Lean, Rich, and Engine Temperature You want to adjust the air/fuel mixture so that your engine runs

at an optimal temperature which is generally somewhere between 225-250 degrees Fahrenheit for most nitro engines. Much over 250 degrees could cause a lot of damage and also shortens the life of your nitro engine. Check your nitro engine's temperature often to keep it at optimal temperature for longer runtimes and overall better life for your nitro engine. If the running temperature is less than 200 degrees you need to turn your high-end needle adjustment clockwise to lean out the mixture a bit to get the temperature up a little. If your temperature is above 250 degrees you would bring it down by adjusting the high-end needle to richen the mixture by rotating the high-end needle counter-clockwise. The ambient temperature outside and the elevation according to sea level will adversely effect the nitro engine's temperature so adjust accordingly.

Answer: Hi Lachlan, 150F seems to be on the cold side. Gurgle (a rich sound) may indicate a "rich" low end. Tune the low end, then readjust the high end. With the temperature, I myself just use the spit test. If spit sizzles when put on the cylinder head fins, then it is too hot. - Joel Too Lean Here are some symptoms of an engine that is running too lean: 1. Dies or "flames out" at full throttle. 2. The glow plug wire or "element" turns white. 3. A drop of water or spit on the engine heat immediately sizzles. Too hot. 4. Dies while just idling. 5. Dies while accelerating from idle. Note this can also be caused by a rich engine. Too Rich Here are some symptoms of an engine that is running too rich: 1. A lot of blue smoke from the exhaust pipe. 2. A lot of unburned fuel exiting the exhaust pipe. 3. Idles properly, but bogs down an dies when the throttle is full applied. 4. Never reaches full top speed. 5. Engine temperature is too cold (e.g. below 200 F degrees),,,,93 C

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nota: - Suhu dibawah 107 C atau antara 99C hingga 107 C - jika suhu dibawah 99C ( dikatakan sejuk ) tindakan perlu lean sikit 1/8 pusingan HSN tetapi suhu jangan melebihi 110C ( panas engin boleh rosak ) Keutamaan setting 1. LSN 2. HSN 3. Idle needle

Dikatakan suhu sesuai diantara 93C hingga 107 C. Jika rich, plug/engine mudah mati Engine Problems Before Starting Your Engine Air filter. The air filter is essential for keeping dirt out of the engine. A foam filter must be oiled before running the engine. We recommend "Tornado Air filter Oil". Dab the oil all round the filter, put the filter in a plastic bag and knead it until saturated. Remember Never run without a filter Adjustments In most cases the carb comes pre set for easy starting and rich running. Do not alter these until the engine is run in. As a guide the carb settings are: .15 - .16 engines 2 turns out .21 - .26 - .28 engines 2 - 3 turns out What does "RICH & LEAN" mean? The carburettor has screws that regulate how much fuel & air enter the engine together, the Air /Fuel mixture. A too rich setting, the performance will be sluggish (one symptom of this, is excessive amounts of smoke from the exhaust) also the plug can be fouled causing engine to cut. When mixture is to lean, there is potential for blown plugs, over heating the engine due to lack of oil on internal components. Worst case engine seizes or internal parts break. Check for steam or smoke coming from the engine surfaces, popping or clattering sound when slowing down. CAUTION! If, whilst driving, the engine stalls because of overheating, severe damage may have already occurred. The following are conditions of overheating, Fuel mixture is too lean, Air leak around carb, Loss of muffler pressure, Excessive nitro content, Incorrect oil content in fuel, No air filter, Poor or contaminated quality fuel, Excessive loads on the engine, locked drive chain, Over revving the engine,All of which may lead to catastrophic failure within the engine. How to test for overheating It is important to check the head temperature during the operation of the engine. The best method for checking the head temperature is to use a thermometer. Depending on where taken, the temp can range from 180 to 225degrees. The lower is about average for a good .21 engine. If you have not got a thermometer use water! Place a small drop of water on the head, if it sizzles away immediately, SHUT DOWN THE

