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Xl Savage break in

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V

vinni

RC Newbie
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I just bought it for my son new. Followed Break in as per intructions in manual... (1) Put on block and started at factory settings, was running rich, ran for 1 tank of fuel at idle. (2) went and ran(very easy) per instructions without having to touch needles 1 of the 2 tanks it said to run on the ground in oval area, no problems. next day started on the 2nd tank on the ground and problems started. Quit running, needle adjustments made but poor performance....still running rich though.

Yesterday I set everthing back to factory settings and went from there.
Started up, adjusted idle screw adjusted Lsn so would be able to give gas without dyeing on take off. Adjusted idle screw a little more to compensate for LSN, smoke still comming out of pipe, ran a couple times down driveway and back then noticed that was running a little lean for some reason, cutoff.... zip ties on the pipe grommet got hot and melted some. Thought that was strange. End of the day for that.

Today i started it up adjusted some, still rich on the Hsn, lots of white smoke comming out but not very good power at all. Very sluggish....This would be the 4th tank that's gone thru it and I really dont know what to think. My son did make a comment that he saw bit of flame come out of the pipe once when we had started up before.

I have never had this kinda problem with a motor before.....does it take longer to break in a big block, book says 3 tanks, but I'm thinking otherwise.
Or is my engine toasted? So far engine has not been treated like a race engine, just been moderately driven around as per manual for break in.

Productive comments are very welcome! Thanks...........
 
It takes a long time to break in BB engines. I have had some take up to 2 gallons to finallly relax the pinch. Sounds like you have overleaned the LSN, causing the excess heat.
Set the LSN back to stock. Just work with the HSN first. These engines are set way too rich on the HSN from the factory. Work with the LSN after you can get the truck to move easily with just the HSN setting.
Try to get it to run decent at 200-220F and leave it there until the engine's pinch relaxes.
Expect it to take at least 3/4 of a gallon to break in.
 
thanks I'll give it a try........... Everything back to factory again, went a little better but I'm burning plugs like crazy....checked with thermometer and highest I got was 180 degrees. I read today that some of the bad performance from this engine is from the pipe they have on it. Could that be a problem also?
 
What does the plug look like when it's fried? Is the coil gone completely or just broken? Is the coil compressed up into the plug? Does the end of the plug look black, white or just silver?
 
If you are burning plugs, there is a problem with the engine. Take it apart and inspect it.
Show us pics if you can.
 
I got a xl coming Saturday, I hope I dont have the same issue.

Hey also, I was told by hpi that its best for this xl to idle for a minimal of 4 tanks, I'm going to run 5 just to be safe. They said because this engines compression is so tough, that its a must to let it idle.
 
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Main thing is to get it to 200F quick as possible and be easy on the throttle. You need to vary the rpms during breakin. Running an engine blubbery rich is horrible on them. It stress everything internally.
If it bogs at anything past 1/4 throttle, it needs to be leaned out.
Every HPI engine I have broken in will idle at the proper range between 180-200F. But as soon as you pulll the throttle trigger, the temps instantly start dropping into the unsafe zone below 180F. For a piston and sleeve to wear in correctly it needs to stay around 200F during all phases of the breakin.
Don't be afraid to lean the HSN if it needs it.
I have broken in so many HPi BB engines I lost count. I taught my buddy how to break in his F4.6 this way. 10 gallons later it still runs good, nothing in it has been replaced.
 
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was running Odonell plugs and went back to O.S R5 plugs(long) all the plugs remain silver on bottom except this last one where I leaned the HSN out, the plug did compress up inside. The other plugs that are silver just stopped heating up all the way, not intense as should be. There's been alot of adjusting in between.
 
Switch to the McCoy MC-8 or the Axial #4 plugs, they are more dependable from my experience.
I run a #4 medium cold in my Axial .28.
The reason I mention this is because Axial makes the K4.6 & K5.9 engines for HPI.
They like cooler plugs.
What fuel are you running, exactly?
High oil content makes tuning BB engines harder. High nitro, low oil content works best.
 

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