| RC CAR HOBBY.com |
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Engine Break-In Guide |
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| Engine break-in requires lots of patience. During the break-in period, the engine may seem to malfunction with such problems as stalling inconsistent performance and fouling up glow plugs. Just ensure that you keep the car running. Always apply the throttle as smoothly as possible. This keeps it from stalling. 1. The engine's idle speed should be set up a little higher than normal. 2. Always tune your engine with the fuel mixture too rich. 3. First tune the top end, then do the bottom end last. 4. Finally, reset idling speed. It never hurts to have the fuel mixture too rich,but never, NEVER let the mixture get too lean. |
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| Engine tuning is accomplished by measuring engine temperature and adjusting the settings to correct the temperature. Engine temperature is measured in the following two ways: 1. - First, use the temperature gauge. After engine has gotten to normal temperature, place the temp gauge over the engine pointed toward the glow plug, and take a reading. Get another person to take the readings. 2. - Secondly, use the Spit method, just a little disgusting but it works: Operate the engine to running temperature, then put a little spit on the cylinder head (be careful not to burn your finger). If the saliva slowly boils off (from 2 - 3 seconds) you're ok. But if It dances around as if being in a frying pan, or lays on the cylinder head and steams, it's too hot. The engine temperature will be colder than desired, If the engine is too rich. If it's too lean the engine will be hotter than normal. So you should take a few runs around the track with top end rich. You'll know you've got the mixture set correctly, the engine will emit heavy smoke on the straightaway. Always run five or six laps initially to get the engine to operating temperature prior to touching the carburetor. Bring the car into the pits and take a temperature reading. Turn adjusting screw 1/12 turn at a time to lean out top end. It's wise to go slowly when adjusting the carb. The correct mixture for 1/8 scale models will produce a temperature of approximately 200 degrees. The 1/10 scale models usually run a little hotter, approximately 250 degrees. |
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