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-   -   Running in COld (https://www.rctech.net/forum/offroad-nitro-engine-forum/688585-running-cold.html)

Rtebbetts 12-28-2012 07:19 AM

I cant really build a kit car or do a full project because don't have enough Money. If anybody has a junk car that could still run with some fixing and cleaning up; who would sell it for under $100, It could be a nice winter project for me ;)

dooug1960 12-28-2012 07:25 AM


Originally Posted by Rtebbetts (Post 11603179)
I just got my first nitro on christmas. I am going to learn off it and run it some during the cold days this winter. Also, The engine will be replaced once it becomes springtime , so basically it will be a fresh start then. There is really nothing to rebuild as its 4 days old and Ive maintained it only by doing the after run procedures and what not. If i plop the receiver in a balloon, then put that in the reciever box, cover the edges it with electrical tape; will it be okay? Maybe over a couple of days or weeks I can pass some time by waterproofing it and replacing the stock plastic pipe with the traxxas 4485.

its not a good idea to run it in the wet then ive seen to many burnt up servos and receivers from people running in the street after it rained and they get water in them. sure you could try to water proof it but its still not a good idea to do. your better off waiting for better dryer days but its up to you. hope you dont fry it cause that can happen with just a tiny amount of water

Rtebbetts 12-28-2012 07:36 AM

Well today, the snow will probably be all melted. We're getting PM snow showers tommorow. After tommorow, the weather says that the entire next week and weekend will be nice and sunny with temps in the high 30s. I will wait until Monday and then start everything. Right now I'm working on my car tinkering with it and preparing it.

dooug1960 12-28-2012 08:29 AM

When I am done breaking in and ready to tune, can I reset me needles to factory settings and tune from there? Or do I just leave them alone and tune them from where they are now. The engine stalls sometimes, but I think that is because I accidentally let it completely run out of fuel. This probably made it run rich, so Just to clear everything, should I just reset it to factory settings?
__________________

if your letting it run out of fuel that would be running lean (a lot of air and little fuel) if it revs up right before it dies. if your having issues keeping it running then yeah go back to factory settings and start over never turning more than an hour at a time, try it for a minute and adjust again if needed till you get it running right.

Rtebbetts 12-28-2012 02:09 PM

I was running about 3 tanks today. I think I got my HSN perfectly tuned (it was about 35 degrees with a wind chill that brought it down to about 25 degrees) and had a sock with tinfoil over the cooling head. I didnt really tune to temps, Id do some high speed laps, lean it while it was rich from break in, repeat and I think I got a pretty good tune. Do you think I should mess with my low speed needle when its really cold out, or no. The car idles FAIRLY well, I adjusted my throttle trims to fix that. As long as I give it a couple of small bursts of throttle while idling, its perfect. When I checked temps, it was in the 100-150 range. But while doing after run maintenance, I took the glow plug out and took the temp of the chamber where the piston was and it said about 100 degrees. This was 10 or so minutes after I shut it off so It should have cooled. Maybe I was reading the temp of the glow plug wire, not the actual glow plug and engine while running it and checking it. I think once I get the low speed needle tuned fairly well, Ill be pretty good to go for the upcoming weeks with the same outside temps (28-40) without having to take a long time to retune it each day

hustler777 12-28-2012 04:17 PM

Does your idle drop or rise? If it rises, then richen the lsn 1/2 hour at a time until it stays nice and consistent.....if it drops, then lean the lsn 1/2 hour at a time until it stays consistant...also make sure your idle gap is set .5 to .7mm...makes no sense to set your lsn if your idle gap isn't gapped properly

Rtebbetts 12-28-2012 04:30 PM

Once I bring it in, it revs down and slowly dies down and shuts off after 5-10 seconds. So by leaning the LSN 1/2 turns at a time and retesting, will that fix the issue?

dooug1960 12-28-2012 06:32 PM


Originally Posted by Rtebbetts (Post 11604978)
Once I bring it in, it revs down and slowly dies down and shuts off after 5-10 seconds. So by leaning the LSN 1/2 turns at a time and retesting, will that fix the issue?

