OK...I'll say it. I'm new. So bear with me on some of my questions. I'm learning as I go. And by the way awsome site. My question is, So many guys are talking about bdc(bottom dead center) How do I find that, what do I look for. Do I turn the truck upside down to see or what. Can anyone help. Have new truck and I don't want to ruin the motor.
-
Welcome to RCTalk! 🚀
Join the #1 RC community where hobbyists connect, share, and get expert advice on RC cars, trucks, boats, drones, and more!
- ✓ Friendly & passionate RC enthusiasts
- ✓ RC tips & troubleshooting
- ✓ Buy, sell & trade RC gear
- ✓ Share builds & upgrades
Newbie Needs Help
- Thread starter NvNitro
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
vbgagnon
RCTalk VIP
Bottom dead center is when the piston is at the bottom of its stroke. The easiest way to tell is to take out the glow plug (make sure the head is clean!) and use a straw to find the lowest point of the stroke.
SpitFireV12RR
RCTalk Addict
Or if you have a pull start, pull until you feel no resistence. Oh, and don't forget to make a scratch in the clutchbell where you can line it up with something to tell BDC.
Both ways work, although taking the plug out and looking is the surest way to tell. I think what Spit means by marking is to mark the flywheel, not the clutch bell. The clutch bell is not attached to the crank, so it will never give you a precise reading as to when your piston is at BDC. I just use a Sharpie and put a little mark on my flywheel.
SVORay
RCTalk Addict
Another newb questions 
Ok I understand TDC and BDC but how does that apply to nitro motors? Is this for rebuilding one or something else?
Thanks
Ok I understand TDC and BDC but how does that apply to nitro motors? Is this for rebuilding one or something else?
Thanks
Ray, simply that, when you store your rig, put the piston at BDC. It'll help keep the compression longer because the sleeve is tapered towards the top.
beason
Bash, Fix, Repeat..
the mills use a tapered cylinder to creat a seal. when you shut the engine off, you want to move the piston to the bottom of the stroke so when the mill cools it doesn't get stuck in the top. if it does get pinched up there it could cause the taper to stretch and the mill to loose compression faster.
Revo Rancher
Hardcore RCTalk User
Ray? We thought you knew that? Ooops! We failed! I thought we covered that one with ya!?!
nevnitro said:
I'm a Noob myself and you are right , this is a great forum. I've learned more here in a few weeks about Nitro RCs than in a couple of months of searching the web on my own. You'll find alot of good advice here.
Jeep
SVORay
RCTalk Addict
Revo Rancher said:
You are so not getting a Christmas card from me this year buddy lol
It's cool, to many details at one time would hurt my head anyways :hammer: lol
Ray
vbgagnon
RCTalk VIP
Ray we'll let you off the hook this time, but just don't let it happen again! 
Ray, don't let Rancher give you any guff, man! Remember, this is the same guy that went and saw "Brokeback Mountain" with Jet on Valentine's Day and now pines away at the old days of skateboarding when they were made from tree limbs and pebbles!
"HMMMMMM.....fire good!"
"HMMMMMM.....fire good!"
