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Should I get an electric or nitro powered radio-controlled car?
This is one of the most important questions that most beginners
over look. Nitro powered cars are a lot faster and required more driving
skill to control. There is also more Maintenance required because of the
nitro engine. The user will need to learn and understand engine tuning
and mechanics of basic hobby engines. Strong parental supervision is
recommended for users under 16 years of age.
Electric powered cars are much simpler and require less
maintenance than nitro. The user simply charges the batteries and run
the car. Very little adjusting is needed. Recommended for beginners.
What additional items are needed to drive my car?
If you have a nitro-powered car then you will need the following
items: 12 AA batteries, Glow Heater (G70402), High quality car model
fuel 20%, Flat head screwdriver, Fuel bottle
If you have an electric powered car then you will need the
following items: 8 AA batteries, 7.2-volt battery, 7.2-volt battery
charger
Can I use different tires on my car?
You may use any brand of tire as long as it fits on the wheel. The
Fun Factor wheels take 2.2 tires and our GX1 or SP1 take normal 24/26mm
sedan tires.
If my engine is running hot what do I do?
If your engine is running too hot you need to richen up the fuel
mixture. This means the engine needs more fuel to lower the temperature.
Why will my car not start?
99% of the time when our customers cant get there engines to start
is because they didn't charge or install a fresh battery into there glow
igniter.
How do I stop/stall my engine?
The best way to stall the engine is to simply run it out of fuel.
To stall the engine quickly, simply cut-off the exhaust with a rag or
your finger. Be careful the pipe may be hot.
My electric car rolls slowly or does not stop in neutral?
You need to adjust your throttle trim. Turning the knob in one
direction will make the car roll faster, turning the knob the other way
will make the car stop.
Do your cars have reverse?
Our electric cars do have reverse. Our nitro-powered cars/trucks
do not have reverse.
What % of fuel should I use?
We highly recommend using 20% fuel.
How the Engine Works
The CEN nitro engine is a two-stroke, air-cooled (water-cooled
marine) engine. It features a true "ABC" (Aluminum, Brass, Chrome)
construction. The chrome sleeve has a slight taper so the aluminum
piston fits tighter towards the top of the sleeve compared to the
bottom. When the engine reaches proper operating temperature its perfect
running tolerances will then be achieved. The piston will feel tighter
when the engine is cold.
Fuel enters the engine through the carburetor where it is mixed
with air. The fuel/air mixture is then drawn into the crankcase. The
crankshaft has a rotating valve, which opens and closes the crankcase to
let fuel into it. On the pistons down stroke, the crankcase becomes
pressurized, and fuel is blown into the combustion chamber through
intake ports cut into the sleeve. On the upstroke, the fuel is
compressed and ignited. When first trying to start your engine, the
electrically heated glow plug causes the fuel to ignite. Once the engine
is running the fuel is ignited by rapid compression in the combustion
chamber. The exhaust is then released through a third port in the
sleeve.
The oil that is contained in the fuel mixture lubricates the
surfaces of the piston and the sleeve. The oil in the fuel also helps to
cool the engine while running. Some of the oil is burned when in the
combustion process which is what creates the blue smoke trail from the
car.
The air to fuel mixture is critically important. A mixture that
is too "rich" means that there is too much fuel, a mixture that is too
"lean" means that there is not enough fuel for the given amount of air.
When the mixture is too rich, performance will be sluggish. There is
also a high potential to foul the glow plug when running the car too
rich. When the mixture is too lean, there is not enough oil to lubricate
and cool the engine parts. Running too lean will almost certainly damage
internal engine parts as well as foul the glow plug.
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Required Equipment
To operate your new engine you are going to need the following
items. These items should all be available at your local hobby dealer.
- Glow heater/glow igniter (part# G70402)
- Model engine fuel formulated for cars between 20-30%% nitro
content.
- Fuel bottle, needed to fuel up your gas tank.
- Small Phillips and flat head screw drivers. Needed for making
adjustment to carburetor.
- After-run oil. Should be used after running the engine to prevent
rust and corrosion.
- Spare glow plugs. Glow plugs will always be one of the first items
to go bad in a nitro engine.
- Air filter; never run your engine with out a good quality air
filter.
- 5/16-inch nut driver or glow plug wrench.
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Glow Starter
The
glow heater is a battery-powered device that heats the glow plug so the
engine can be started. You should not leave the glow igniter on the glow
plug for long periods of time; this could burn up your glow plug leaving
it useless. You will always need to use the glow heater to start your
engine. Most of the time an engine doesn't start is due to a dead
battery on the glow heater.
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Fuel
Always read and follow all of the instructions on your fuel
bottle. Nitro fuel is very flammable and poisonous.
Fuel is the most important component for making your engine run
and perform properly. Poor fuels will cause hard starting, poor
performance and excessive wear of the engine. CEN currently recommends
these fuels:
Byron's Originals
O'Donnell
Redline
There are many good brands of fuels on the market. You may use
any of them as long as they meet the basic minimum requirements.
- Fuel must be a castor and synthetic oil blend with total oil
content of 12-18%
- 3-5% castor oil must be used in a synthetic/castor oil blend of
fuel.
- Nitro methane (Nitro) content should be around 20-30%.
The best fuels on the market today are castor/synthetic
blends. The castor provides high temperature lubrication while the
synthetic oils help prevent varnish build up inside the engine. The
higher quality fuels also contain anti-wear agents, anti-foaming agents,
lubrication additives, and rust and corrosion inhibitors. Use fuels that
are made for use in cars, not airplanes. (Airplane/boat fuel is ok for
marine engines) Car fuel will give better performance with easier
tuning, and longer run times.
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Fuel Bottle
Most brands of fuels are sold in a one-gallon containers, this
makes it very hard to fill up your small gas tank with out a smaller
bottle. You could also choose to get a small hobby fuel pump to help get
fuel into your small tank. Always keep your fuel container closed
tightly. The methanol in the fuel will evaporate very quickly leaving
you with a bottle of bad fuel. Do not use fuel that is old or
discolored, this is a sign of old stall gas.
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Radio System Operation
Ready to run CEN models only.
Install 4 "AA" batteries in the receiver pack on the car. Next
install 8 "AA" batteries in the transmitter. Pull out the battery holder
in the transmitter located at the bottom. Put in batteries correctly and
replace with the metal tabs lining up on both the battery holder and the
transmitter.
