HEEELLLPPP!! I just bought a losi 810 and everything seems fine except for the pull start. without the glow plug the thing works fine, but when i put the glow plug in, the pull start is very difficult to pull. it works the first pull but the second pull it gets stuck and only goes about half way. the string goes back in just fine, but it always is very difficult to pull. The engine isnt flooded because i already fixed that. is the car just new, or is something wrong?

The piston is getting stuck at top dead center (TDC). Very common occurrence with a brand new engine, especially if it is cold and is the first start of the day. Turn the flywheel with your finger until it just gets past that point of resistance and try to start it again.

If you want to make life even easier, buy an engine heater or heat gun and preheat the engine first before starting. In a pinch you can even use a hairdryer, though be careful not to melt things.

I am new to nitro and ive heard of TDC, but where is the flywheel and how do i adjust it? I dont really want to take it apart, because im not skilled with stuff like that

Oh boy you're in for a fun ride then. Part of the hobby is becoming familiar with your kit and knowing how to work on it. It can be frustrating at first, but trust me, it comes with time. The forums can be really useful for info as well.

The flywheel is the black metal wheel that's attached to the front of the engine. Spin the bottom edge of the flywheel towards the left side of the car (this would be counter-clockwise if you are facing the front of the engine) until you feel it get past that tight point of resistance. From that point, try to start your engine again. There's an opening on the bottom of the chassis where you will be able to see the flywheel. Remember, it's the black metal toothless wheel, not the plastic toothed gear. The toothed gear is the spur gear.

On another note, when you finish with your car for the day, do not let the engine cool with your piston at TDC. You want it at bottom dead center (BDC). You can roughly find that point by doing the exact same thing with the flywheel as I mentioned above. Be careful though, the flywheel will be hot.

when i look at the bottom of the car, i see 2 gears. one is smaller and longer and one is bigger. both have teeth. which one is the flywheel?

how do you know when your piston is at BDC?

The one that is actually attached to the engine. It's also metal and would only have very very short teeth. In fact, it's more ridges than actual teeth.

The spur gear is plastic, should have longer teeth, and it's attached to the center differential instead of the engine.

I HIGHLY suggest getting very familiar with the parts explosion sheet in your manual.

first thing u need to do is open the manual of ur truck before u even start it and READ IT !!!!!!!!! get formiliar with all the parts , then when ur ready to start it take a hairdryer or heat gun and heat the head of the motor up for about 10 mins get it nice and hot , the reason ur having a hard time pulling the pullstart because the truck is brand new and the motor has alot of pinch , so after heating it for a good 10 mins then u will be able to pull it easier and u can get it to start make sure u prime the motor first with fuel then put ur glow ignitor on and make sure ur radio iand the car IS ON and everything works fine then start it and break it in , as u go through the break in tanks it will become easier to pull ........goodluck

Flywheel is the round ridged/knurled item on the right side of the picture.

After heating the engine, try loosening the glow plug a bit. After the engine starts, tighten the glow plug.

people are telling me to "heat the engine" with a blow dryer. how exactly do i do this, and where do i heat the engine?

You direct heat onto the engine head, the big orange finned metal part on the top of the engine. You can use a blow dryer, heat gun, or these engine heaters are becoming popular as well http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...ine-Heater-12V (there's an AC version as well). Either way you do it, the theory is to saturate the engine with heat, letting all the internals heat up too, allowing the engine to start up easier. It also prolongs the life of your engine internals. The most damaging moment to a nitro engine is during a cold start up.

anything else i can do to help me start up my new engine for the first time?

Make sure the engine is primed up with fuel before clipping on the glowplug igniter and trying to start the engine. Do this by sticking your thumb over the exhaust pipe and giving the pull start a few pulls. You should see fuel start to move through the fuel line towards the carb. When you see the fuel reach the carb nipple, give the pull start a few more pulls to fill up the crankcase with fuel, maybe about 4 pulls should do it. This will put you in the ballpark for starting up your engine pretty quickly. If you don't do this, then it will take longer from the time you clip on your glowplug igniter to when your engine actually starts running. The longer you have your glowplug igniter clipped on, the more quickly you'll wear out a glowplug. At least, that's what I have been taught by my betters.

also does anyone know what type of glowplug to use i have a losi 3.4 engine and live in pennsylvania currently i am using a mccoy mc-59 hot glowplug, is this correct?

people have also told me that putting a few drops of fuel directly into the carb helps. should i try this, or is this bad for the engine?