Let me prelude this condition by saying, i took my Slayer Pro mudding, in some stuff that truck had no business being in. I ended up covering the entire thing in mud and after finally taking the body off the air filter was half covered in mud.

For the next week or so (I only ran it twice and I had cleaned the filter) it ran like it was super rich on the low end and had a high idle, I had to clear out the carb after as little as 2-3 seconds on idle. On the top end it ran well, just took a second or two to get there, it was sluggish.

So about a week after that i had decided I was going to lean it out on the low end, and maybe adjust the idle. I started leaning it out and it did not change the condition. I kept playing with the screw and nothing was changing about the way it ran. Until it started to to die, and when it did I would restart it and continue, until it wouldn't start. I decided enough was enough, and packed it up.

A few days later i went back to trying to start it with my buddy who has about 4 years nitro experience, we cleaned out the entire carb. pulled everything apart cleaning it with WD-40. Still nothing.

Another couple days later, we went back at it. this time I just started tearing the motor apart, thinking I had an air leak in the crank bearings. I tore the whole engine apart, everything went well until the carb, it was stuck so, with a little force we got it out to find that a little mud had gotten in there. It had scored the bore and the O-rings looked a little messy. I replaced those, cleaned it as well as I could. Slapped everything together, oh and on a side note, the outer bearing spun okay, it had a little play but I couldn't find a shop with the parts so I threw it back in there. Greased the crab bore, and put everything back.

I went to start it and still nothing. I only have a half gallon threw this engine, and I know I can get the block, and the carb for less than $15 a piece on dollarhobbyz.com. I have glow, I tested the plug, and it gets red hot (and yes, it is a new one, it was the first thing I did) I can richen it up and feel fuel coming out the pipe. I am at a loss, I don't know what to do. I want to try and get this running again. Thank you for reading all this and for any input!

Are you sure your air filter element is clean? Will it start without air cleaner? Your front bearing should not have any play. It will not seal with excessive play and will suck air. Does it still have compression?

I have two filter elements, and replaced the dirty one with the clean immediately the bearing has some play in it, but would that be enough for the no start? Also, I am thinking the carb bore/carb isn't sealing properly. I am thinking of ordering a new block and carb, just to erase the mistake, would it be worth it? I can get the block with bearings for $12.82 and the carb for $22.79. Would you suggest I do that for the price? I am comfortable taking the engine apart again.

Oh and yes I do still have compression, I can hear it hissing if I keep compression in the cylinder. Maybe out of the bearing, or the bore.

there must be another reason its not starting. i wouldnt order a new block and carb yet. id keep trying to start that one. its getting fuel got compression as long as there is a glo at the plug it should start. even if the bearing was leaking it should start. your missing something somewhere cause these arent that hard to get running.

You stated ----

"I tore the whole engine apart, everything went well until the carb, it was stuck so, with a little force we got it out to find that a little mud had gotten in there. It had scored the bore and the O-rings looked a little messy."

If the crankshaft is scored from mud entering, that's not good. Maybe it was enough mud to toast the piston/sleeve.

I know, I feel the same way, I am just frustrated with it and almost to to point where I start throwing money at it. I tested the glow plug, I took it out plugged it into the east start and grounded it on the head and it got red hot in no time. I know there is fuel because I can feel it coming out of the pipe, and its got compression. I am at a loss for what to do next.

These engines are disposable garbage, they are made from recycled old trx engines. They share the same internals as the 2.5 including the rod. If you were running piggy rich as you mentioned, pull the piston and look for rod slop at the wrist pin.

I get it, I didn't buy the truck to race though, i want something that SHOULD be reliable, so I can have fun with my first truck. Whether recycled or not, I don't believe that the lifespan is a half of a gallon. I took the entire thing apart, the only thing that didn't come out was the inner crank bearing. I checked everything out and it's all good. I have glow, fuel and compression. I know there are so many better engines out there but this truck only came with the 3.3 rtr. I am just trying to figure out why I cannot even get a kick out of this thing.

I hate to say it but in order for you to have a good experience in the rc hobby, I would ditch the TRX 3.3 and drop in the OS .18TM. It is a direct drop in and a much much better quality engine as far as tuning and everything goes. You will be frustrated and just be throwing money away if you buy more parts for an engine that sucked in dirt like that. I know it is not the best thing or the cheapest, but I would roll with the OS and just whale on it!!!!! I do nothing but race, but I have had me share of Traxxas vehicles over the years in the past so I know what you are going through!!!!!

Ok, how are you trying to start it? Are you using the starting system that comes on it or a glo ignitor? Make sure you use a glo ignitor as the starting system on the Traxxas are not the best.....

Second thing, did not see you mention it but have you put a brand new plug in?

Firstly, if I go for a swap, I am leaning towards a Picco .28. I just wanna go fast. lol

Secondly, yes, it was one of my first moves. I did the plug, I took everything apart, the outer crank bearing has a little play, but I figured it would run if it wanted to even with a bearing that wasn't perfect. I can't even get it to sound like it wants to fire. I did a one way bearing already. I am definitely getting glow and fuel, and the motor is spinning, so where am I going wrong?

Good point! Have an external glow igniter as a back up always.... My experience with the traxxes starting system has flaws, always have a glow igniter on hand.... I have help several guys with that start system and every time have used my own glow igniter to get it running.

I tried it and couldn't get it to fit, but it gets red hot quick, I tested it with the plug out of the head. It worked just fine.

Did you put the piston back in the right way? Was the skirt facing the exhaust port? That's the biggest mistake when guys take engines apart!

This is a crapxxas rod, had less then a gallon:

Your engine could've sucked mud/dirt or debris through the air filter and destroyed your engine. Check your crankshaft and piston to see if there are marks on it.