- Turn on the radio system and check that all servos are working
correctly. Check all the linkages to make sure they are not binding.
*Always remember; the transmitter is the first to be tuned on and the
last to be turned off. Never turn off the radio when the engine is
running. To stall the engine you can either run it out of gas or pinch
the fuel line until it stalls. The switch on the car only turns off
the electronics in the car, not the engine.
- Always make sure the batteries in both your car and your radio are
strong or fully charged. Attempting to run your car with weak
batteries will make the car not respond to users controls. It could
even completely become uncontrollable and become a "runaway car" and
severely damage the car.
- Check the wires from your battery and your antenna wire every few
runs. These wires could become damaged and result in loss of control.
- Before starting the engine, always check the range of the
transmitter before running the car. Short range can be the result of a
broken antenna wire or weak batteries.
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Starting the Engine
(with a pump)
Step 1: Filling the fuel tank
Using a small fuel bottle or bulb to put fuel in to the fuel
tank. Only fill the tank ?full. You can refill the tank while the engine
is running if desired.
Step 2: High-Speed mixture setting
The high mixture screw controls how much fuel enters the engine
during mid and high-speed operation. Turn the high-speed mixture screw
clockwise, by hand until it stops. Now unscrew the screw
counter-clockwise 3 1/2 full turns out.
Step 3: Setting the idle speed
The idle screw is just a carburetor barrel stop. It just stops
the carburetor from closing too far. Looking at the throttle opening on
the carburetor, the opening should be between 1-1 ?millimeters at the
widest point in the opening. The idle speed will increase the wider the
opening is. The idle may need further adjusting once the engine is up to
running temperature. *When you tighten the idle screw open the
carburetor a little to take the pressure of the idle screw. Not doing so
could snap the tip of the screw off.
Step 4: Low-speed mixture setting
This adjustment screw controls the mixture at low speeds. The
low-end screw is located on the side of the carburetor in the center of
the throttle arm. Adjust this screw so the top of the screw head is
flush with the throttle arm.
Step 5: Attaching the air filter
Never run the engine with out an air filter. Doing so will cause
premature engine failure. Using a zip tie to secure the air filter from
falling off during hard driving.
Step 6: Priming the engine
On top of the fuel tank you will find a priming pump. This is
used to get fuel through the lines and into the carburetor when
starting. Press the pump a couple of times until fuel reaches the
carburetor. Pumping too many times will flood the engine.
Step 7: Shutting off the engine
When you are finished running the engine you may "kill" it by
either pinching off the fuel line or simply running it out of fuel. You
may also stop the engine by stopping the flywheel; most people use their
shoe for this. Do not use your fingers.
Step 8: Starting the engine
Turn the radio system on. Now, attach the glow heater to the glow
plug. Giving short quick pulls (no more then 6 inches out) pull the pull
starter cord on the engine. Pulling the starter out to far will break
the spring inside. Do not treat this like a lawnmower. It is not a
lawnmower. If the cord becomes hard to pull it is most likely you have
flooded the engine. Wait a few minutes then retry. If the starter is
hard to pull, you could also loosen the glow plug ?of a turn then
retighten once you have the engine started.
If the engine does not start, have a friend hold half throttle on
the transmitter to help get it started. You could also open the
carburetor manually by moving the throttle arm.
If, after many tries, you still cannot get the engine to fire you
may have a fouled glow plug, glow heater not charged or working
correctly, or the engine may be flooded. Most starting problems are glow
heater or fuel related.
Starting the engine without a pump
please use these instructions if your R/C car/boats fuel tank did
not come with a primer pump
CEN
Racing has made a running change to your fuel tank. The new tank now
includes a filtering stone and we have removed the primer pump. We found
the removal of the primer and the addition of the stone to produce a
more reliable fuel system. Use the following steps to start your engine.
To start your engine
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Step 1:
Charge your glow igniter or glow heater |
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Step 2:
Fill your fuel tank with high quality 20% nitro fuel.
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Step 3:
Plug the exhaust outlet with your finger and pull the pull
starter 3-4 times. Watch for fuel to fill the fuel line. Once you
see fuel get to the carburetor take your finger off the exhaust
outlet. |
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Step 4:
Put your glow igniter onto your glow plug. Give the engine 1/4 -
1/2 throttle using the transmitter and pull the pull cord with short
quick pulls. No need to pull it more than 5-6 inches out.
Warning: pulling more than 5-6 inches will bend the spring and
may snap the cord. |
Important Note: Attempting to start a hot engine may prove to be
difficult. If engine is hot and difficult to start, let it cool down
completely then try again.
To turn off your engine: Follow these simple steps when you
are done running your engine. Please keep in mind that model car fuel is
very corrosive and it's best to burn all the fuel out of the engine at
the end of your race. Simply run your fuel tank dry and the engine will
burn all excess fuel that's in the fuel lines and inside the engine.
Recommend that you always use after run oil at the end of each days
running.
Here are two different ways to stall your engine before you run it
out of fuel.
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1. Simply use a rag to block the exhaust flow from the muffler/
tunedj pipe.
be careful the pipe may be very hot. |
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2. Pinch the fuel line that feeds the carburetor with fuel. The
engine will rev. up then stall. This is normal because the engine is
being leaned out due to lack of fuel. |
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Breaking-in the Engine
Notice:
CEN high performance engines must be correctly broken-in for maximum
performance and life! Rushing this process can result in premature
engine failure.
One important thing to remember when breaking in a new engine,
it will appear to not run correctly. It will stall, operate very
inconsistently, and may even foul glow plugs. Don't get frustrated with
it. Just keep working with it and it will become a smooth running
engine. These experiences are what can be called "break-in pains". Every
new engine has to go through this. When you get the engine started, be
sure to keep it running by giving it throttle when it sounds like it's
going to stall. Pulling the throttle quickly can also stall the engine.
After a couple of tanks your patience will pay off with a very strong,
reliable running engine.
Break-in should be done using at least 4-5 tanks of fuel.
Please don't take short cuts and run less tanks. Don't listen to your
friends that tell you that it doesn't really matter, IT DOES!
Its best to break-in the engine using the same nitro content as
