Radio Control Engines
| Everything you need to know about Choosing, Running and Maintaining RC Engines |
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Nitro Engines for RC Cars, Airplanes and Boats |
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Initial Setup and Break In (ringed engines)Gently turn the high speed needle clockwise until it stops. Do not tighten it. Then open 3 turns. Do not worry about setting the idle mixture screw at this time because it has been set at the factory. Turn on Tx & Rx and fully open the throttle. Place a finger over the intake and turn the propeller over a few times (counterclockwise) without the glow charger attached. Watch the fuel line. You will see the fuel come up to the carburetor. Once the fuel reaches the Carb., turn the propeller 2 more revolutions. Remove your finger from the intake, and briskly flip the propeller to work the fuel into the engine. Attach the glow charger. Close the throttle to 1/2 to 1/3 open. If using a chicken stick to start the engine, flip the propeller counterclockwise using quick flips. If the engine fails to start after 10 flips it may not have enough fuel in the engine. Remove the glow charger and repeat the choking process. If the propeller becomes difficult to rotate, it is flooded with fuel. If flooded, remove the glow plug, turn the plane upside down, and flip the propeller backwards a few times, allowing the excess fuel to drain out. Reinstall the glow plug , attach the glow charger and try starting the engine again. If using an electric starter, do not attempt to start a flooded engine as it can damage the connecting rod. The engine should start and stay running, although it may be slightly rough at this time. This is normal. Allow the engine to warm up for 15 to 20 seconds before removing the glow charger. Let the engine run at this throttle setting for 30 seconds and then open the throttle fully. The engine should be running at full throttle but somewhat rough, with alot of oil being discharged from the muffler. This is because the engine is running very rich. Run the engine at this setting for 5 minutes. After five minutes, you can start leaning out the mixture by turning the high speed needle clockwise. Never turn the needle more than 1/8 turn at this point. To determine if the engine will accept a leaner mixture, give the fuel line a quick pinch and release...just pinch the fuel line and let go. You should hear the engine RPM increase a bit. If the engine increases in RPM, you can lean 1/8 of a turn. Allow the engine to run 1 minute at this setting. Now give the fuel line a quick pinch and release. Wait thirty seconds and do this again. Do this five times. If the RPM increases all 5 times, lean the high speed needle 1/8 of a turn. Wait one minute and start the pinch and release series again. If the engine doesn't increase in RPM when you pinch and release, wait one minute before you try the pinch and release again. Don't lean the high speed needle until you get an increase in the RPM every time you pinch and release the fuel line. Keep repeating the pinch and release method until the engine does not change RPM when you pinch the fuel line. You've leaned the engine as far as possible. Do not ever lean the engine to the point the the Rpm's go down when you pinch the fuel line. For flying you want to set the mixture so that you get an increase in RPM when you point the plane up or pinch the fuel line. If you hear the Rpm's decrease when you pinch the fuel line, Immediately open the high speed needle 1/4 turn and try again. At this point you can adjust the idle setting. Initial Setup and break In (ABC Engines)The ABC engine break in process is similar the the ring engines with one major difference. The ABC engines are not run as rich as the ringed engines in the early process. Choke and start your ABC engine in the same manner as detailed above in the Ringed Engine section. Let it warm up for 30 seconds and advance the throttle to full open. Now slowly lean out the mixture while you listen to the engine. As you lean the engine, you will hear it increase in RPM. At some point, you will hear the engine sound like it is jumping up and down in RPM. The exhaust note will be jumping up and down in pitch. You want to continue to lean the engine until it is running at mostly the higher pitch sound, with just an occasional break to the lower pitch sound. Let the engine run at this setting for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes of running, lean the engine using the pinch and release method as detailed in "Initial Break In" (ringed engines). Idle Mixture SettingThe idle mixture is adjusted with the brass screw that's located in the center of the throttle arm. It operates in the same manner as the high speed needle. Clockwise leans it out and counterclockwise rich-ins it up. It needs to be open at least 1/2 turn. On a very few engines (most notably K &B) the idle mixture screw is not in the center of the throttle arm. Check your engine manufacturers documentation to be sure. The basic adjustment of the idle needle will have been set at the factory and should require little adjustment, if any. Use the same pinch and release method to determine if the idle mixture can be leaned out. You may have to hold the pinch a little longer because the fuel flow is less at lower RPM ranges. The best way to adjust the idle mixture is to have the engine running at full throttle, and slowly decrease the throttle to less than 1/2 open. Once the engine has been throttled back to less than 1/2 throttle, try the pinch and release method. The engine should increase in RPM slightly. This means you can lean the idle mixture a bit, about 1/8 of a turn. Reduce the throttle a little more and repeat. You should be able to work down to a nice slow idle. The Carburetor should be about 1/32" to 1/16" open when the engine is idling properly |
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