Hey guys,

I can't even ball park the tuning on my rustler 2.5. I'm at almost 4 turns out on the high speed needle, and like 1.5 on the low speed. Am I just way off with the needles like this??? It is broken in, but I just can't get it to run consistently, and/or stay running
Thanks.

Tommy.

The HS is right. The low speed should be even with the slide carburetor(the grey area surrounding the screw). That should get you started.
~Kyle~

what exactley is happening--- does it start -----does it shut off----does is it smoke alot when u start it?---------------why have the needles been totally turned ?
and did u check the glow plug ? is your gas been out in the sun?
i have jato with 2.5 it never had had any problems it is actually is crazy fast.
is this your first nitro rc?
tim

if your still using the same glow plug you broke the truck in with, then you prob need a new one

Nope, it's a new plug.
This is my second actually, my 1st RC was the older rustler. But I'm still horrible at tuning. Sometimes if I'm lucky it will start, then sometimes it won't. I read somewhere and accordong to the reading, my low speed was set too lean, I richened it a bit, and it works alot better now. But after a few minutes of just driving around (not even WOT) it will die. I kinda play with the highspeed for best results, but still can't get it to run the way I want.

About how long does it usually take someone to learn to tune decently?? I'm willing to work towards it for as long as needed, does it just depend on the person??

Tommy

If it takes off strong then dies,,,your too rich on bottom?,,,or your too lean?,,,or its lean on the HSN?

Experienced tuners please help out.

In order to diagnose the problem we need some more info.

1. What type of fuel are you using and how old is it?

2. Do you return any of the unused fuel back to the bottle?

3. When you adjust your needles do you go mad crazy with them or turn them equivalent to 1 hour on a clock face?

4. Is your pressure line securely attached and how long is it?

5. Do you wait until the motor is warm to start adjusting...should give it about 1/4 tank of use to adjust and adjusting at 1/2 tank is ideal because it will tend to run slightly lean when near empty and slightly rich when full.

6. Can you post a pic of the car with the lid off of course.

7. Be honest.......when you mess around with your friends or even by yourself do you turn the HS needle in to get more speed to the point it is running it's fastest?? Not assuming anything but gotta ask.

8. Double check around where the carb goes into the motor for any air leaks.

Hey gmcman,

To answer your questions:
1. It's brand new 20% nitro from towrhobbies. oil content is like 16%.
2. No, the fuel stays in the car till I want to drive it again, is this bad?
3. Instead of 1/12 turns, I do 1/8 turns on the needles...Should I do 1/12?
4. The pressure line us attached well and is about 5 inches long straight from the tank to the pipe.
5. I wasn't waiting for the motor to warm up either. I'll do that before i start adjusting.
6. Sorry, don't have a camera o anything. But it's all stock except for the little shock plate/tower thing in back, it's the upgrade purple one.
7. No, I adjust the high speed so I can at least get it to run with out dying. I can hardly get it to stay running...Speed is the last thing on my list.
8. Haven't done that....Will do that today.

Thanks, and I hope you guys can help out.

Tommy

did you read the directions when you got it?

I forgot to ask how much fuel you have run through the motor. First off you need to tune on fresh fuel, when you are through using for the day run the tank dry or almost dry. I run my tanks dry but when I know i'm finishing I will let the motor cool a bit at an idle for a short while before it runs dry as opposed to being at full tilt then going dry. If i'm paying attention i'll stop the motor with my shoe or a soft screwdriver handle right before the tank runs dry. When the motor stops rotate the flywheel so the piston is down...you will feel no resistance then move it back up to just close the exhaust port...slight resistance. Reason for this is the piston and liner cool at different rates and I have good luck with longevity by doing this, but you don't have to.

It almost sounds like you may have a worn piston/cylinder which comes from normal wear or running too lean too long, but we'll decide that later. If that was my motor I would make sure I have good compression by ensuring the cyl head is properly tightened and the glow plug has a fresh crush-washer. What you will need to do is get the HS in the ballpark before you adjust the LS. The HS ultimately regulates the flow but is more delegated to mid and high throttle settings. On a full tank run the truck around a few minutes to get the motor warm, a warm crankcase helps to atomize the fuel. Make sure the throttle opening is open about 2-3mm when at idle, run the truck rich where it won't build alot of speed and turn the HS in 1/8 at a time until it runs good and doesn't die at high rpm's. When you take off does it stall or will the RPM's not drop enough? If the RPM's are still high at idle then richen the LS a tiny bit. If you get a miss at high speed open the HS up 1/8 turn and that should have you in the ballpark. If it stalls after running for a while and won't start back up and it feels like it has no compression you may have a worn sleeve.

Those traxxas motors do tend to run hot sometimes but if it is toast you may want to get the O.S. .18 which runs great with alot of power. How did you break it in and again how much fuel has run through it?

Well, my friend gave it to me, so I don't know how it was broken in. I know it has about a gallon through it though, that's it.

Ummmm, I'll give it a shot. I think I'll wait till it cools a bit.
Sometimes It will run realy good, I can gunn it and it will take off like a rocket with good smoke coming out the pipe. Usually I can ballpark it with HS, but it's when I idle it that it will bog and die sometimes. So I play with LS and try and get it, and either way I go it seems to get worse. Then out of no where the car runs horribly, like I'll have it in tune and it will take off fast, then if I gun it again, it will be like just about to die so I have to let off just to keep it running. This is tough [:@]
I'll get the hang of it.

Tommy

I'm freakin gonna learn how to tune this car...even if it's the last thing I do, I will do it.

Tommy

If the LS is on the rich side it can tend to build up fuel and until you run it sort of hard it will bog a little bit, like if you let it idle for a minute then took off.

"Sometimes It will run realy good, I can gunn it and it will take off like a rocket with good smoke coming out the pipe. Usually I can ballpark it with HS, but it's when I idle it that it will bog and die sometimes"

My car was doing the samething
Turns out my idle was to low
if you can nail the hsn again, try increasing your idle

Hi! I've got a new Atomic Warhead from China..See my problem now is that I just cant get the thing Tuned. It starts and just wont stay idle..its keeps moving...Ive tried alot with the tuning but just can get it right...I would really appreciate it if someone with tuning experience help me out with this...as im eager to get it started....If someone could please tell me how and wat to do....and whats this high speed and low speed needle...the one on the carb is the high speed and other the low?? Im sorry i know zilch as im new to all this...
Please help..!!

put a 100 dollar os 18 ,,u will be so happy when u dont have to mess with hardly at all
i say that becouse it sounds like the motor is just worn out specially if your frind had it before u
almost every car i buy on e-bay has a blown motor ---i throw them out usally,before i even start them if they have any worn look like---discoloration on the head---so to not have any more head aches buy a easy to tune engine ---and that would be O.S.
it will also make your car competitive ,speed wise with other high end engines