Breaking In A Engine
 

Hey Guys Need Some Help,

I've been racing electric cars for almost 3 years. I just moved to some property and I think it is time to make the change to the big dogs. I was thinking about getting the Revo 3.3. I dont know everything about RC but I try my best. Im only in eight grade. I know evey article I read says at the beggining "after I broke in the engine I was ready to race" , what exactly does this mean. How to do it and the in's and out's of it.

Thanks for all the help

~Kyle~

RE: Breaking In A Engine
 

oh you mean porch dogs. heh. JK a BIG DOG would be the 1/5th scale.
ok heres the deal....Nitro cars can be some work, the term "Breaking In" or Brake In is refering to the time you first start the motor to the time when you have run the motor in a very controlled way, so the engine parts, the piston, cylinder, conrod, can all heat up and work together and seat to each other. so they work out the stiffness of just being new is a good explantion! this takes about 6-10 tanks of fuel depending on method, experience ect.. with nitro cars there is a ALOT of things you need to know and understand to get a good experience. not that being new you wont, but nitro motors can be rather fustrating to someone who is new. By Electric, and you being 8, electric RCs can offer less overall hassles and are every bit as competative as nitros. if you already have an understanding of mechanics, how to fix things, then nitro could be an option. but if you dont, you should start out electrics in my opinion. its a bit less expensive to start out over nitro as well. Just seen your in Michigan. cool
hope this helps
Timmahh

RE: Breaking In A Engine
 

Hey i got my ifrst nitro RC the summer going into 7nth so your ahead of me when i started. It really isnt all that hard to perform a proper break-in. Set the needles as directed by the manufactionar. Run the engine for around 4 tanks, then lean it out a little bit (turn needles 1/8th turn clockwise). Run the car for 3-4 more tanks leaning it out a little bit more with each tank. When your breaking-in dont flor the car ( I know its tempting), eas on and off the gas never going past 3/4 throttle. I highly reccomend that you get a tempurature gauge before you start. Its especially for someone break-ing in the first engine so there sure there engine isnt getting too hot. Your engine tmepurature should never exceed 250. And it should be around 200. Also during break-in make sure the engine heats up to around 200, if you dont the parts wont seat themselvels and youll be wearing them down.

Of couse theres more to breaking in an engine but i was able to break-in my first engine with only this knowledge, and i had no problems.

RE: Breaking In A Engine
 

Thanks for the help evoMan and Timmah. This should help a lot. Especially dont floor it and the temperature. I will make sure to get a temperature gauge. Im sure youll here from me again.

Thanks

~Kyle~

RE: Breaking In A Engine
 

Here ya go man this is the steps I use when i brake in my new nitro engines

[link]http://www.nitrohouse.com/tip_engine_break_in.htm[/link]

Have Fun;)

RE: Breaking In A Engine
 

I bought a Nanda break in bench for my last engine and used that along with a temperature loop and a servo controller that hooked up to my laptop to control the throttle and read the temp sensor. The engine is the best I've ever had. You should heat it up 3 times with a heat gun before you ever turn it over. 3 times to let the heat soak into parts and not just the outer cylinder. I have a tiny heat sensor that can fit down a glow plug hole. I put that in to test this out. It takes two to three cycles of heating to get it all hot. You can get some USP castor from the drugstore and add a little to the first couple of tanks to make sure you are getting good lubrication. This is especially helpful if you have to lean the engine out a bit to keep it running. Get it to at least 170 as quickly as possible. I heated mine to 140 before trying to start it up the first time. Vary the throttle and never just let it idle. By the third tank I was running mine at 3/4 throttle no problem. Find somone who is familiar with airplanes and ask them how they break in engines. I run dragsters so its not possible to bolt the engine in the car and break it in that way. However if you have the bucks I'd get the bench. Much easier to keep an eye on the temp and make sure you don't run out of fuel. And when you stop it you can immediatly put that piston at BDC so it won't hang up on you as it cools. The prop provides the required load for the engine and keeps it nice and cool. In fact I had to make up a can to go over the cylinder to keep the temps up. I redid this putting holes a heating element and a fan so I can heat the engine this way if I need more heat to get the temp up while its running. Its very important to do a good job breaking in the engine. Go slow let it cool off for an hour between tanks so the metal fully destresses. Make sure you have plenty of smoke when you hit the throttle and vary the throttle. Now once you get it broken in you need to keep it from suffering from the residue of the nitro combustion. Commonly called afterun maintenance. You don't have to do this immediatly after you run. But you do need to pull the fuel tube off the carb so the remaing fuel can evaporate out of the carb. Nitro makes nitric acid during combustion and you need to get this out asap to keep the bearings from pitting. I take the backplate and head off within 24 hours of running and spray out the motor with B-12 Chemtool carb cleaner. You can use brake cleaner too but I figured carb cleaner would be better since its designed to burn and leave no deposits. Dry it all out then spray in a little Corrosion-X and spin it over by hand to distribute the oil. Button everything back up and you are set. The Corrision-x actually makes the parts slicker over time. Best stuff I've found for motor maintenance.

Griz