you plan to use for everyday use. The engine should be broken-in on a
smooth hard surface. For a boat engines, try to find smooth clam water.
Try to avoid breaking-in the engine on very hot, or humid days.
Turning the mixture screws clockwise will "lean" the air/fuel
mixture. This will increase power and increase engine temperature.
Turning the screws to the left counter-clockwise will "richen" the
air/fuel mixture. This will cool the engine and make it last longer.
When adjusting the idle screw, turning to the left will lower the idle
and right will raise the idle. Remember to open the carburetor a
little whenever you tighten the idle screw to prevent breaking off the
tip of the screw.
Always break-in your engine without the body on the car, you want
as much airflow as you can get to keep the engine cool. Do not run the
engine too lean or you will over heat it and cause permanent damage to
the internal components of the engine.
It is normal for the engine to consume a lot of fuel during
break-in. This is because you are running it "richer" than you normally
would to keep the engine cool and to flush out the engine as the parts
"seat" themselves. Because of the richer than normal setting the
performance of the engine will be limited. After break-in, you will then
lean it out to gain performance.
It's always a good idea to get an extra glow plug (short, cold
plug). It is normal to have to replace it after break-in because of the
deposits left on in from the break-in process. Glow plugs are a normal
item that needs replacing. Because they have such a huge influence on
they way your engine runs it best to always have a few spares on hand.
- Start your engine, drive the car slowly around to let the engine
heat up. Ease the throttle on and off slowly. Don't let the car stay
still for long periods of time, this will heat up the clutch bell and
could damage it.
- The idle speed should be set as low as possible to keep the engine
running when the car is stopped.
- 3. The final settings on the top end needle will vary slightly
from engine to engine. Look for the following performance signs:
- Engine should accelerate quickly.
- Blue/white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. If no blue smoke
it coming out, you need to "richen" the top end needle.
- Alternate driving at low to medium speeds, with short periods of
high speed running
- When the engine reaches normal running temperature, it will pick
up speed and performance will improve.
- When the tank is close to running out bring in the car and shut
off the engine. Let it cool completely, then refuel and run again.
Part of the break-in process is also to heat cycle the parts in side
the engine.
- Remember always run the engine with a clean air filter.
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Signs of Overheating
If your engine stalls from overheating it most likely has
caused damage to the components inside of it.
The simplest way to test for over heating is to put a drop of
water or spite on top of the engine head. If it boils away instantly
shut the engine down and let it cool off. If it takes 5-7 seconds for
the water to evaporate away, then the engine is running at a good
temperature. Hobby shops sell temperature guns that tell you what they
are running at. Ideally you want it to run around 260 degrees.
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Tuning Engine for Power
By now, your engine should be broken in by now. You can start
to adjust it for maximum performance. The first thing you should check
is to make sure that when you pull full throttle the carburetor is fully
opening. If you take the air filter off and pull the trigger all the way
back it should look like the picture. You should always keep the engine
within its intended operating temperature. Going above these could and
most likely will cause damage. As you lean the engine out, it will run
faster and faster till you hit a point where it will overheat. When this
has happened it will start to stutter, hesitate, or even stall. The
engine will over heat very quickly when the mixture has been set too
lean. Check the engine often when leaning it out to make sure its not
overheating.
When you have the mixture set correctly you will hear the engine
running smoothly and have a strong-sounding high pitch when you let it
wind out. Running the engine a little "rich" is always a lot better then
running it to "lean".
Once again: Lean = less fuel
Rich = more fuel
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Tuning the High-Speed Mixture
The high-speed mixture will affect the way engine runs at mid
and high R.P.M.s. This is the main needle that you will adjust the most.
Once you get you engine running good, this will be the only needle that
you should have to mess with.
Run the car on a smooth flat surface with enough room to let the
model get up to top speed. Keep track of the speed as you slowly (1/8 of
a turn at a time) lean the engine. You can lean it as long as you
continue to have thick blue smoke coming out of the pipe. If the engine
gets up to top speed and looses power most likely you have "leaned" it
too much. You want the high-speed mixture to be lean enough to get good
power and still keep the engine cool. Use a temperature gun or the
"spit" test to check the temperature of your engine. Remember, you want
the engine to run around 270' or spit to sit on the head for around 5-7
seconds.
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Tuning the Low-Speed Mixture
The low speed mixture affects how the engine will perform at
idle and low R.P.M.s. Like the high-end mixture, the "leaner" you run it
the more performance you will get out of it. If it is set too "lean" it
will stutter and even stall out.
To properly set the low-end mixture, do the following procedures:
Get the engine up to running operation temperature. Then from a complete
stop pull full throttle, if the engine bogs down, you need to "lean" it
out a bit. If it speeds up then bogs down, it's too "lean", "richen it
up a bit. You want it to accelerate well with out stalling.
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Adjusting the Slipper Clutch
Some CEN cars are equipped with a slipper clutch. This is
usually only on our 2wd versions. You want to set this so it doesn't
slip when accelerating to slip when landing off a jump. Do not lock
down. This will cause excessive strain on the drive train. When using on
dirt you may use it to control tire spin. If you set it to slip for
about a foot it will make it easier to drive in loose conditions.
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After Running
After you have used your car for the day and are ready to
store it here are some things you should follow to keep it in top shape
for the next time you use it.
Because there is methanol in the fuel any left inside of the
engine will attract moisture. This could cause corrosion on the internal
parts of the engine. To combat this you should do the following.
- Drain the fuel tank completely
- Using your glow heater start the engine and run it until it burns
all of the fuel that in the lines and in the engine out.
- Remove the air filter and apply 6 drops of after run oil into the
carburetor. Now pull the pull starter a few times to circulate that
oil. Do not use the glow heater for this step! Do not store your car
with fuel inside of it.
- Clean off any fuel that remains on the car. Clean off any dirt or
debris that remains on the car as well.
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Troubleshooting

