Break in process using the heat cycle

[nedrey82]

Checked out videos online for breaking in the engine and am going to follow this process I think. What’s your opinion guys if you don’t mind.
1. Cover the engine (cooling fins) in tin foil or 1/10 foam insert
2. Heat the engine to 200f with heat gun
3. Put the car on the road immediately trying to keep the engine between 180 – 200
4. Run the engine at varying speeds no more than half throttle for 3-4 minutes.
5. After 3-4 minutes, shut the engine down and let it cool completely making sure the piston is a BDC
6. Repeat this step 5 times making sure to never let the car run completely out of fuel
7. The lean the top needle out a little and remove the tin foil
8. After final cool down after 5th run, reheat engine and run at higher speeds (3/4) for 4-5 minutes letting the engine completely cool between each run
9. Repeat this process around 4 times then it should be ready for a race tuning.
Can someone please advise if this sounds about right for a newbie to break in his engine? Appreciate the help guys. NED

 

[REVO-5309]

sounds good to me

---------- Post added at 5:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 5:17 PM ----------

motor might take longer to get race tune tho... 5 tank is min to be able to hold full throttle for longer period of time. not full for a full tank

 

[nedrey82]

I'm not sure what you mean could you explain a little please? Thanks

 

[REVO-5309]

well typical break-ins are just a guide line to where ur able to start thrashing it. eg my whipper snipper i just got says break-in is 5-15 tanks till max power can be achieved. same goes with nitro motors. it will still go hard after the 5th tank. but i know mine has gone through gallons of fuel and its going harder now than it did on its 10th tank of fuel. some people will say thats bs but its not if u look after it and run it in correctly. and also depends on the motor build weather it was built without minor defects. i think I'm one of the lucky ones that hasnt had problems with mine. hope urs is the same.

 

[nedrey82]

So essentially if i go with the process I have outlined will it be ok and then after I've done that will good care ie after run oil etc help increase the power of the engine or should i do the stages that i have mentioned but just do it with more tanks?

 

[REVO-5309]

na do what u stated above. and just tune it to get performance. i personally wouldnt be aiming for anything too lean (like for racing). tad on the rich side and it will last. if u go too lean ull start breaking rods and over heating etc. the motor isnt anything worth racing but for bashing its great. i keep mine at around 110-125 degrees c and its lasted through over 4 gallons so far. and its still going strong. only thing iv changed in the motor is the main bearing and the head as it lost a couple fins and had a heap of stacks. other than that its still stock.

 

[nedrey82]

Well I'm gonna go with what I've sttaed. I'm hoping to get into basic racing with it first then hopefully upgrade the engine come summer time with maybe a OS or Reedy engine. I'm still learning at this stage

 

[nedrey82]

Oh and for the cool down process should i let it cool naturally or can i use a cold air gun on it?

 

[Rolex]

Let it cool down on its own with the piston at bottom dead center.

 

[Metalhead Matt]

Naturally. Dont force anything. These little engines cool in 5 minutes.

 

[nedrey82]

Should i mark the fly wheel to know where bcd is. And after i stop it running do i put it to bcd myselF?

 

[wacmartin]

I marked my flywheel, makes it that much easier and I always did mine by hand. I got some wrenching to do this weekend if the wife and work permits me, I want to get my nitro out soon! Works way too busy right now!

 

[nedrey82]

Should I do it before I even start it? Take out the glow plug and mark the fly wheels when it's at bdc. Does the vbreak in process need to be all fone st once and how long does it take?

 

[Rolex]

Take as long as you like with the break in. After turning it off and making sure the piston is at BDC, you can leave it for hours or days before continuing.

 

[nedrey82]

Ok guys can someone please help. I've been trying all day to get my losi 8ight 2.0 rtr to run all day but its so feckin tight. I took it to the hobby shop and the dude got it going but i had to travel home 40 miles and it was cooled by the time i got back. it keeps sticking at tdc is there anything i can do to get it going. HELP !!

 

[wacmartin]

Heat the engine with a hair dryer. I never had to do it myself but I've heard of other people on here do it. You got a tight pinch on the engine it's not a bad thing.

 

[dub c]

New engines may be prone to hydrolock. learn to recognize this also.

 

[Phins Fan]

The heatgun is a good idea but you may want to loosen your glowplug as well. This will relieve some of the excess "pressure" from such a tight pinch. Just resnug after startup and you should be good to go

 

[nedrey82]

Cheers guys gonna give it a go in the morning much appreciated

 

[neobart]

Ok guys can someone please help. I've been trying all day to get my losi 8ight 2.0 rtr to run all day but its so feckin tight. I took it to the hobby shop and the dude got it going but i had to travel home 40 miles and it was cooled by the time i got back. it keeps sticking at tdc is there anything i can do to get it going. HELP !!

Use a heat gun(carefully, don't keep it on one spot for very long) or a hairdryer to get some heat in it before trying to start. It can also help to loosen the glow plug slightly, and as soon as it starts turn it tight.