New to nitro: Starting woes

[SamXp]

Ok, I just spent two hours trying to get my new Kyosho Inferno GT started so I could break the motor in. All I could manage to do is get the engine running for a few seconds at a time. At first, I couldn't even do that. It was just tug, tug, tug, nothing. Then I decided to forego the manual's instructions to put 2-3 drops of fuel in the carb and put a decent little splash in there. That's how I was able to get the engine to fire up at all. I had the throttle trim set to about 1/3 open, so it would throttle up and burn up the fuel and then just die. I primed the carb by pulling the line off the exhaust and blowing into it. Ended up actually flooding it that way and having to pull the glow plug and dump out the fuel and pulling the starter a few times to get most of the liquid out of the chamber.

I bought my first nitro car about 10 years ago, and hated it. Been an electric-only enthusiast ever since. I went for it again because all I've been hearing is how far nitro has come, and how easy they are to start. I'm severely disappointed.

I've read dozens of pages on starting nitro motors and feel as if I've tried it all.

- Glow plug glows bright orange, even in sunlight, when I push it into the crappy kit glow ignitor.
- Carb is primed.
- Tried throttle closed, 1/3 open, 1/2 open, even fully open.
- Tried priming carb with 2-3 drops, as well as a small splash (probably equivalent to 10 drops).
I started to get encouraged when the engine actually fired up and ran for a few seconds. Figured one more tug and it would sit there and idle perfectly. Someone help me out before I throw this thing in the trash and swear off nitro forever

 

[vbgagnon]

Did the manual say what the carb settings should be. You may be too rich to get it started.

I would lean the lsn 1/8 of a turn and try again. Once you get it running take your time breaking it in.

 

[rs4evo]

i had this same problem with my RS4evo. leaning your LSN should do the trick, just make sure you dont go too lean, i did mine in 1hr increments till it started up. once you get it started up, i would suggest not touching the LSN again unless you absolutely have to. i had my car running then tried to do a little tuning and i screwed everything up, now i gotta buy glowplugs..AGAIN!!

 

[SamXp]

i had this same problem with my RS4evo. leaning your LSN should do the trick, just make sure you dont go too lean, i did mine in 1hr increments till it started up. once you get it started up, i would suggest not touching the LSN again unless you absolutely have to. i had my car running then tried to do a little tuning and i screwed everything up, now i gotta buy glowplugs..AGAIN!!

Ok, tried all sorts of tweaking with the LSN and HSN and no luck. This is really starting to work my nerves (having spent the vast majority of my Saturday without getting this thing to start). I disconnected the fuel tank from both the carb and pipe and took the tank out of the car. When I blow into the tube that comes from the exhaust pipe, shouldn't I see fuel coming out the tube that goes to the carb? Nothing is coming out. I blow as hard as I could and all I see is a bit of fuel seeping out of the seam on the side of the tank. Is that leak a problem? It only seeps out if I push a major amount of air into the tank.
And what is the deal with fuel not being pushed through the tank? Argh!!!

 

[bigmo]

are u sure u have the fuel lines on right?

and yes that is a air leak... a lil CA glue around the seam should seal it up...

 

[nitro_freak_123]

yup thats your problem. if it is coming out of the seems of the tank. try to repair it better still buy a new tank then try it should fire up rightway

 

[SamXp]

are u sure u have the fuel lines on right?

and yes that is a air leak... a lil CA glue around the seam should seal it up...

Yeah, the fuel lines are right. It is an RTR and everything looks as it should be. Line from the exhaust pipe to the cap. And line from the tap to the carb.

I put a drop of thin CA around the seam and now I can blow in there hard enough to crack the spring-loaded lid. Totally airtight. That stone filter at the bottom of the tank has got to be clogged, or something.

If that's the case, I am severely disappointed with Kyosho's quality. Apart from being my first nitro car, this is my first Kyosho kit. On the other hand, I relieved that it is likely that I'm not doing anything incorrectly. Just not getting fuel is all.