1/2 turn at a time is way to much 1 hour adjustments at a time and test it ive probably only moved my lsn 2 hours lean from factory. every engine is different but take smaller swings at it as far as the issue your having someone else will be better to answer that but always make small adjustments and test for a minute then see how it affected it and go from there. how far have you leaned the hsn if your turning that 1 a 1/2 turn at a time you may have leaned it to much start over.

Rtebbetts 12-28-2012 06:46 PM

I adjusted my HSN in 1/8 increments at a time. I read that by adjusting the LSN in 1/8 increments at a time also, that it will give you good tuning results. Also, can I tune the LSN by doing the pinch test only, or do I tune it just like the HSN (do a couple laps after making adjustments), then do the pinch test after that?

sschultz 12-28-2012 07:33 PM


Originally Posted by Rtebbetts (Post 11605410)
I adjusted my HSN in 1/8 increments at a time. I read that by adjusting the LSN in 1/8 increments at a time also, that it will give you good tuning results. Also, can I tune the LSN by doing the pinch test only, or do I tune it just like the HSN (do a couple laps after making adjustments), then do the pinch test after that?

Read and learn the "engine tuning bible" at the top of this forum. It has EVERY answer to your tuning questions...

dooug1960 12-28-2012 08:09 PM


Originally Posted by Rtebbetts (Post 11605410)
I adjusted my HSN in 1/8 increments at a time. I read that by adjusting the LSN in 1/8 increments at a time also, that it will give you good tuning results. Also, can I tune the LSN by doing the pinch test only, or do I tune it just like the HSN (do a couple laps after making adjustments), then do the pinch test after that?

you can do the pinch test to get close then very small adjustments from there just make sure you got good smoke you dont want to get it to lean for very long thats why small adjustments are better than large its very easy to go to far taking big swings at tuning it ive even seen others say 1/12 of a turn but thats when you get close. good luck

Rtebbetts 12-29-2012 06:16 AM

Ok. so pinch test, then when that seems pretty good, make a couple of tiny adjustments. Okay thank you

dooug1960 12-29-2012 07:25 AM


Originally Posted by Rtebbetts (Post 11606811)
Ok. so pinch test, then when that seems pretty good, make a couple of tiny adjustments. Okay thank you

i meant a 1/12 of an hour not 1/12 of a turn just so you know how small of adjustments to make. hardly even moving the screw

Rtebbetts 12-29-2012 11:44 AM

SO I preheated my engine today, slapped my sock over the cooling head, brought it out and got it PERFECTLY tuned. I only had to make about 2 adjustments to the LSN and did the pinch test. The RPM sped up a tiny bit then died within 4-5 seconds. SO that is good. Then I ran it through the street and through come grass and made many adjustments to the HSN until it seemed to not improve any. Richened it 1/8 and ran another 1/2 of a tank. After I tuned it and all, My temps read about 280. Lesson learned, no need for the sock anymore; just a couple of laps to heat it up and it can maintain the optimum temps. All-in-all I am having an extremely well start of tuning the engine and maintaining the car. ;)

dooug1960 12-29-2012 12:13 PM


Originally Posted by Rtebbetts (Post 11607785)
SO I preheated my engine today, slapped my sock over the cooling head, brought it out and got it PERFECTLY tuned. I only had to make about 2 adjustments to the LSN and did the pinch test. The RPM sped up a tiny bit then died within 4-5 seconds. SO that is good. Then I ran it through the street and through come grass and made many adjustments to the HSN until it seemed to not improve any. Richened it 1/8 and ran another 1/2 of a tank. After I tuned it and all, My temps read about 280. Lesson learned, no need for the sock anymore; just a couple of laps to heat it up and it can maintain the optimum temps. All-in-all I am having an extremely well start of tuning the engine and maintaining the car. ;)

well there you go now you should be set to just enjoy it for while now. small hsn adjustments as needed probably not needed every time you run it just when weather changes drastically and your good to go. just stay out of water best you can.


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