running in winter?

[JAY]

i just wanted some thoughts,maybe tips on running in the winter other than covering your electronics and servos, i have a nitro sport,and a few opinions
would be nice,whether they are negative or positive.i just bought my nitro a few weeks back and i want to take the utmost care of it.



thanx for looking



jay

 

[sweetdiesel]

You'll also want to cover the engine head up with some foil, a sock, or even paper to get the engine temps up.

 

[olds97_lss]

I recommend using foil or a bicycle inner tube with a ziptie or hose clamp. Using paper/cloth tends to load up with melted snow (which melts into water) and tends to keep head temps down.

Otherwise, plasti-dip your servos, receiver packs and balloon your receivers. Keep a close on your receiver packs because NiMH cells don't like the cold and will dump really quickly on you.

 

[JAY]

now i have doubts as to if i really want to run in the winter---

i was gonna make a track as soon as the snow flies here in ny---so it's not gonna be fluffy snow,it would be like a dirt track style track

I'm guess i will have to do my homework on this one


thanx for the replies guys!



jay

 

[vbgagnon]

Olds would be the guy to get the tips from. I've seen pics of him after an afternoon of winter bashing. Good stuff!!

 

[NCNitro]

Nothing wrong with running in the snow...

 

[olds97_lss]

Yeah... I've played in the snow a bit:

Here you can see the inner tube I wrapped around my revo's engine head:

The stuff that's yellow is either plasti-dip'd or in a balloon:

Although, no matter what I do, with a servo that is exposed and the output shaft is pointing up (like most throttle/brake servo's), they still get wet and fry on occasion. I have had the best luck with the revo since it has a plastic cover over the top of the servo. It keeps most of the water off the servo. The water that does get inside the box gets out through a couple of holes I drilled in the bottom.

But with the savage and mammoth, there isn't anything protecting the top of the T/B servo and I've fried a few in both trucks.

 

[Clintd]

What I usually do to seal the output shaft on a servo is put a little O ring on before I put on the servo horn. You could use the O ring's that are used for the roto start shaft or the one's for the fuel tank on a savage. don't forget to grease it also.

 

[olds97_lss]

I tried that. It must help, but it doesn't seal it to be water proof.

 

[JAY]

those pictures are sweet---now i can't wait for the snow----thanx for the pics,they are aewsome!

jay

 

[sweetdiesel]

Using paper/cloth tends to load up with melted snow (which melts into water) and tends to keep head temps down.

I use paper because it never snows in Cali. I forgot about all you lucky guys back east. Great pics.

 

[the_rc_guy]

so the only thing that water "hurts" in your car are the servos? (pretty much everything electronic?) is that all?

 

[NCNitro]

You have to protect the reciever too.

 

[olds97_lss]

Yeah, everything electric. It isn't that great for the engine to go from hot to ice cold either. If you have an old tired engine, run it during snow season and save your good engines for the summer.

I have "back up" engines for all three of my rigs for this purpose. I have 2 OS 21 RG's sitting in baggies all lubed up from the beginning of the season that I'll put back into my SH 28 savage and Axial 28 mammoth. My revo will get a TRX 2.5R instead of an OS 18 in it.

The engines obviously run cooler regardless what you do which wears them out faster. I tried running engines in the summer that ran like a top during the winter and I spend all day chasing a tune and have flame outs.

 

[eNforcer]

Nothing wrong with running in the snow...

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/99/99325/folders/56624/356577T-Maxxsnow5.jpg[/ IMG]

[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/99/99325/folders/56624/356576T-Maxxsnow4.jpg[/ IMG]

[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/99/99325/folders/56624/356575T-Maxxsnow3.jpg[/ IMG]

[IMG]http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/99/99325/folders/56624/356581T-Maxxsnow8.jpg[/ IMG][/QUOTE]

Those are nice pictures, looks like a real blast! :snowman:

 

[NCNitro]

Yeah, it was definately a blast!

 

[MustangDave]

what about some shrink wrap on the servos? you colld cut a hole for the linkages to go in and out of away from the actual servo.
just a thought

 

[Plaidfish]

shrink wrap is a tube...it won't seal the ends off......Olds is the snow going pro...I'd really listen to that guys advice on waterproofing your stuff, I think he's got it down to a science......I personally have too much invested in my toys to risk the element damage but it sure looks like a helluva fun day......
NC where did you play in the snow??? aren't you in sebring?

 

[jon2]

what about some shrink wrap on the servos? you colld cut a hole for the linkages to go in and out of away from the actual servo.
just a thought

The shrinkwrap would have to completely seal the electronics. Its pricey but there is this stuff called RELIAKOTE and it is a conformal coating that is used on Spektrum recievers and they protect. The next choice would be to use plasti dip and or the Ballon idea. I personally can't get the stupid ballon on without tearing it.

 

[HeartBreak]

I use paper because it never snows in Cali. I forgot about all you lucky guys back east. Great pics.

Well, most of the time it doesn't snow....

I try not to run mine in the wet weather, but every once in a while, I get the urge... Just spray WD40 all over and seal up any electronics beforehand...