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Tough Cold Start (HPI 3.0)

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TS8658

RC Newbie
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Location
Cedar Park, TX
RC Driving Style
  1. Racing
I have an HPI 3.0 engine. Just completed the break-in cycle on it. It's a bear to start when it's cold. I plug the ignitor in on top, prime til I see fuel going into the carb..then 2 more primes...and then pull-start like crazy. Occasionally I'll take the plug out..make sure it's not flooded, then try again. Ideas? How are others starting (without Roto-start)?
 
Pre-heat the cylinder with a hair dryer or heat gun. The pinch is probably VERY tight if you're just past break in. Pre-heating it will make it MUCH easier to start.
 
X2! They need to be at least 150F. Trim the throttle up a bit with the TX.
 
X2? and...trim the throttle up with the TX? Are you referring to the throttle trim on the controller? I'm essentially having to open that up all the way which is about 1/4 throttle actual....
 
X2 just means he agrees with what the guy above him said ;-)

Trimming the throttle up, just means add more trim (on your radio) to open the throttle wider than it would normally be at an idle position. Not too much though. You just want a tad more fuel to get in there for the initial fire up. Once it's running for a few seconds, turn the trim back down again to idle position. You don't want to use the trim knob to control your idle. Carbs have an idle screw for a reason ;-)

If you have to set your trim to max to start it, then your carb may be setup incorrectly. You ideally want a 1mm - 2mm gap between the carb body and the carb slide when looking down the carb with the air filter off. Any less than that and the motor will probably stall, anymore than that and it could idle too high. Once it fires up you can adjust from there. My LRP likes to have a bit more of a gap, but my smaller motors are very touchy with idle gap. Too big and they flood too easily.

Once you get more fuel through the motor, pull starting it will be much easier. I use a pull starter on my Revo 3.3 still and while I hate it in some ways....I love it in others. I can fit a glow ignitor in my back pocket....but a bump box or roto start are a tad large to carry with me when I drive at track level ;-)
 
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