Tunning Tips Please

[RC10GT4fun]

Hi, i have an RC10GT and i am just getting back into it and wanted to know if there was any good way to tune the engine to get it to run the fastest and best. (obviously) I'm not TOO much of a newbie to RC cars, i got my first one in kindergarten (i'm a junior now), a TRAXXIS Hawk 2. And was always into them and racing them none stop. Then i got a suburban and have been working on that, but now that i have that pretty well fixed up to drive i thought i would get back into RC's. (and no, my money doesn't come from dad, i have a job) And i also have a Bolink and a boat. Although later i wanted to get into Nitro and got an RC10GT RTR. Now i realise that the RTR is obviously probably not the BEST way to go, but at the time i wanted something quick and to teach me the basics of nitro, then i thought later i'd get another one, and i knew that Associated was a good name (even though i'm sure many ppl have their own favorite brand) Although i've been very happy with it, very nice truck to drive and runs really good too. So yeah, i just wanted to know if anyone could help me tune it. I'm not fully grasping the concept between the low and high speed mixture on the engine. Except i know when i turn the screws that sometimes it will almost be shooting gas in liquid form, or smoke will be comming off the manifold, or it will hesitate and do weird things. I have it now so it runs good (i think) but i now it can be faster.(and when do u know you're ready for a new engine? I've only just started my second gallon of gas, but i know that i've probably put the engine through what proffessionals concider crap.)

 

[Mugen-Racer]

Well, engines vary depending on the tuning characteristics. My onroad is still on the first engine. 2 years ago new. Still running strong. My offroad/monster truck is nearing one year now and still ok. As far as tuning, it's best to get a temperature gun. The best way to tune and not just eye-balling how much smoke is coming out of the exhaust. Normal operating temps may vary depending on manufacture, but my Savage temps are between 240 and 280F. My onroad is around 280 for optimum performance. High speed needle is what you need to adjust first. Get your truck/car running good. Picks up fairly well and has decent top end. Temps staying around what you need it to be. Then, you work on the midrange needle. If you have a mid needle. After that's all set, all you ever need to adjust is the high speed needle. Rare occasions do I ever touch my mid needle. Then you have the idle screw. I've never touched it after it's been set perfect.

 

[Nitroaddict]

https://www.rcnitrotalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8440

 

[RobH]

I don't have a whole lot to add. Tuning a nitro engine is something we discuss over and over on this board. There is balance between performace and cost. If you want to go really really fast, you can tune that way, but you may end up rebuilding and buying new engines more frequently than someone who is concerned about and tunes with engine life as a consideration.

Good Luck and welcome back to the hobby.

-Rob

 

[RC10GT4fun]

Thanks everyone, that was fast on those replies. I'm going to try those and get it running good. And i don't suppose anyone knows a good, or any, off-road track in sacramento do they?

Nick