Engine Tuning 101

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=100 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="733" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP ROWSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 37 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="http://www.rcjon.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.rcjon.com"><U><IMG SRC="370fa3c0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP ROWSPAN=2><NOBR> <script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> </tR> </TABLE></div> <style></style> <div> <A HREF="http://www.rcjon.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.rcjon.com"><U>Home</U></A>  |  <A HREF="http://www.xautos.net/rcjon/pics/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.xautos.net/rcjon/pics/"><U>Pictures</U></A>  |  <A HREF="http://www.xautos.net/rcjon/articles/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.xautos.net/rcjon/articles/"><U>Articles</U></A>  |  <A HREF="http://www.xautos.net/rcjon/rcbodies.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.xautos.net/rcjon/rcbodies.htm"><U>RC Bodies</U></A>  |  <A HREF="http://www.xautos.net/rcjon/downloads/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.xautos.net/rcjon/downloads/"><U>Downloads</U></A>  |  <A HREF="http://www.xautos.net/rcjon/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.xautos.net/rcjon/"><U>Links</U></A>  |  <A HREF="mailto:jon@xautos.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:jon@xautos.net"><U>Contact</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=290 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <style></style> <div> <IMG SRC="3d763680.jpg" border=0 width="99" height="104" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="5">Nitro has definitely grown.  Its fast and has great run times.  Plus you don't have to wait for batteries to charge.  The bad side is they aren't as easy as flip a switch and go though.  Here's what you need to know about making your engine run right.</div> <bR> <div> <I><U>Here are some tips on getting your engine to run right:</U></I></div> <div> <I><B>- </B></I>Make sure you have Fuel, fuel goes bad fast if stored wrong.  Use the right percentage usually 10-20% and good brand fuels:  Trinity, duratrax, Traxxas, and some others.   </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>- </B></I>Make sure you air filter isn't clogged.  If it is you wont be able to get your engine to start even.  </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>- </B></I>Get a good quality glow plug that's the right length.   Get a medium heat one for most, your manual usually tells you what one to use.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Anyway lets get to the real tuning stuff.  The needles, the small things that are screws.  There are usually 1,2,3.  If you only have one its like a cheapo engine, this can be good though, because it makes tuning a whole lot easier.  The three are usually High End, Low end and idle.  <IMG SRC="3d899650.jpg" border=0 width="153" height="101" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Low and and High end and low end are most important.  You mostly just have to adjust the high end though.  So we will talk about that first.</div> <bR> <div> <I><U>HIGH END -</U></I> If its cold outside you need to lean it out.  If its hot out richen it!  If its to Hot it will destroy your engine.  Look at your manual to see what temp's it says.  Get a temp gauge, this can help, but you really should just run your engine where it works best.  Usually 2 1/2 out (meaning turn it right all the way in, and then turn it to the left 2 1/2 turns out, NEVER over tighten when twisting it in).   If that's too hot and your burning up glow plugs or its steaming Immediately turn your engine off.  And let it cool, turn the high end needle out even more (richen it)  to cool it.  Engines need fuel!  They like fuel but not to much fuel.  They don't like too much air or fuel.  Really the best thing to do for the high end is start from 2 1/2 turns out and work from there.</div> <bR> <div> <I><U>LOW END -</U></I> Next comes the low end needle:  This is best to be set flush with the carburetor thing.  You really never need to change thus unless your engine idles bad and stalls.  If it stall turn it to the right(leaner) and if that doesn't work turn it out (left, richer).  </div> <bR> <div> <I><U>IDLE SCREW -</U></I>  Some engines don't have this.  Its not really that important,  its a lot like the low end needle.  It adjusts the rpm of then engine at idle.   Look at the low end for more info.   Same kinda thing. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="3d6754e0.jpg" border=0 width="117" height="78" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0">If you look other places you get the same info almost.  I really don't have any great advice that no one else will give you.  These are just the basic.  Make sure you look at your manual and see what they have to say.  They also tell you how to break it in.  Break it in and run it according to the manufacture of your engine. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>   <table border=4><tr><td> <applet CODEBASE="http://www3.counter.bloke.com/c/" CODE="Counter.class" WIDTH=75 HEIGHT=20> <param name=URL value="http://www.rcjon.com/rcs/engine_tuning.htm"> <param name=reset value="0"> <param name=img value="/c/default.gif"> </applet></td></tr></table> <font face=arial size=1>Powered by <a TARGET="_top" href=http://counter.bloke.com/>counter.bloke.com</a></font><br>   </div> <div>   </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <center><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>