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Glow plugs are items that will need to be
replaced on a regular basis to maintain maximum performance. When your
engine will not start this should be the first thing to be checked or
replaced. The glow plug may also be the problem if your engine just
seems to be running poorly. You may also check to see it the glow plug
is leaking. Look for bubbles at the base of the glow plug. Tighten the
glow plug, if problem still persists, replace glow plug with new. The
only true way to see if your glow plug is bad is to replace with new.
Checking by putting into glow heater to see if it lights is good to see
if your heater is working, it may not show that a plug is fouled.
Usually if the first few coils don't light up the plug is bad. If the
plug doesn't glow bright orange, your glow heater may need to be
charged.
When installing new glow plug, loosen plug using a 5/16-inch
wrench. Be careful not to get any dirt inside the engine. Look for the
copper gasket, don't loose this, may be needed if new plug didn't come
with one.
Replacement glow plugs are available from your local hobby shop.
Your engine came with a standard short, cold plug. Do not use
plugs with idle bars.
Nitro Fuel Many problems occur when using low
quality fuels. Many times we get cars to tune and just by putting good
quality fuel in them they run perfectly. During break-in period you will
be using a lot of fuel. This is because of the "rich" settings that are
required for this process. When your car/boat is running out of fuel,
the fuel/air mixture will lean out radically. Because of this you should
avoid letting the engine rev up to high R.P.Ms. This could foul the glow
plug, and create un-necessary over heating of the engine. Always be sure
to keep the cap on your fuel bottle tight! If you leave the cap of the
bottle even for a few days you should dispose of the entire bottle of
fuel. This is because one of the major components of the fuel is
methanol. Methanol will attract moisture from the air and suck it into
your fuel if left in contact with air. Uncapped fuel will also get dust
and other containments in it that will harm you engine. Keep the fuel
out of direct sunlight.
Poor quality fuels will create a number of different problems for
your engine. There are brands of fuel that do not use pure nitro
methane. They use a low cost blend of nitro methane and nitro propane.
If your fuel is not a blend of both castor and high quality oil, its
high recommended that you do not use it. Simply put, cheap fuel will
cause a lot of problems that will make your experience a bad one. You
MUST use a fuel that meets the guidelines listed above to assure a good
running engine. Be sure to use a nitro content between 10-20%. The
higher the nitro content, the hotter the engine will run. Usually its
best to use lower nitro% in warn weather and higher in cold.
Always check the fuel lines for cracks or splits at the fittings
on the tank and the carburetors. These cracks or splits will allow air
to enter the line, which will lean the fuel/air mixture. If you think
you may have any problems with the fuel lines replace with new.

