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Rich compared to Lean

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acerblue

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RC Driving Style
  1. Bashing
  2. Racing
Ok. Going out to tune again today. Getting a temp gun before I do.. Here is my question. Can someone post me some videos (with good audio) of the difference between a engine running lean compared to rich?

Also what temps should I be shooting for on a TRX 3.3?

And whats a good temp gun? I am headed to Lowes to get one there for like $58 something... Should I? I am guessing I take the temp on the cooling head?

I am in Central Texas. Humidity 30%, 80 Degrees, and windy.
 
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Start with the needles set to factory and lean it out from there. The 3.3 tends to run a bit hotter than other nitro engines. The temp gun at lowes should be okay if it goes up to 300* F. The temp is usually taken at the head.
 
Some traxxas 3.3s need to run at a richer needle setting than factory depending upon the fuel, air filter and pipe. I ran mine at 4 1/2 to 4 3/4 on the HSN.
Just remember as soon as it cuts out at high speed, it's too lean. Richen it up 1/4 turn and stop the engine. Wait 5 minutes to let it cool then start messing with the LSN for acceleration.
Almost all Revo's shift too late causing poor performance. Ditch the Opti Drive, all it does is waste precious battery life. Adjust the shift point so it shifts within 10 feet.
Acceleration comes from the LSN, not the HSN.
 
Some traxxas 3.3s need to run at a richer needle setting than factory depending upon the fuel, air filter and pipe. I ran mine at 4 1/2 to 4 3/4 on the HSN.
Just remember as soon as it cuts out at high speed, it's too lean. Richen it up 1/4 turn and stop the engine. Wait 5 minutes to let it cool then start messing with the LSN for acceleration.
Almost all Revo's shift too late causing poor performance. Ditch the Opti Drive, all it does is waste precious battery life. Adjust the shift point so it shifts within 10 feet.
Acceleration comes from the LSN, not the HSN.

on that subject why is it when i start to lean out my LSN it wants to die out and stall????. . .i have the HSN set perfectly(as far as i am concerned) but when i go to tune the LSN it wants to krap out???
 
Check the idle adjustment. Your carb should have a 1mm gap at idle. Then once that is set try working with your LSN.
 
Check the idle adjustment. Your carb should have a 1mm gap at idle. Then once that is set try working with your LSN.
That helped alot. . .my idle gap was just big enough to get a sliver of paper through. . .oops. . .thanx
:n00bie:mistake. . .
 
Ok. Going out to tune again today. Getting a temp gun before I do.. Here is my question. Can someone post me some videos (with good audio) of the difference between a engine running lean compared to rich?

Also what temps should I be shooting for on a TRX 3.3?

And whats a good temp gun? I am headed to Lowes to get one there for like $58 something... Should I? I am guessing I take the temp on the cooling head?

I am in Central Texas. Humidity 30%, 80 Degrees, and windy.


My 2.5 seemed to run the best at 260-280 degrees at the the glow plug. But, I think it just depends on the temp. gun and the engine, because they are all different.

Also, where in central texas are you from? Because I'm from temple. Where do you race and bash? I need a good place to bash.
 
on that subject why is it when i start to lean out my LSN it wants to die out and stall????. . .i have the HSN set perfectly(as far as i am concerned) but when i go to tune the LSN it wants to krap out???

Chances are you've got your hsn a little lean still. Do the pinch test and see if it dies in about 3 seconds. It's possible your engine is worn too much already and just won't idle but I think it's too hot when you're adjusting the lsn. Also think about how hard you are working the engine. For tuning purposes you want repeat the same thing in between adjustments (back and forth on pavement is good). Also try to remember a perfectly tuned motor will run as much as 40 degrees hotter if you repeatedly go balls out back and forth on grass.....Also it will cool 30-40 degrees if you "baby" it. Look at your owners manual and memorize the part about outside weather conditions. A temp gun is only good to keep you from running too hot or cool.....But is a must have. Lastly 240 degrees is an Ideal AVERAGE temp on 3.3.
 
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