Makes sense, too, because when I toss a tiny splash of fuel into the carb, the engine turns over and runs for a few seconds, revs up really high and then stalls. Sounds like an empty tank, right?

 

[ZANDOR]

Have you tryed to prime the mill? By putting a finger over the exuast stinger And pull the PS a few times?

 

[SamXp]

Have you tryed to prime the mill? By putting a finger over the exuast stinger And pull the PS a few times?

Tried that at first, and it seemed like I wasn't getting anything through, so I pulled the line off the stinger and blew through it. Still didn't get anything through. After someone suggested I check to see if anything is blocking the outlet on the tank, I finally figured it out. I'll probably laugh about this some day. Okay, maybe I'm laughing a little bit right now. Can someone tell me what is wrong with this fitting?

Shouldn't it look just a little bit more like this fitting?

Message to Kyosho! This is Quality Control 101. Don't forget to drill a hole through your fuel fittings!! Sheesh. Now to try and drill a hole through it without screwing it up.

I can't believe I spent my whole Saturday dealing with this! Thanks guys!

 

[bigmo]

glad ya figured it out...but that has to stink...

got any buddies close that run?

if so they may have a fitting...

 

[ZANDOR]

WoW In all the years I have been doing this.I have never seen this happenonder2:
I would in fact call and email Kyosho About this!

 

[RatzoRC]

I run and own many Kyosho cars, truggie, and buggies.
Never had a problem.
I have never seen anything like that.
Weird.

 

[SamXp]

Weird, isn't it? Yeah, I plan on contacting Kyosho on Monday and raising a stink about it. I seriously expected more from the people who brought us the 777 buggies.
I managed to drill a hole in the fitting and finally got the thing started! Ran a half tank of gas just putting around my back yard. I'm letting it heat cycle right now (recommended in the manual) and as soon as it cools off, I'll fire it up and continue the break in. Got a nice plume of white smoke going at partial throttle. And I remembered not to leave it at TDC. Hope this puppy lasts me a while!
Thanks again for helping out, guys!

 

[RatzoRC]

A couple of my friends have them and they love them.
Good luck with it my friend.
Welcome to RCNT.
I hope you'll stick around for a while.

 

[SamXp]

Yeah I guess I've been broken in good. First experience with nitro and I had to deal with a fuel fitting without a means for fuel to get through it! One more tank of break in and I'm opening her up! Can't wait.

I'll definitely be sticking around. I'm sure more will come up.

 

[SamXp]

Ok, I'm back already. Got it fired up this morning, with no problems. Now it stalls whenever I try to apply throttle. Unless I apply it really, really sloooowly. From what I'm reading, this sounds like a rich condition that is extinguishing the glow plug. But I tried leaning the HSN by 1/8 turn a few times and it didn't help. Am I supposed to lean the LSN instead?

Argh, it just started raining, but I think I might have been headed in the right direction. I leaned up the LSN and the stalling on throttle improved big time. Idle came up big time, too, though. Does this mean I'm bottoming out the needle and the carb can't rest on the idle stop??

This thing sure sucks down some gas when I'm running it rich for break-in!

 

[RatzoRC]

As long as you have a nice trail of smoke from idle to high RPM, your good.
As much smoke as you can get without sacrificing to much performance.

 

[SamXp]

Yeah, I've got plenty of smoke. I ran two more tanks of fuel through after the rain dried up. Took it off roading a bit and the air filter popped off! Uh oh! I saw a few small grains of debris in the carb inlet. I sprayed some WD40 through it and gave the pull start a few cranks to work it through. Hope I didn't do any damage. Time to throw a tie wrap on the air filter boot.

Running really good now! Still doesn't start on the first pull, but I didn't really expect that, anyway. Three pulls with the pipe plugged to prime, and then another half dozen pulls to get it started. Seems to be reliable enough of a method. Wish I could fit a tiger drive on this GXR28 engine, though!

 

[RatzoRC]

What method are you using to shut it down?

 

[SamXp]

Well, so far, I've run out of fuel every time.