ENGINE you are too lean. If however it takes 3-5 seconds to boil away then you engine is about right. PULL STARTER HINTS The pull starter fitted to most entry level engines is, if treated correctly, the easiest and most cost effective method of starting an engine. As with every silver lining, there is a cloud. The pull start system is similar to that of a lawnmower to look at, but that is where the similarity ends. The pull start is susceptible to breaking if the engine is flooded or not lubricated enough. To help ensure this does not happen, a few simple rules should be followed. 1. Before starting the engine from cold, flood the engine i.e. Take out the glow plug and place finger over the exhaust pipe until the fuel spits from the glow plug hole. 2. Turn the car upside down place a cloth over the head and pull the pull start, this will remove all the excess fuel and prime the engine at the same time. 3. Replace the glow plug, tighten fully then back off a turn and a half this will lower the compression by allowing some gases to escape, switch on radio 4. Start car, the engine may run "lumpy" retighten glow plug if possible, if engine wants to stop try blipping the throttle to keep it running. If engine just stalls, tighten plug and re start. 5. If all the above fails check glow plug. Then start from Number 1 again. If you have been in the shop you will have seen me do this procedure all the time. It is best, for a trouble free life to do the above every time the car is started from COLD. The most common cause of pull starts breaking is from flooded or hydro-locked engine. In other words too much fuel has passed into the engine locking the piston. Gases can be compressed but liquid fuel cannot. Not only will you break the pull start, you may also crack the con-rod as you are putting massive strain on the piston. If you feel the pull start getting a bit stiff, STOP AND CLEAR THE EXCCES FUEL. So remember if the pull start breaks, this is a warning the engine is flooded. COOLING PROBLEMS In most cases, it is due to being run too lean, airflow is also a consideration so car bodies must have hole cut in them to let the air in and out. For best results cut a circle in the windscreen in front of the engine about the size of a 10p and cut out the two rear side windows (no right angle cuts please the shell will crake). GLOW PLUG PROBLEMS The glow plug in your engine is an inexpensive consumable item, which must be replaced periodically to maintain performance and starting ease. Most often, any starting problems or erratic performance can be tracked back to the glow plug. The plug should be changed if the performance suddenly drops, the only sure way of checking is to replace the plug and if all is well it was the plug at fault. Within the plug is a coil which should glow white when the glow battery is applied. If plug glows dim or orange it is in need replacement. TUNING HIGH SPEED As you approach the first SIX tanks running you can start to GRADUALLY adjust your engine

for normal performance. All adjustments must be small about 1/8 increments. You can begin adjusting the fuel mixture to maximise performance for your driving needs. To lean the engine, turn the main needle in a clockwise direction. This will allow the car to pull away quicker and more cleanly; you should however still see a smoke trail from the exhaust. If the needle is turned too far thus allowing the engine to run lean, it may run ok at the beginning, but will bog, hesitate, or stall when running at high speed. The engine will rapidly overheat when the setting is too lean. This is because fuel includes lubrication, and that lubrication is inadequate when the setting is too lean. SO CHECK THE TEMP OFTEN WHEN TUNING THE ENGINE. When set properly the engine will have a strong-sounding, high-pitched whine at full speed, and have a thin trail of smoke from the exhaust. If the engine stalls or begins to bog down or has a reduction in smoke at full throttle STOP. turn the main needle anticlockwise a full turn wait for about 10 mins to cool and re start. TUNING LOW SPEED The low-speed mixture affects how the engine will perform in the low to mid range rpms. Tuning the low-speed needle clockwise will lean the mixture. As with the high-speed mixture, leaning the low-speed mixture increases performance. Again, if the mixture here is set too lean, the engine may be starved for lubrication in the low and mid-rpm ranges, thus causing overheating and excessive wear. How to test if the low end is set correctly! With the engine running and warm, allow it to idle for about 15 sec. Now quickly apply throttle and note the performance. If the engine bogs, accelerates erratically, and a large puff of smoke comes from the exhaust, then the mixture is too rich. Turn the low-speed mixture screw clockwise 1/8th of a turn. On the other hand if engine speeds up for a moment then bogs, hesitates, or stalls, then the low speed mixture is too lean. Turn the needle counter clockwise 1/8th of a turn. Adjust for best acceleration without the car stalling. TROUBLESHOOTING Engine will not start, Out of fuel, improper or contaminated fuel, glow start not charged, glow plug faulty, engine flooded, carburettor incorrectly set, exhaust blocked, air cleaner blocked. Starter will not pull. Engine flooded, rope is jammed, and engine is seized. Engine starts and then stalls Idle speed set too low, air in fuel line, glow plug is faulty, engine is overheating, fuel pressure has dropped, blockage in exhaust nipple. Engine sluggish/poor performance High-speed mixture too rich, leaking glow plug, bad/contaminated fuel, and carburettor is blocked or dirty, engine is overheating, clutch is slipping. Engine overheats, High speed mixture too lean, cooling air is being blocked, excessive nitro in the fuel, excessive load on the engine, low-speed mixture too lean. Engine hesitates or stumbles,

High speed mixture is too lean, low speed mixture is too rich, engine overheated, air bubbles in the fuel line, glow plug fouled. Engine stalls instantly when throttle is fully opened from idle. Glow plug fouled, high speed mixture is too rich, low speed mixture is too lean. Engine stalls while driving around turns, Fuel level is low, idle speed is set too low.