Flooding it is easy to accidentally flood the
engine. If you find the pull starter difficult to pull that is a symptom
of the engine being flooded. To get the excess fuel out of the engine
remove the glow plug, hold engine upside down and pull the started a few
times. The gas will drip out, and then retighten the glow plug and
retry.
Carburetor The carburetor is one of the simplest
components on the engine. It controls how the engine will run and how
reliable it is going to be. Because of the importantes of the
carburetor, you must always make sure to keep it clean. Dirt is its
worst enemy; always clean any dirt that you see on it, especially around
the air intake. If your air filter becomes dirty and you can't wash it
always replace with new. If you are getting a lot of dirt or debris in
your fuel tank you may want to install a fuel filter in the intake line.
These are available at your local hobby shop.
Fuel mixture This is the only way you can adjust
how your engine will run. There are many factors that can result in your
engine not running perfectly. Fuel, ambient temperature, and humidity
all affect the way the engines going to run. If one day your engine runs
strong, then the next day it's really humid and cold then you may need
to make adjustments to the fuel mixture. This is a normal thing to
expect with all nitro engines.
Pull Starter Problems
Almost all starter problems are due to pulling the cord out too
far. Other things that cause failure of pull starter are, pulling the
cord when the engine if flooded, and pulling the cord like it's a
lawnmower. Your car/boat is not a lawnmower and should not be treated as
one. Do not pull and let go of the cord, this could snap the handle off
the cord, or damage the spring inside. *Make sure to hold the engine,
not the hull when starting your boat or PWC.
Cooling Problems
Overheating is one of the most damaging things that can be done
to a nitro engine. Many things can cause it, poor air flow, mixture set
to "lean", towing or climbing for long periods of time, ECT. If your
engine overheats, stop the engine and let it cool down. Next look at
what might be the reason for the over heating. First check to see if you
have good air flow through the engine cooling head. The user should
always cut out a big hole in the windshield in front and in back of the
engine head. The driver side window is a good idea too.
Clutch Bells
The clutch bell gear on your car will wear from use and should be
check regularly for excessive wear. When the teeth are worn to a point,
they need to be replaced. Check the spur gear for signs of wear when
replacing the clutch bell gear.
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Maintenance
Connecting rod The connection rod should be
inspected every gallon of gas you run. If it shows signs of wear, it
needs to be replaced.
Air cleaner The air cleaner always needs to be on
the engine when you run your engine. It should always be kept clean or
replaced with new if it can't be cleaned. When washing air filter foam,
remember to use light oil on the out side of it. Best way to do this is
by placing the foam in a small plastic bag. Next place a couple of drops
of light oil on inside of the bag, do not use too much. Then rub the
foam around in the bag spreading the oil. You now should have a lightly
oiled air filter foam. Put air filter back together and reinstall on
engine.
Cleaning The engine should be cleaned on a regular
basis to keep dirt and grim down to a minimum. Not cleaning your engine
can cause the engine to overheat. Using a nitro wash, or denatured
alcohol with a toothbrush to scrub the parts clean. Be sure not to spray
any type of cleaner on the servos, receiver or the batteries. If the
engine is extremely dirty it's best to remove the engine from the
chassis or boat. *DO NOT GET ANY CLEANER ON THE HULL OF YOUR BOAT.
Always check the drive train of the car to make sure it's not bond up.
This will create the engine to overheat and loose performance. Always
check the bushing/bearings to make sure they are spinning freely. If
they are dirty or gritty you may clean them with nitro wash and then
re-oil them. For bushings, let then soak in a light oil then wipe off
and re-install.
Storing Your Car or Boat
When you are planning to store your model there are a few things
that you need to do to keep it in running condition. You should first
empty all the fuel out of the fuel tank. Second, burn all the remaining
fuel out of the engine and fuel lines. Third, clean entire car and
engine off. Fourth, remove air filter and put few drops of after-run oil
in carburetor. Pull the pull started a few times to coat all the
internal parts with oil. Store your fuel in an airtight container in a
dark cool place. If planning on not using for a long period of time, may
want to discard fuel. Old fuel should not be use for any reasons.
Using Your Model Safely
As the owner of the model, it is your responsibility to see that
it is used in a safe and reasonable manner. By using common since, you
will avoid serious injury to your self, or the people around you. Here
is a list of things to know:
- Nitro fuel is dangerous. The fuel is extremely poisonous and can
ignite is in contact with a spark. Follow all instructions on the
outside of the container.
- Keep your car/boat and all tools including fuel, away from small
children.
- The exhaust from the engine contains poisonous carbon monoxide
gas. Always use in a well-ventilated area. Never start your engine
indoors unless there is adequate ventilation.
- The engine, exhaust pipe, and of course, the engines cooling head,
