How can I tell if my engine is blown? It has very little compression, and we haven't been able to get it started since I first got it.

sounds like its blown,i have an old os that has almost no compresion and it will start though,what motor is it?

.15 FE

hpi right? i dont have alot of exp with that motor but i would advise a rebuild if the compresion is low,should only cost around 40$ for piston an sleeve

that would fix it?

it should,without seeing it its hard to say but if it has low compresion yeah thats definitlly part of it it should still start though,you sure of needle settings?

to much money is needed for this damn car.

lol its not a cheap hobby but its fun!

mad fun but they should make an rc car for the people on a low buget...I.E me...lol...parents wont pay for any of it.

They do.....at Radio Shack or Walmart. lol

This is true. If one isn't familiar with the engines used in these cars and does the wrong things, it could be a very expensive hobby. Typically if the engine is difficult to start, doesn't idle well and the compression is low, the engine is pretty much worn out. At this point it must be rebuilt. If you are having much trouble starting a brand new engine, it is probably your lack of skill and ability. Engines that are new shouldn't be worn out or "blown" (lol). I have three .15 FEs. Two of them have different stages of porting and one is "stock". The engines are quite simple to start and tune because of the one-needle carb (stock). They will also last a long time if they are maintained well, are not abused and are run with a fuel that has sufficient oil.

E-mail this guy if you want. He may be able to help you for $23. He has no complaints and has done hundreds of these jobs. [email protected]

If I were you I'd get a new engine. I have the .15fe. It just is all out slow. But, since your budget seems tight, you might want to just get a new piston/sleeve.

nvm guyss I got it started and for some reason the compression came back

Great! Hope everything's OK!

I have a .15 SS too from HPI...I need a tuned muffler and engine mounts tho...the guy said that the ones on the car now wont fit my engine and muffle wont fit either...according to him.

You should be able to put your thumb over the top of the sleeve (with the head off of course) and rotate the engine, it should push your thumb off if it has good compression. It wont throw you across the room but should just puff it off. You will feel the pressure.

Also with the head off the piston should push the sleeve up out of the case when you rotate the engine over. If the piston goes to the top of the sleeve with ease then back down, its time for a new piston and sleeve.


Dbow

Today we had it running and then it cut out...when we tried to start it again the had no compression what so ever...but then when we got home the compression came back...any clue to why its doing this?

Maybe your over heating it being too lean??

I know ima sound like a n00b when i say this. But what way do i turn the needle to make it richer?

To make it richer you must turn the high speed needle counter-clockwise. Just like un-screwing a screw, go "lefty-loosy" (sorry, kinda a childish memory when wanting to unscrew something, lol). Everytime you experiment with the richer settings, just turn the screw counter-clockwise about 1/4 of a full turn.

Have fun,
Kevin

where the needle is...the thing its sitting on is loose...is this a problem?

Are you talking about the Carb that is loose? Or what? I really cannot help because I do not know what is loose, but I can tell you that really nothing on your engine should be loose.

like where the needle is...the thing that it sits on...not sure else how explain it....well thats what is loose.

Is it large? Do you know what the carb (or carborateur) is? Or, is it like a nut? Does it look like it is possible to tighten?