I just got my FunFactor and the stock engine has only had one gallon of 20% nitro run through it.

I broke the engine in BETTER than suggested my the FSM! I brough the car to my local hobby shop to have it tuned after the break in. The engine was running at about 230-240C. I have not touched the carb settings since.

I was running my FunFactor ATX in rear wheel drive this morning practicing some drifting and the engine suddenly lost its balls. I tried to wind it out but there was just no power. I shut the engine down right away and put a good sized gobber of spit on the cooling head. It took 3-4 secs to sizzle off.

I took the engine apart and found the connecting rod broken at the bottom where it attaches to the crank. (G70340-07)

***?!?

I hope this is not a common thing? Everyone says this engine is reliable..why did mine pooch out?

Has this happened to anyone before?

Is there a connecting rod mod?

Where can I get parts sent to me FAST!

See if your local hobby shop carries the OS .18 CV-RX with the rotary carb. It's a direct drop in with lots more power. If you LHS carries CEN parts, the .18 upgrade only costs about $35 or so, but shipping takes a while.

man, thats some bad luck. I don't know how many gallons i have through mine. Its gotta be at least a halfadozen and it has no problems whatsoever. I know that there is a beefier con rod that you can buy when you do the .18 piston/sleeve upgrade. I wonder if it would fit with the .16 parts?
Just a thought

Connecting rod failure can be caused from trying to start the engine when it is flooded (hydrolocking), running to hot or to lean, to low of an oil content in the fuel, normal wear, and possibly a manufacturers defect.

As for reliablility I got several gallons of fuel through my .16 and several through the .18 conversion before I put the OS in my truck.

The .18 rod will fit in the NT16 and the .18 upgrade is worthwhile if you are low on cash. If you can afford it you should put the O.S. .18 cvrx in it. but you also run the risk of damaging more parts with the O.S. engine.


rolland

For now I just want to stick to the stock engine because the piston and sleeve are perfect with hardly any use. When they wear out I will upgrade the engine.

Upon closer inspection it appears that the rod broke due to a defect. The groove milled down one side to reduce weight was cut too long and came too close to the bottom. The crack starts right where the groove ends.

If I show CEN the part and prove that the ATX is only a few weeks old do you guys think they will send me a new connecting rod?

If it is an obvious manufacture's defect and you have a reciept or something i don't see why not. I think the connecting rod I ordered for the .18 upgrade was only a few dollars anyway.

CEN should warranty it for 30 days. But, you will have to pay postage to send the part to them. Price a new part from Toyhaus or Customrccars and see how much the rod is. It may be cheaper to just buy a new one. Sorry about the problem. If it makes you feel any better, I ruined the engine in my ATX within a couple weeks of getting it. I just bought the .18 upgrades and fixed it and it did make a difference in the perormance. Good luck with the ATX, it is a fun little buggy. It's still my son's favorite RC. I am planning on putting an OS .18 in it eventually.

I ordered a new rod today. 25 bucks canadian. I'm still going to send CEN the old rod and see if they will replace it...then I will have two.

When the .16 sleeve wears out I will upgrade to the .18. I dont want too much power because RC is no fun when everything is broken all the time.

Something you guys might like to hear...I went down to the hobby shop today and the guy offered me some free time on his dirt track if I raced his truck. He said "oh yeah..well..common down and we will make you look really bad" then I told him I had a fun factor and I was looking into some power mods...he said "yeah well...you common down here and either your gonna make us look bad or we are gonna make you look bad"....though that was kinda funny.

with an invite like that - id grab an os18, some decent tyres and go spank him silly

Yeah definately^^ Since i put the os 18 in my mt2 i can put down my friends revo, mgt and lst. Not only can i beat them but i bring them shame lol Everyone I talk to tells me that cen funfactors are absolute garbage. Most people havent seen one though and are just going on opinion. It seems like everyone who gets one loves it. Strange. With the os 18 and some masher 2000s i havent busted any drive shafts or anything yet. Just one set of spurs actually.

get some tires and spank him- i agree

I'm not gonna just upgrade my engine yet! I cant justify ignoring a perfectly good BRAND NEW engine with only one gallon through it. I still need to get a temp gun and learn how to tune properly. SO...when I destroy the old engine I will upgrade!

Maybe for the moment I can attach some model rocket engines to the back or something ha ha ha!

You guys are crazy...tnkx for the support.

As for this being my first CEN...I have already seen it against modded MT's and the pickup and top speed is impressive. I like CEN so far. Lets see if the parts get easier to get and if they honour their warranty on the con. rod.

I think CEN Racing struck an agreement with Hobbytown to distribute their products. It was in a post here somewhere. I have my fingers crossed because it would definitely make it easier for me. Not sure if there are any hobbytowns around your area though. Point is, I think CEN is trying to improve their distribution so lets hope they get something going.

I don't know how good a driver you are, but if you are decent, you will not have a problem beating a t-maxx and similar trucks... the mt2 is just flat out faster. I have since upgraded to the os 18 and its even faster.. especially off road and in the grass... The real limitation to the mt2's racing is the tires... Those monster truck chevrons are not good on the track... I have run smaller proline hole shots on 2.2 rims and the truck was great at the track.. There are currently a few options for running larger maxx tires for the truck and you can find them in this forum by doing a search.... Good luck and let us know how you did.

CenRacer,

I have looked through the site and have found just about every mod you guys are doing. As parts break I will machine more durable ones! A few I will attempt to buy from Dr.Honda

I have already bought an upgraded set of tires from E-bay!

My driving skill is quite poor and almost amusing at times! ha ha ha! I have even crashed into my own leg once!

LOL. My son did that last Sunday. Knocked him flat on the ground. I couldn't help but laugh and he also thought it was funny.

My son got hit by an x-factor last summer... He didn't think it was funny... I laughed after I realized he was ok.... Almost did a 360 in the air... Needless to say, he doesn't stand in the path of trucks anymore.... As for hitting myself... Yes I've done that several times... It happens... sometimes I just misjudge the stopping distance...
I don't find myself replacing any more parts with the os 18 engine than I did before, just have to be more careful during the setup and gear alaignment.

well i didnt hit my self, insted i hit my older brother[sm=punching.gif]oh no

Well I called CEN today and they told me to just send them whatever parts I broke along with my sales slip and they would send me new ones!

Thats pretty good product support!

LA

i would photocopy the sales slip if i were u...

Well Yeah!

Hey there. I have heard from a few forums about a .18 upgrade for about $35 bucks for the factory NT-16. Whats the part number for this kit that I would be looking for? Sounds like a nice option, when replacing old NT16 is needed. Thanks to all.

Here ya go. All the part numbers and upgrade info is right over here: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_25...tm.htm#2520395

SO...CEN was true to their word and replaced the broken parts under warranty! Took them only 2 weeks to get the part back to me!

I dont think a HUGE box and $16.00 shipping (which CEN paid for) was necessary for a CONNECTING ROD...but whatever!

Tnkx CEN!


Now I sit and wait for my OS.18 CV-RX to show up! Oh BABY!

well good luck with the new motor