will become extremely hot when in, and after use. Try to avoid
touching there areas as they have the potential to burn you.
- We do not recommend running your model at night, on public
streets, or in crowded areas.
- Always be careful not to come in contact with the engines
flywheel.
- Your model car or boat is a high performance machine. Because of
the high speeds your car or boat, they can cause serious injury to
either yourself, or spectators. Always be careful not to hurt anyone.
- As you already know, your engine creates a lot of noise. Because
of this, be considerate to your neighbors. Try to run your car/boat in
a place where the noise will not disturb anyone.
- Do not attempt to run your engine with gasoline, alcohol, naptha,
or any other fuel other then model engine fuel.
Mechanical Precautions
Your engine is a high performance engine that can tune over 30,000
R.P.Ms at full throttle. If your engine is ran at high R.P.Ms for a
continuous amount of time, your internal engine parts will be damaged
and the overall life of the engine will be reduced. If you are running
the engine at high speeds, expect to replace engine parts more often.
- Never run the engine with out the air filter. Replace or clean if
dirty.
- Always check air filter when refueling tank. If missing, shut
engine off and replace.
- When car is upside down, don't rev the engine. If car is upside
down too long it will stall.
- Do not over-rev the engine. Only give throttle when wheels are on
the ground.
- Allowing the engine to run out of fuel while at high R.P.Ms can
foul the glow plug.
- Test the radio system before operating each time. Always make sure
to use strong batteries. If you notice slow servos are any low voltage
light on your radio come on stop using and replace batteries.
- Do not drive your car in thick grass or in soft sand. This could
lead to the engine overheating.
- Your engine is not waterproof! Running your model in water will
damage your electronics and your engine.
- The starter cord should not be pulled out more than 8 inches.
Longer pulls will only damage the spring inside the recoil.
- Do not buy fuel if you are unsure of the contents. Try to avoid
unknown names or brands. These may be cheaper, but may not have the
required contents and end up damaging your engine. For the most part-
all major brands should contain the correct oil contents.
- Break-in the engine using the same percentage of nitro that you
expect to use engine.
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Quick Reference Chart
| Description of Problem
|
Cause of Problem
|
Solution of Problem
|
| Engine will not start |
Out of fuel |
Fill tank with fuel |
| |
Wrong type or poor quality fuel |
Replace fuel |
| |
Carburetor not primed |
Prime carburetor |
| |
Glow heater not charged |
Charge glow heater |
| |
Bad glow plug |
Replace glow plug |
| |
Engine flooded |
See Flooding |
| |
Engine too hot |
Allow engine to cool |
| |
Carburetor set incorrectly |
Readjust carburetor |
| |
Blocked exhaust |
Clean or remove debris from exhaust system |
| |
Air filter clogged |
Remove and clean air filter |
| Starter will not retract |
Broken spring |
Replace recoil assembly |
| Starter hard to pull |
Engine is flooded |
See flooding |
| |
Engine is seized or locked up |
Take engine apart |
| Engine starts then stalls |
Idle set to low |
Increase idle speed |
| |
Bad glow plug |
Replace with new |
| |
Low-speed mixture too "rich" |
"Lean" low-speed mixture |
| |
Low fuel tank pressure |
Check for blockage in fuel pressure line. |
| |
Engine overheated |
Allow engine to cool down |
| Engine sluggish or poor performance |
High-speed mixture set to "rich" |
Lean out high-speed mixture |
| |
Leaking glow plug |
Tighten or replace glow plug |
| |
Bad glow plug |
Replace glow plug |
| |
Old or dirty fuel |
Replace with new fuel |
| |
Carburetor dirty or blocked |
Clean carburetor, check for blockage |
| |
Engine overheating |
Stop running and richen fuel mixture |
| |
Slipper clutch set too loose |
Tighten slipper clutch |
| |
Tires not glued/wheel pins fell out |
Glue tires/replace wheel pins |
| |
Engine over geared |
Use lower gearing |
| |
Bound up drive train |
Check drive train, and make it free |
| |
Engine worn out |
Replace piston/sleeve and check connecting rod
|
| Engine overheating |
High-speed mixture to lean |
Richen high-speed mixture (counter-clockwise)
|
| |
Cooling air flow is blocked |
Cut holes in body to allow air flow |
| |
Nitro content too high |
Run nitro content between 10-20% |
| |
Fuel not containing correct lubricants |
Purchase a higher quality fuel |
| |
Excessive load on the engine |
Check for bound up drive train |
| |
Low-speed mixture too lean |
Richen low-speed mixture |
| For boats only |
Clogged cooling head |
Check water cooled head for clogging |
| Engine stutters or hesitates |
High or low-speed mixture too lean |
Richen high first then low |
| |
Engine overheated |
Stop engine and let it cool down |
| |
Bad glow plug |
Replace with new |
| Engine stall as soon as you give it gas |
Bad glow plug |
Replace with new |
| |
Low-speed mixture too lean |
Richen low-speed mixture |
| |
High-speed too rich |
Lean high-speed mixture |
| Engine stalls when I let go of throttle |
Idle set too low |
Increase idle |
| Engine stalls for no apparent reason |
Bad glow plug |
Replace with new |
| |
Engine overheated |
Shut off and let cool down, richen high-speed
|
| |
Debris in fuel line |
Remove and retry |
| |
Poor fuel tank pressure |
Check hose foe clogging |
Back to Top
Engine Assembly

