hi, i have a redcat shockwave buggy i did the break in step by step as instructed this car will start ok and run for few minutes
then it will start to bog down and loose power then it will get to a point to where it will stall is this a carb adjustment problem or is there something else wrong. does it just need tuned?

thanks bongmongy

Ok, it sounds like a carb. adjustment thing, but you'll have to give us more than that, is it really whiney? (lean) or sound kinda low and grunty and almost gargley (rich)? Let us know bro, then we can help you from there.

Sounds like the high speed needle is too rich, try adjusting CW (IN) 1/4 turn at a tim untill it stops bogging. Get a temperature gun - should be around $25 at your LHS, the temps should be no more than 220 after driving for a few minutes, it should also have smoke visible when running. What fuel are you running?. Try a new glow plug as well. Also the low speed needle may need adjustment, after the car is warm pinch the fuel line at about 2" from the carb. The engine should run for about 6 seconds, if it is less then the low end needle is too lean if more than 9-10 sec. it is too rich. I have seen low life spans on both the redcat and exceed r/c motors, they are very sensitive to too much heat.

Good Luck

True, Exceed and Redcat buy most of their engines from VX, the supplier of engines for most HSP RCs. VX engines are very cheaply made and metallurgically, they do not last as long, maybe 8 gallons or maybe a little more if properly cared for and broken in properly at the very first. Bear in mind that these engines are made cheaply because the goal is to have a very cheap RC in the end. Their priority is reduced prices instead of quality and longevity.

Redcat does have an engine swap program for their HSP RCs. Redcat does sell some of their RCs with SH engines, a much better engine than the VX in all respects. If anyone has any of these beginner RCs, I highly suggest that they opt for the SH engine, it is an upgrade you will not regret.

hi, thanks for the feedback the glow plug is new and im running 20% nitro blue thunder the car runs great untill it heats up after driving for awhile then slugish performance kicks in and when it dies i cant get it started until it cools down i have blisters on my fingers to prove it hahaha! dont know what it sounds like when it starts acting up but i do know when it dies i can hear a bubbling noise coming from somewhere hope this helps
thanks bongmongy

What does the engine sound like when it is running at operating temps? Does it sound like it is stuttering? If so, that stuttering/stumbling sound means you are too lean, richen the mixture.

Are you sure that engine is brand new? If you engine does not stutter or stumble at operating temps, but simply slows down in revs and diesm that sounds like symptoms of an engine that has seen many gallons though it and has a worn piston & sleeve.

On a new engine, your poroblems should be the otehr way around: harder to keep running when cold with a tight pinch but runs better when at operating temps.

If tuning does not fix your problem, dismount the engine, disassemble it, and inspect the parts. Look especially at the sleeve and piston; check to see that they are not worn.

still having trouble trying to tune the darn things im wandering if the glow plug is wrong and not matching the fuel correctly this is a vertex .16 engine im using blue thunder race formula 20% and mccoy mc-8 glow plug but the book for the car says to use a #3 hot or #4 medium glow plug is this the problem i can get the car to start and idle for way over a minute so i no the low speed needle should be ok but trying to set the high speed the car will run fast with god power for awhile then i get a power loss this is only for maybe 3min. of operation


thanks bongmongy

i know this is a old post, its a air leak like a blown head gasket or front bearing. start the motor and spray wd40 at the bottom of the head or front bearing if it bogs air leak