Nitro RC Will Not Start

[core2kid]

I have a Redcat Racing Nitro car (yeah, cheap). Uses the .28 motor. It will not start for my life, I tried for at least an hour. It ran fine about 3 months ago before storing. Was tuned by a kid at my college that raced these almost weekly for the last 5 years.
What I've done

• Drained fuel from tank/replaced fuel (I'd left in tank for 3 months accidentally)
• Charged glow plug starter
• Checked glow plug (lights up bright orange except for the very last bit of coil, same on multiple plugs)
• Checked head bolts (one was loose, tightened)
• "Checked" compression by dumping a bit of fuel with the head off. Stayed at that level.
• Checked to make sure pull string has some resistance
• Checked cylinder walls, looked good
• Checked to make sure exhaust was tight
• Tried starting without air filter

If I dump a drop of fuel below the glow plug, pull the cord to drain excess fuel, then try starting with the plug in, the car will start for about a second but will not stay running. It'll die instantly. Any ideas? I haven't cleaned any part of the engine or carb since I'm not actually sure where the screws are to pull it.

 

[JAMMER]

Your problem could be the line that goes from the exhaust to the tank no pressure no fuel.

 

[ninnon]

I have a Redcat Racing Nitro car (yeah, cheap). Uses the .28 motor. It will not start for my life, I tried for at least an hour. It ran fine about 3 months ago before storing. Was tuned by a kid at my college that raced these almost weekly for the last 5 years.
What I've done

• Drained fuel from tank/replaced fuel (I'd left in tank for 3 months accidentally)
• Charged glow plug starter
• Checked glow plug (lights up bright orange except for the very last bit of coil, same on multiple plugs)
• Checked head bolts (one was loose, tightened)
• "Checked" compression by dumping a bit of fuel with the head off. Stayed at that level.
• Checked to make sure pull string has some resistance
• Checked cylinder walls, looked good
• Checked to make sure exhaust was tight
• Tried starting without air filter

If I dump a drop of fuel below the glow plug, pull the cord to drain excess fuel, then try starting with the plug in, the car will start for about a second but will not stay running. It'll die instantly. Any ideas? I haven't cleaned any part of the engine or carb since I'm not actually sure where the screws are to pull it.

It sounds like your fuel lines and carb are gummed up with fuel, take them off, spray through some cleaner and try again (thus the reason why it'll only start with fuel directly in the cylinder. This was caused by you leaving fuel in the lines carb and tank). A better way to test compression of the sorts would be to see whether the engine has whats called "pinch" which is where, even with the glow plug out, the engine has resistance towards the top of the cylinder

 

[core2kid]

Does the carb screw off? I can't find dedicated screws for it.

When pulling the string with the plug out there's a slight bit of resistance at the top of the cylinder but not that much.

 

[olds97_lss]

Without a photo, it's hard to say, but every current engine I've seen has a cinch bolt that pinches the carb neck.

Are your fuel lines clear? If you cover the exhaust and pull the cord, do you see fuel go through the line to the carb?

 

[core2kid]

Without a photo, it's hard to say, but every current engine I've seen has a cinch bolt that pinches the carb neck.

Are your fuel lines clear? If you cover the exhaust and pull the cord, do you see fuel go through the line to the carb?

Fuel lines are clear, I see fuel going into the carb. I'll take a look at the carb again and see if I can pull it.

By the way, if I take the car to a hobby shop, do they generally take a look at it for free?

 

[JAMMER]

The question is would you?

 

[ninnon]

The question is would you?

Dependent on how nice the people are, generally they're willing to help newbies out

Does the carb screw off? I can't find dedicated screws for it.

When pulling the string with the plug out there's a slight bit of resistance at the top of the cylinder but not that much.

You should be looking for a bolt like the one just below the one marked C, loosen this and you should be able to pull the carb off.