Cheap Nitro Engine or replacement sleeve?

[SolemRiver1]

Hi all,
I was given a team durango DNX8 Rc car which came with a torn apart novarossi engine. After research I have come to the conclusion that both the car and the engine are no longer in production. My only goal is to get this running again. The chassis is in good working order, but the novarossi engine was missing a piston, but had everything else... I ended up finding an HPI racing 4.1cc engine for 30 dollars, and it was almost brand new. I got it running, it was in its break in period, and then I ran it the car in a sandy area and learned my air filter was bad. the engine lost compression after I got too much sand in it. I tried to pinch the sleeve, but I did it wrong and got a lip in the sleeve. to any experienced nitro engine people, you have likely palmed your forehead at least 5 times by now. After I made the sleeve totally unusable, I made a very tight tolerance punch and pushed the wrinkle out. after that I put it back in, and got it running... kinda. it ran great until it got up to about 110 degrees F. then it lost compression and died. I could get it started again, but as soon as it got into the 110-115 range it died. Moral of the story is I am pretty sure the engine is cooked. I can't get replacement parts for the HPI engine because the specific engine type is discontinued. Now Questions

Does anyone know where to look for a cheap engine, in the 30-50 dollar range? second hand is for sure what I am going to get for that budget, and that is fine by me. I am located in West Michigan, if you know anyone with something like this. I am looking for a .21ci, or 3.5cc nitro engine. I want to get it running again, because it is fun to drive and has a cool sound. I am also wondering if any one knows enough about the engine that I could get a different piston and sleeve for it that might work? I don't know what exactly the engine is, but I could figure it out if someone is willing to help!

Thanks!

 

[CertifiedMike]

Welcome to RCTALK.COM!!!

Sounds like a bit of a mess you've got over there.
Your budget for a replacement motor is pretty low.
Have you considered offering the other 2 parts motors in trade?
I bet theres a few Novarossi ppl out there who might be interested in what you have.
Maybe the HPI too.

Do you have any pics of your current engines?

 

[ohsnap]

Unless you have a friend with a $30 to $50 engine, I would expect anything in that price range to be at best a crapshoot, and most likely to be roached and a waste of money and time - YMMV,

Purely my opinion, but you're better off upping your budget and buying something new.
Over on eBay I just noticed a new Hobao hyper .21 nitro buggy engine for $100 plus shipping (and tax).
Something like that makes more sense than chasing "a deal" and buying someone else's dead engine.

 

[tudordewolf]

I say good on you for being willing to wrench on the engines you've got, it's very encouraging that you even got it restarted after your sleeve shenanigans.

I agree about the new engine, I've always been more satisfied with the money spent on a new engine than the money saved on a used one.

To protect your investment, I recommend a bottle of air filter oil, it is crucial to the foam filters' effectiveness against fine dust. I wash the filter out with dish soap and re-apply every couple of runs, 1 bottle of yamalube air filter oil is a lifetime supply for tiny engines.

 

[SolemRiver1]

Hey, thanks for the welcome! Here are some photos of the Engine blocks I have. There are lots of parts to go with them, some of which I don’t know what they are myself. I guess I just got really lucky with that first engine and may just have to bite the bullet with a new one. I also had the thought, since I have the novarossi carb, it may be possible to use that on a new engine, and it may hold a tune better. After I lost compression the first time I realized my air filter was junk. The one I had was a high flow, but it had clear holes in it, and minimal foam. I should have realized it ahead of time, but I did not. In the photos of the engine on the car, ( the one that looses compression) I have a double layer setup for the air filter. The inner does have the air filter lube, and the outer helps to keep the inner cleaner. Thanks for the recommendation though!
I have previously been hesitant to buy a new cheap engine because I was worried about quality, but it sounds like this steal of a deal I got was a once in a lifetime deal. Is there anything to look at specifically for buying cheap engines? I have generally heard they don’t hold a tune as well or are less fuel efficient, but I can deal with that as I as still learning.
Thanks for the help!

 

[tudordewolf]

You're right that the carb is a useful piece to salvage and potential upgrade to another engine.

When buying cheap engines, look for a reputable brand. SH might fit the bill, you can find their basic .21 for around $100 new, though that one is backordered, you can find it on other sites.

You could also go the displacement route and get a .28 size engine, even the base SH .28 will have tons more power than any of the .21's.

These engines have been developed for so many years that even the "cheap" engines made today are absolute powerhouses made by the same companies using the same technology as the high-end ones.

 

[ohsnap]

Several thoughts
1. Next engine:
You will either need to buy a pull start engine to replace the HPI or obtain a starter box if you procure a bump start style engine.
That Hobao hyper .21 I suggested is bump start and not a pull-start like the HPI.

2. You need springs on (at least two of) your shocks.

3. Carb: There is no guarantee that the Novarossi's neck diameter or depth will be compatible with your next engine.

4. CertifiedMike suggested that you could sell your old parts to offset some of the cost of the new engine.
There is definitely a market for used Novarossi carbs (I can't speak to any of your other parts), but I see Novarossi carbs selling on eBay
upwards of $30, while carb-less crankcases / crankshafts etc. seem to loiter on the site.

 

[SolemRiver1]

I do not have a starter box and plan to find a pull-start type engine. The One Tudordewolf linked seemed decent, and it was in my price range. On the Topic of the shocks, the car does have springs, and the purple shocks pictured are extras that were on there when I was given the car. I don't know the reason for them, but I haven't found a reason to take them off. I noticed that the Hobao was not a pull start, but on their website, they offer a pull start option.

I checked out the Banggood link that was put out, and it seemed to be what I was looking for. The only thing I wonder about is the mounting. I only have one type of brackets for mounting and don't know where to find different ones... Is there a standard I can look for to find the right size?

 

[SolemRiver1]

Okay, I just put in a back order for an SH engine. I ordered this engine, a .21 SH engine that was a good price, had replacement parts and from a website I trusted. Hope it all goes well and I have a working Nitro car in a few weeks!

 

[tudordewolf]

Okay, I just put in a back order for an SH engine. I ordered this engine, a .21 SH engine that was a good price, had replacement parts and from a website I trusted. Hope it all goes well and I have a working Nitro car in a few weeks!

Good luck! regarding the mounting, there's a good chance it'll be a drop-in fit, otherwise you may be able to adjust the mount slightly with some screw - post a pic of it if you're having trouble.