Lightning Breaking in Heat

[dpk136]

I have just put in the first tank of fuel for my new Lightning. I have the main needle set to more than the factory specs, i have it set to 3 3/4 turns, and the engine is still running hot (255+). Is this normal, should i turn the needle out more or would this be a fine temp to run at. as soon as i saw it get up that high in temp, i shut it off and decided to ask everyone here. hopefully i get a fast response so i can get back out there and run it on the track i'm building. Thanks.

 

[CorradoPsi]

try richening up the low speed needle, that sounds way to hot for breakin.

 

[AC48]

It is too hot for break in but after breakin 250 - 270 is right where you want to be.

 

[lillightingboy21]

Yes you should richen up all of the needles. When i was breaking in my hb lightning the temps were at 180-190 the whole time. If you have any more questions feel free to ask away......Nick

 

[dpk136]

Thanks everyone, i'll try it and get back to you.

 

[dpk136]

I richened up the main needle to almost 5 turns. It is still around 240. And when i hit the throttle it just chokes on gas and dies. I really don't know what else to do. should i try to get a gas with 18% oil?

 

[Nitro_Freak]

sounds like you may have a small air leak

 

[dpk136]

ok...so i should get some high temp sealant and put that on everything in there?

 

[AC48]

I would try the 18% oil fuel first, if temps are still high then go with Nitro_Freak's advice and look for an airleak.

 

[olds97_lss]

It may be against some others thoughts, but with every engine I buy, wether it's in a truck or not, I seal the carb neck and backplate with high temp sensor safe sealant before a drop of fuel runs through it. Preventitive maintence...

You may also want to check your tank for any cracks. Even though it's new, you may have a crack in it. Also, replace your fuel lines. It's easier than looking for a pin hole somewhere.

250 is pretty high, but I don't know your engine. Out of the 7 that I've broken in, I had a hard time hitting 200 before the 10th tank (always lower).

A friend of mine has just installed the HB (or GS) Powerhouse .26 in his 21 maxx. He has about 1/2 gallon through it and hasn't hit 220 yet...

The engines I've dealt with were:
OS 15 cv-r (2)
OS 21 RG (1)
Mach 15 (1)
Traxxas 2.5 (1)
orion 18 (1)
Omega 21 Comp Buggy Engine (1)

 

[dpk136]

if there was a leak or a crack, wouldn't there be fuel coming out of it. and a problem with tank pressure? i think i figured it out. the thing that holds on the main needle was loose, so i put some ultra copper on it and i'm going to test it out. if that doesn't work, then i will have to seal the whole engine.

 

[dpk136]

wow. That made a HUGE difference. That needle was the problem. after sealing that there was a big change in temp. At a full tank of fuel it was running 180, and at bottom it never went over 217. Thanks for the help with the air leak. When i get around to it i will seal the rest of the engine. but i wanted to make sure that was the problem.

I have one more problem though. When the engine gets warmed up if i hit the throttle more than 1/4, it dies. Could my settings just be too rich, or should i just leave it like this until i'm done breaking it in.

Thanks

 

[olds97_lss]

Leave it that way until it's broken in. It probably is rich. Like I said, I don't know the engine that well. I don't start leaning until I notice the power increasing as the engine breaks in. Usually after about 12 tanks, I start leaning out a little until the 15th tank or so.

You did wait for the sealant to cure didn't you???

 

[dpk136]

yep. 24 hrs. i made sure that i read the instructions first before doing it. i figured that it was running rich. so, this is normal when running really rich? I mean, it's close to 100 degrees here and with like 60% humidity, so it is pretty hot here and i wanted to richen it to lower the temp.

Thanks.

 

[olds97_lss]

Well, it depends. Is it getting blubbery and dies, or does the engines tone change to a higher pitch then die? Blubbery is rich. Higher pitch is lean. You always can't adjust for temp, but rather for performance.

100 is kind of hot. But last year, I ran mine pretty hard when it was 95 out and I was floating around 245-260.

 

[dpk136]

it's blubbery and there is a lot of fluid coming from the pipe. so it's definately rich, but i wasn't sure if that was normal for it to die.

 

[olds97_lss]

You should be able to ease the throttle up even though it's rich. A quick jab of the throttle will probably kill it if it's real rich.