I have a Force .28 in my Ofna Ravager with only about 3/4 of a gallon through it (20%). Ever since I first bought it, it would never start good at all. I never used it for a whole year and dug it out again this summer. I got it running after I cleaned the engine up and sealed it up. I runs great when it runs for the most part. It seems to act rich and when I lean it out a tiny bit it acts way too lean. I've played around with it a lot but when I get it running good it will just shut off and not start again.

It happened yesterday so I tore down the engine again. All looks good but there is barely any compression. With the head off I can turn the engine over and not really feel any resistance near the top of the sleeve (not sure how much there should be with the head off, if any). I put it back together and there is a slight bit of resistance near the top but I can turn it over on the flywheel with my finger no problem at all. Is that right?

I have a shaft start system and can go all day and it won't fire. I set the carb back to factory, prime it till fuel hits the carb and then put the glow starter on and no go. Have changed the glow plug many times.

I have that engine in a Ravager as well. You may just have a tuning issue, or it may be prematurely worn out.

For tuning, mine is set at 4.5 turns out for HSN and LSN is flush. Maybe try that.

As for being worn out, a slight bit of pinch should be present. When you rotated the engine with the head off, you say you didn't feel any pinch? That could be because the whole sleeve lifted a bit when the piston got close to the top. Once the head was in place, it couldn't do that and you then felt some pinch. So it may be fine.

Make sure you glow-plug glows orange with the driver before you try some more...checks battery in driver.

Open your throttle a bit (adjust radio throttle trim until you see the carb bellows slightly move open....that's a good setting). I always have to do this when the engine is cold.

When using the Roto-Start, just do short quick bursts. Short delays bewtween attempts (2-3 seconds) will allow the plug to burn off any excess fuel if it's a bit rich, i.e. tiny bit flooded.

Even with the glow plug in I can easily turn the engine over and there is only a slight bit of compression. I tried all kinds of difference settings on the carb, fresh fuel and glow plug, full battery in the ignitor. Made sure the carb is getting fuel and it is.

OH....that's not good. Are you sure the head is on flat, and not crooked (can happen if you don't tighten in a criss-cross pattern). Shims in? If it really has no compression, then it sounds like a new piston and sleeve are needed. Try the OFNA forum. There's an re-build program, but not sure if it's still on. $50 plus postage and it's all done for you.

I would personally just get a different engine... Had some similar issues wit a force .25 & a Force .32... Just couldn't get the damn things to hold a tune after they got warmed up, and by the time I got them sounding right, the engine would die and not start... I am of the opinion that those force engines are problematic, and have never heard anything outstanding about them... Do not ge me wrong, I have owned several OFNA/HoBao vehicles, and currently have a Hyper 7, and they buildwise they are extremely well built low cost vehicles. I just do not like the engines... I got an Axiaql .32 to replace my ailing force engine, and to be honest it was well worth the 160 to just replace the engine...In fact I kept that axial and sold the buggy LOL. figure I can use it elsewhere...

At the end before it stalled the last time it wad running so good and tons of power even being rich. Oh well lol This motor was a dud from day one. My friend and I both bought Ravagers the same day and he didn't know anything at all about r/c at all, or anything mechanical. Mine never wanted to run and I'm a mechanic lol

So what should I get for a engine? I think my LHS has Axial .28, Axial .32 and a Force .32 and maybe more, not sure. I'd just get the Force .32 if I knew it had more power and might actually last more then 3/4 gallon of fuel. I just bash. I'd rather have one that will pretty much bolt in. Would these bolt in?