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Break-in.. FINALLY!

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Lessen

Lessen

Super Awesome!
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Aurora, Ohio (Cleveland)
RC Driving Style
  1. Racing
Woo Hoo!

Both kids are sleepin so I'm off to the garage to run the first tank through my RB S3. It's been a while since I've even turned a nitro over so I'm a bit excited to start a brand new engine. My Tx and Rx batteries are charged as well as the stick packs for my brand new starter box (Thanks Rob!). The box is already setup for my buggy so I guess all I need to do is double check the needle settings, toss a couple drops of ARO in it for some lube and giver her a go.
 
oh, thought u got a engine for the maxx,
can't test it out now :(
 
OK, so I've been able to step to the garage but I've been unsuccessful so far. I'm at "book" settings and I've tried to get er going about half a dozen times. 2 attempts I got a few 'burps' right before I lifted from the box but that was all the reaction I got out of it. I've removed the plug and ran the fuel out of it. What is the next step from here? open the idle a hair?
 
Ahh, got it.

I just used my idle-up on my Tx since it's sort of difficult to get to the idle screw. I set it to 5% and after about a minute the idle got slightly higher. I backed it down to 4% and it's been idling perfect for a few minutes now. Clutch isn't engaging and temp right around 120.

Alrighty. One full tank through at idle without stalling at all. Final temp was 127. According to the book I can go ahead and richen it up 1/2 turn and run it on "the track" cautiously for 3 tanks.

Do you guys think it would be benefitial to idle one more tank like this?
 
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Shhhhh. Kids are trying to sleep.
There's nothing sweeter than starting a new engine for the very first time. Ah yes, I remember it well.
 
Welp.. no luck today. I set the idle to the exact point where I had my idle-up opened to yesterday. However I've no luck getting it going today. The very first time I put it on the box it started up fine. I left the glow plug on it for an extra 10-15 seconds after it started but after I removed it, the engine stalled. I never got it going again after that. Now I do want to mention that at the end of the first tank yesterday it ran dry (which explains the 7 degree jump in temperature; baby in hand, couldn't get to it). So there was pretty much zero fuel in the engine before I started this morning. I tried more idle-up and manual blips as I put it on the box but after the first couple time it showed absolutley no signs of wanted to turn over on it's own. Now according to the RB manual the first tank of running the car on the track should be done about 1/2 turn richer on the HSN than the idled tank. I can't even get it turned over now, let alone 1/2 turn richer. Look at what I poured out of my pipe before I started today...

20080914_1243.gif


20080914_1242.gif
 
Daayyuum, that looks like a lot of fuel. I was wondering if you miss typed something yesterday, a 1/2 turn richer would be a major difference in the amount of fuel getting to the engine wouldn't it? And seeing how much came out of the exhaust after just idling for 1 tank, kinda makes you wonder if it would even stay running with a 1/2 turn on the HSN.
 
MrClean said:
kinda makes you wonder if it would even stay running with a 1/2 turn on the HSN.
Click to expand...

right, right. I'm afraid to lean it out because I really want to break it in right but it seems I may have to in order to get it running. The one thing that I'm keeping in mind is that I've been using Top Fuel and I've always had cooler temps when running Top Fuel, no matter what type of engine I've put it through. I guess I realy don't have much choice... so here's my question though... since I just want to idle another tank, should I simply lean out the LSN, or will that cause issues?
 
Absolutely you can lean the LSN. It needs it just to run. Once it's idling, keep an eye on the temps. Once it's warmed up you can richen it slightly if you're concerned about it. Also, there's nothing wrong with keeping the igniter on to keep it running rich during the break in.
 
did you check the plug? the symptoms are screaming bad plug. first it would only run with the ignitor on, then nothing at all. also i would think you should be slowly leaning the engine out not richening it during breakin. good luck man!
 
I'm thinking thats strange as well, although I'm not a nitro pro. All my engines, you've leaned them out as you go further through break in. All my engines that I broke in, it was so rich at factory settings, they wouldn't have had the slightest chance of starting 1/2 turn more rich.
 
Thanks Ralph. I'll give it another go tomorrow.

Beason- The plug is still in perfect condition. I was very thorough with checking things such as the plug, flooding, etc..
 
Just an update..

I got her started again and she's idling great as I type. I tried leaing the LSN by 1 turn, then 1.5 then finally 2 turns and it fired right up. I left the glow ignitor on and after about 20 seconds of running she revved up real good. I immediately backed off on the LSN by the full 2 turns and it's idling great. However, I did make one attempt at removing the glow ignitor and after about 10 seconds it did stall out. I checked, double checked and triple checked the plug before I started and it was glowing good and bright before I started so I think it's just having a hard time staying running due to the super rich condition. After this tank of idle I will continue with the "book" break-in process and take it outside and run it some. So far, so good.
 
Congrats. All that running with the ignitor in it will do is kill the battery in the ignitor. Just charge it up again, and keep it going. I usually idle 2 full tanks before i begin the heat processes.
 
I think the Top Fuel would affect the settings as well, as in you'd have to be leaner than what the 'book' called for due to the amount of oil in that brand of fuel. Sounds like you're on the way to having a good break in and a great motor when it's all done.
 
Yep, maybe it was having a hard time getting going due to the ARO?? I dunno, but after it was going for a little I had to put it back the the exact same settings of the other day and it was fine.. it just wouldn't start at those settings for some reason.

and yes, my glow battery was dead as a door nail after that tank. I checked the plug afterward and it was barely showing any color with the ignitor applied. New battery and it was good and red again. can't' wait to run it around now. I feel like my buggy needs a makeover though. A new engine always calls for a new look, don't ya think?
 
Lessen said:
A new engine always calls for a new look, don't ya think?
Click to expand...

Always man! Its another excuse to paint a new shell that matches the heat sink and find all the aluminum to match it also. I bought a 200 dollar mill for my revo, and bought 500 dollars worth of stuff to match it lol. Good to hear it runs good.
 
Shutting down as soon as you remove the igniter is the sign of a too rich LSN. There's no reason to keep running on factory settings. When you first start the break in, you only want to run it a little 'blubbery' then start to lean it with each tank. Remember, it's all about lube, as well as temp... heat cycling.
 

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