Its been about a year since I have started on nitro, and ashamed to admit that I am still totally clueless with regards to engine tuning.

Hoping for guidance and advice from the more experienced ones here...

This is the situation... If I purchased a engine 2nd hand... and am going to fire it up and run it for the first time... I am thinking that what I should be doing is the following:

1) Richen both the HS and LS needles by 1/2 turn so that engine runs rich

2) Adjust idle using the pinch test. If engine revs up significantly, to lower the idle. If engine shuts down without revving, to increase idle. If engine revs a little before shutting down, its good

3) Get an approximate setting for the LS again using the pinch test. If engine shuts down in less than 4 secs... richen LS. If shuts down after more than 7 secs... lean LS. If shuts down between 5 to 7 secs... LS should be good

4) Running car on track and proceeding to adjust the HS, ensure engine is completely warmed up. Once completely warmed up, to run @ WOT. If engine "blubbers" with lots of smoke, to lean HS by 1 hour at a time until it is running somewhat "clean". At this stage, to lean HS by 1 minute at a time so that it runs clean with thin trail of smoke.

5) revisit LS by donig the punch test. bring car to stop for about 10 secs... gun it... it should take off cleanly with smoke present.

Do I have it right? I know there is no fixed method. But what is more important is that should anyone think that one of my 'steps' will be detrimental, please please do let me know.

thanks in advance

sam