Step 1
Remove the four machines screws that attach the pull starter. Next
carefully remove the recoil assembly, use a screwdriver to slide the
one-way bearing off the hub. You don't want the spring inside to come
uncoiled.

Step 2
Remove the four screws that attach the back plate. *When reassembling,
its best to replace the back plate gasket.

Step 3
You should now see the connection rod. Look for cracks or other signs of
wear or damage. Also check for worn out bushings, there should be very
little play between bushings and the shaft.
Replacing Piston and Sleeve
After completing the steps above, remove the two screws that
attach your manifold.

Step 4
Next remove the four screws that secure the engine head to the
crankcase. *Be sure to use a good wrench in order not to strip the head
screws, they will be TIGHT (part #G84234)

Step 5
With the cooling head removed, gently pull the sleeve out, Take note of
the way the ports are pointed, and where the notch on the sleeve is
placed.

Step 6
Slide the bottom of the connecting rod off of the crankshaft stub. Also
note the direction the piston is facing. With the piston and connecting
rod out of the engine, you want to remove the piston pin.
Step 7
With the piston off the connecting rod, put the new one on onto the rod
the same way the old piston was positioned. Push the pin and replace the
Teflon pin covers. Next put the piston with the connecting rod inside
the case and slide the rod on the crankshaft. *Be sure to have the
piston facing the correct direction.

Step 8
Install the new sleeve. Align the piston with the sleeve and slide the
sleeve into place. You need to make sure the notch in the sleeve is
positioned in the same placed it was when the head was taken off.

Step 9
Next put the cooling head back onto the engine case. Tighten the screws
in a crossing direction as even as possible.
Step 10
Looking through the exhaust port, you should see the hole in the sleeve
line up with the hole in the engine case. If there is not opening, you
need to turn the sleeve 180' When you turn the engine, you will see the
piston push up, look at the piston as its going pass the exhaust
opening. You should NOT see a port on the side of it. If you do, the
piston is in the wrong way, Turn 180'.

Step 11
Now you are ready to put the back plate and recoil assembly back onto
the engine. Put the back plate with new gasket on the back of the engine
case, to line up notch in the back plate turn the shaft that sticks out
of the back plate to line the notch on the back plate up with the crank
case. Attach using the four screws. Next put the recoil assembly onto
the back plate and attach with four more screws. Be sure to put the
one-way bearing in the recoil assembly on the same way as you took it
off.
Removing the Clutch Assembly
To remove the clutch shoes or the flywheel, follow the following
steps.
Step 1
Remove engine from model and clean off all dirt and grim.

Step 2
Remove the clutch bell by removing the screw at the end of the
crankshaft. You will need to use a large pair of pliers to grip the
flywheel as you loosen the screw.

