see, i've got a guide from rc nitro that even states pinching the line is the most devastating thing you can do to an engine as far as shutting it down goes.

The little chart states to kill the engine by bumping it, dump the fuel left in the tank, then either pull the plug and turn the engine over to drain it, or try to restart it. With the engine running rpms THAT LOW, it can't damage the engine.

Why would the RPM's be vastly different whether you pinch or restart?

Ed M.

Seems like much ado about nothing to me.

There are contrasting opinions about almost everything RC. Even the so-called experts disagree on many things. There are still pro divers out there that feel the need to tune by temperature. Just because one guide says something is so, does not make it true. Doesn't make it false either, I'd just take it with a grain of salt. After all, I don't see any difference in pinching the fuel line and just plain running out of fuel.

This is straight out of my OS manual:


To stop the engine, fully retard the
throttle stick and trim lever on the
trans-mitter, or, in an emergency, cut
off the fuel supply by pinching the fuel
delivery line from the tank.

Since you can't move the carb past the idle stop, I'd like to know how you are supposed to kill the engine with the throttle trim. That has always bothered me.

Its a shame OS gets their air and surface engines messed up in their manuals.

Ed M.

So that is where that comes from? Now it makes more sense. Thanks Ed. I was hoping you would post a reply!

Let me ask this question how many here besides Kemo has hurt or messed up and engine by either plugging the stinger or pinching the fuel line? All so how many gallons of run time on the engine. Was it from pinching the fuel or plugging the stinger or the fact the engine was just ware out?

May articles and manuals tell you to check your low speed setting to pinch the fuel line. All so I do not see what the difference between pinching the fuel line and running out of fuel. I have read many places that say after a day of running with the fuel tank empty try to start your engine to make sure all the fuel is burnt off. When ever I do any of the above there is still plenty of lubrication in the engine so I do not see the harm. Good lubricant does not burn all off that is why so much comes out the pipe after running if you turn the vehicle on its side. I have many engines with over 5 gallons on them that I stop by plugging the stinger with out a problem.

You are correct....but they don't cut the igntion until after the engine has quit from the lack of fuel. Trust me I have been in drag racing for many year,


KX..... You have seen the inside of our little 2 strokes after being run... COATED with oil. I HIGHLY doubt 2 seconds of a lean condition at idle will ever hurt anything.

I mostly stop mine with the Flywheel.
But it is by choice, not for any other reason except for that it is the easiest for me. I do the LSN pinch test for tuning the LSN and have a Dura-Trax exhaust tool.
At the end of a day of racing I idle it on the starter box till all the fuel has been burnt through and run my tank dry. I've never ruined any engine and all have gone over 8-10 gallons with no problems.

How much oil is in your fuel? Most of what I use is always burned off. Because if there was that much oil in there, there would be no need for after run oil

Let it idle until it just stalls if you're afraid of any of the methods here.

Hey how about this:

start turning out your idle-speed adjustment until it just dies!! No lean condition, no over-rich condition, not going to sieze a con-rod. Just make sure you know how many turns you had to go and you're set.

Try that if you're really that anal about shutting down your engine.

I pinch the line with no problems.

my engines will idle until the tanks are empty [:-]

I pinch my Vspec, when its idling, the motor revs up for 1 second then dies. Also a good way to test the motors fuel richness. In a emergency I plug the pipe, only done that once or twice though.

I do not know about others but I run O’Donnell Race blend. Now being O’Donnell never have published their oil content I am guessing it is around 10 to 12%.

i'm one of those guys who wont run the fuel unless its stated on the lable.

I do understand but even if they say does not mean it is true. I have been running it for 5 years so I guess I will stick with it. I have tried others but cannot get as good results. What do you run?

i've got a STS d21t thats in the mail crying for redmax fire and ice. Special blend made just for me.

Well with over 5 gallons on my Savage I raced it for the first time tonight and the Revo’s could not hang. I have been racing my MT 1 ¾ till tonight. I still want a buggy.

show them traxxas POS who is boss!

Maybe you need a little better lubrication in the fuel???? [X(]

nope, my engines last a long ass time.

Its like my dirtbike man, i use 1.2 ounces of oil per 128 ounces of fuel... or 100:1. Sounds lean, but with the oil i use, its just as good as 50:1.

It seems you had your mind made up before you even posted this thread. Im done with it.

yer i do the same as what mkincy said above or i just run the the motor until its empty at the end of the day

Pinching the line will not hurt a darn thing. There is no stress on the engine at idle and simply eliminating the fuel supply does a couple things: it empties the crankcase and carb of unburnt fuel so you will not get any dried up oil buggers in the mixture passages in the carb and no puddles of methanol based fuel in the case which will absorb moisture and contribute to corrosion.
If you pinch off the line, you will not starve the engine of lubricant since there will always be a slick film of lube on all the internals.
Do this: Pinch the line to shut it down and then take the engine apart or at least the backplate off, you will see that the pinch thing is nothing to worry about.

So you're running 1% oil.
BTW, I saw Elvis today.