can anyone tell me the shelf life of sidwinder 20%? I got my rc8 in december, and broke it in. it was to cold and snowy to run in january and febuary. not to mention salt. anyhow, i have been tring to start the damed thing all day today. I got it started three times and it died after a few seconds. I tried 5 glow plugs and even set the mix back to break-in. I can't figuer it out. the only thing i can think is that the fuel sat for 4 months, and is no good anymore. could this be the problem?
thanx
paul.

If fuel was properly recapped, it should be fine. Warmer weather now, ...try leaning your tuning needles a bit. Turn the LSN in about 1/4 turn for a start....that may help it keep running at an idle. Also, turn your radio throttle trim up a bit to help it keep running when the tune isn't perfect. You can set it back later. Next, re-tune your HSN, and finally re-tune your LSN.

Edit: sometimes when an engine sits a long time, the carb gums up and makes life difficult. If it runs at all, it will usually clean itself, but cleaning it yourself will eliminate at least the "gummed" up" carb possibility.

thanx agress. I'll give that a shot. to clean the carb, do i have to remove it? or can I just spray it with engine cleaner?

Actually, just remove the HSN, open the carb, and spray (use a syringe) regular nitro fuel down the HSN hole (and/or again through the fuel nipple once the HSN is back in). Do again with carb closed. The gummy stuff disovels and will pass through the engine once it starts. However, the best way to clean a carb is take it off and dismantle it. I'm too lazy and the first method has always worked for me.

cleaning out the carb worked! I ran a few tanks today and got a decent tune on it. thanks for your help. i tore up the back yard!!

Good to hear....similiar thing just happened to me......engine sat for a while, then when I ran it, it was hotter than normal. Next time I tried it, it was fine.....all to do with a bit of gummy fuel residue....guess it sort of self cleaned during the "hot" run (from the fuel going through it). Now isn't that the peak of laziness?.....letting the carb clean itself!......LOLOLOLOL.

lol! least it's not pooched! i'm happy this site exists or i might be spending a fortune in gas back and forth to the LHS!haha. it seems that nitro engines are a litle finicky eh. they are so much more fun though!

Nitro engines can be like a high maintenance girlfriend, always requiring attention. And that's what I like about them (the engines, I mean). Gasoline engines, like in the Baja 5B are boring...set them once, then forget them. Electric even more so. But that's just me. For people who like to drive and not mess around, gasoline or electric can be the way to go.