Breaking In My Engine!

[Lumberjack_Matt]

Apologies in advance if this is the wrong forumn to post in. Sorry I am a big noob to Nitro R/C and this forum.

I am about to recieve my Nitro Sport SE in the mail sometime soon, and am looking forward to breaking in the engine. Alot of my friends who are into nitro trucks have told me that the manufactuers specs regarding the break-in of an engine are not always the best, and sometimes a bit vague.

I'm a by the book kinda person though, so I got a question about what I've been told, are optional procedures.

Obviously you want to break the engine in so everything seats properly, but what my friends have told me is that before doing the manufactuers reccomended break in procedure I should also optionally idle through a tank of gas.

Anyone know if this is particularly harmful or not?

Also, I'm a bit confused as to wheter or not I should have to tweak the carburetor or not before brake in. The manual says it should be preset from factory, but it goes on to say that before I start breaking it in, I should fine tune it.

Thanks for taking the time to read and respond.

-Matt-

 

[SkyMaxx]

The optional idle tank mentioned by your friends, is not harmful. It simply adds another tank of fuel to an already lengthy but necessary procedure. If anything, the additional tank of light duty will help make the engine break in a little better.

As for the carb settings, TRAXXAS is usually pretty good about making certain that their engines are set to what they advertise as their factory presets. If you are in doubt, carefully zero them out (dial the needles all the way in...very, very, very carefully...do not force them or you will damage the needle, the gaskets, and perhaps the housing or carb) and then reset them to what the manual says are the presets.

The one bit of advise I have for you...even knowing you are really into 1:1 cars...is to read the manual front to back before you even take the first bit of fuel and put it into the tank. When you are done reading the manual cover-to-cover, re-read the parts on radio operation and engine operation.

If you do not take the little bit of extra prep time, I imagine your experience with this hobby will be akin to me giving you a V8 engine with no experience and a wrench and telling you to tear it down, port, polish, and rebuild it in order to give it better performance...without giving you any directions or manuals on how to do any of that. It might be fun. You might actually manage to get it apart. You might actually port and polish something. But in the end, you may destroy the engine and ruin your fun.

At any rate, that's more than my two cents...more like a buck and a half. Welcome to the hobby. Have fun with your new RC. Come here and share your experiences and ask your questions. I do ask one favor. Please take the time to run a search on the site prior to asking your questions. You may find that your questions have been asked and answered a number of times before.

Again, welcome to the hobby and RCNT!

-SkyMaxx

 

[Lumberjack_Matt]

Thanks, I started my journey through the manual a few nights ago... its overly deatailed in some aspects.

 

[thekonz]

I don't really have much to add other than SkyMaxx, you are the man. That was one of the best desriptions and best advice given. Hope you have fun reading that manual and soon you will be smelling that sweet scent of nitro.

 

[wmfateam]

My nitro rustler ran fine during break in with factory settings. I actually reset them today after it siiting for a year and it fired up a little rich, but fired non the less. Goodluck with your nitro sport!