 3.3 will drop right in but you will have to modify the servo to run a slide carb but the power gain would be pretty significant. You could also run a Jato header and pipe to make installation easier.

There really is no need to preheat the block unless it's cold out or the pullstarter is very hard to pull. Pre heating is only for new engines to save you from damaging the sleeve during break-in.

[CeeKay]

dunno if I'd need the 454 just yet... It started growling on the first few %#@@in' pulls today! Like a new engine or something...

Still needs fine-tuning, and slipper-loosening.. Good truck today, it seems... Though yesterday it was sorta colder, rainier, etc...

Had some fun today, even took it to the track! So, if ever any of you get a Firestorm, remember to check if Mercury is in retrograde before trying to start it I guess...

p.s. durable as hell, though I see I'll need a battery pack and not a battery clippy-tray deal, after a hit to said region...

Originally Posted by Lille Buller

Im new to nitro but, whats the point in preheating the engine?
Shouldnt it be enough to use the glow plug heater?

Apparently, it's to expand the engine to normal running temps before introducing the combustion of nitromethane to the inside of it...

also unrelated: What's the best way to clean nitro chasses? I see a ton of dusty schmoots all over in the glow plug region; with it being fine sand-dust, I wanna get it outta there before it gets in further. Also also, does nitro fuel contain silicone? body shop, etc...

[Lille Buller]

Im new to nitro but, whats the point in preheating the engine?
Shouldnt it be enough to use the glow plug heater?

[Lille Buller]

Right then!
Makes sence..