Step 3
Remove the clutch bell. Now you will see the clutch shoes. Remove the
"E" clip with a small flat head screwdriver. Take note of the direction
the clutch shoes are installed. You want the shoes to follow the
direction of the engine. Pull the clutch shoes off leaving the spring
around them. You should now just be left with the flywheel. To remove
the flywheel, grip the flywheel using a large pair of pliers, then with
a 5/16th nut driver, loosen the clutch nut. The flywheel should now come
off; it may require a few taps to break it loose.
Step 4
Check all parts for wear and replace as needed. Check the inside of the
clutch bell for material left by the clutch shoes. If a lot of material
is melted to the inside of the clutch bell, you may need to replace the
clutch shoes as well.
*If you leave the car sitting still or towing items for long periods of
time, you definitely should consider replacing the clutch shoes and even
the clutch bell.
Check the two bearings in the clutch bell. Are they smooth? They should
be smooth and not be gritty or locked up. If they are, you need to
replace them before reinstalling.
Step 5
Follow the steps you just completed but, in the opposite direction. Make
sure to get the clutch nut on tight. On some engines, there will be a
flywheel shim that's between the engine case and the back of the
flywheel, look for this when removing your flywheel, and replace if
there is one. You don't want your flywheel coming loose while your
running.
Clearing the Water-Cooled Engine Head on Nitro Boats
If you have used the boat in dirty water or the engine seems to
be overheating your engines cooling head may be clogged.

Step 1
Remove the four screws that attach the head to the engine. The cooling
head should come part. Remove anything that should not be there.
Step 2
Replace halves back together and attach with four screws.
Recoil Starter Repair

Remove the recoil starter by removing the four screws that
attach the started to the engine. Next remove the one-way hub from the
center of the spool. Untie the knot that holds the handle on the cord.
Let the cord pull into the housing. Next Carefully disassemble the
recoil using extra caution with the recoil spring.

Step 1
To reassemble the starter, start by inserting the end of the spring into
the slot on the starter spool. Slowly wrap the spring around the inside
of the spool like the picture.

Step 2
Insert the spool into the recoil housing. Insert the end of the cord
through the hole in the outer casing. At this time tie a temporary knot
in the end of cord.

Step 3
With the cord through the hole and the spool inside the housing, its
time to coil up the spring. Using a pair of needle nosed pliers, grip
the spring through the center of the spool at the bend. Make sure the
cord is not pulled into the house or you need to start all over. While
holding the center of the spring turn and coil the spring clock-wise to
tighten the tension. Turn the spring one full rotation and put the end
of the spring into the spring mount in the center of the housing.

Step 4
Now you need to put your handle back onto the cord. While holding the
cord from being pulled back into untie the temporary knot that was tied
in step 2, Slid the handle spacer then the handle onto the cord. You now
need to tie a double knot into the end to prevent the cord from being
pulled back in. Please note it may be difficult to hold the cord and tie
a knot at the same time. You may want someone to help you. Your recoil
should now work correctly. While holding the spool in the housing
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Engine Exploded View
click to enlarge
Back to Top
Engine Parts List
click to enlarge
Back to Top
Recommend Carb. Setting
Nemesis / Genesis NX76
Default-
Top End: 3 ½ turns out.
Bottom End: 1 ½ turns in from flush.
After Break in
Top End: 3 turn out
Bottom End: Flush
Matrix
NX26
Default-
Top
End 3 & 1/3 turns out
Mid
½ in from flush
Bottom- 3 ½ - 4 turns in from flush
After
Break in-
Top- 3 turns out
Mid- Flush
Bottom 4 turns in
CT4
/ CT5 NX-15
Default:
Top: 3 1/2 turns out
Bottom: 4 turns in
from FLUSH
After
Break in:
Top: 3 turns out
Bottom: 4 1/2 turns
in from FLUSH
Fun Factor / NX Series / TR4/ Boats NT16, NT-18, NX3.0
Default
Top: 3 1/2 turns out
Bottom: FLUSH
After
Break in:
Top: 3 turns out
Bottom: 1 - 1/2 turn in from FLUSH
Please be sure to read and follow the instructions supplied with the
2-speed carefully. The following tips will help you get your 2-speed to
shift correctly.
My 2-speed does not shift?
First thing to check is was shifting hub (G84302-01) installed
correctly. Make sure that shift hub is installed exactly as pictured in
the instructions. Both sides of the hub look the same use the setscrews
as a reference to match the picture.
If you are sure your shift hub is installed correctly but its still not
shifting than you need to loosen the spring tension on the shift finger.
To achieve this, you need to loosen the 3x3 setscrew with a 1.5mm
wrench. Adjust ?turn at a time until desired shifting is obtained.
My Pinion gears keep coming loose on my clutch bell?
If you purchased the 2-speed with the treaded clutch bell you need to
tighten up the pinions onto the clutch bell. First get them as tight as
you can before installing it onto your car. The first time you run the
car, tighten them further by taking off from a complete stop a few
times. It's important to not use the brakes the first few times. If you
didn't tighten them on well they will come off when you hit the breaks.
Make sure your 2-speed was designed for the car you installed it on.
If you install a 2-speed onto a car/truck it was not designed for it may
not shift. This is due to the fact of different gearing combinations
being used for different cars. One example of this would be installing a
2-speed designed for a rally car onto a MT. In most cases, it will not
shift.
What are these extra springs for?
Some models include 2 free adjustment springs. These springs are softer
and stiffer than the stock spring. Use these to adjust the shifting
point on your car if the stock spring does not give you the desired
effect. |