help with hpi engine
 

h i i am new to this forum. i just got back into rc's i had one when i was young and did not know what i was doing so i messed it up
the other day i picked up a HPI NITRO STAR 12R SS, for 35 the person says the engine has no run time because it was a COMPETITION ENGINE. but i need a started, could you tell me what starter i need and how is the engine i think it goes for 150 on hpiracing.com
http://www.hpiracing.com/optionparts/stat-ns12rssps.htm

http://i11.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/dd/ab/02e5_1.JPG

RE: help with hpi engine
 

That is the .12 Star SS engine. I had one of those (out of 6-8) and honestly its one of the best if not THE best engine i've ever had so far. Really easy to tune and took alot of crap from trying different glow plugs to different fuels and fuel % type. Alot of trial and error with that engine. Learned ALOT from it. But anywho with the way that engine is. Its going to require a STARTER BOX. Im not fully sure if you and convert it back into a pull start. If you ask you LHS (local Hobby shop/store) about getting a starter box they should help you with it.

Basics on a start box:
What you do is put the car on the box and align the CLUTCH with the WHEEL and when you press down on the car, the wheel on the starter box will spin which will spin the clutch which then spins the engine and starts the engine. This is something the 95% of REAL racers have and the helps to get the most power out of the engine (since the way a pull start works it add a bit of friction to the engine while its running)

I like pull starts simply being they are cheaper then buying a starter box, less to carry around when you want to run the car, and you dont have to keep charging the battery(s) for the starter box to work

I cant say WHAT starter box you'll will need because i do not know what car your going to be putting that engine in. And depending on what car the .12 is going into, thats what box you'll need. Make any sense? :eek:

RE: help with hpi engine
 

wow thank you very much you were so much help. but i think a starter box is more useful then because it will help my engine last longer. by the way is the engine fast. i have hpi rs4 3. i took it apart and replaced all the old plastic parts with new ones and cleaned it. the engine was 35$ new. also i picked up a hpi tornado RTR for 130 (hot bodies) it has carbon fiber upper deck and front rear shock towers are carbon also. on to of that it has a .18 engine the car is very clean and has only been ran on 30%.
my next question what fuel should i use for the .12 is 30% good or should i use 20%

http://i24.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/de/b1/8bcd_1.JPG

RE: help with hpi engine
 

No problem, Thats what the forums are for :D

If you got the .12SS for $35 new... you my friend got a KILLER deal on that engine.
And for Starter boxes. you are right in a way because pull starts can break ( which is a really big pain in the ass to rebuild )and you have to deal with the one way bearing going bad, screws coming out etc...

As for which fuel... Ive used HPI power fuel, Traxxas 20%, Trinity monster 20 & 30%, Both types of Blue thunder 20%, Losi Nitrotane 20% and O'Donnel 20%

I still have yet to try Byrons 20% ( LHS doesnt carry it ) But there are some racers who use it and love it

IMHO (in my honest opinion) The best two fuels are O'donnel Race fuel and Byron Race fuel
I've used O'Donnel 20% and Im not going back to anything else.

So what percentage. I've used 30% and it really does give more power but some say that it takes a little of the engines life away. (Engine life may go from 10+ gallons to 9) But really, an engines life comes down to how well you maintain the engine so using 30% should be fine but if your new to tuning an engine you might want to stick with 20% till you get use to tuning. 30% also co$t more then 20%
If this is still kind of you FIRST nitro then im going to recommend using HPI's Power fuel. It contains more oil (14%) and you will be less likely to damage you engine during break-in

Im gonna say (some others may disagree) for any small block engine .12-.18 Use a Good 20% and for any BigBlock engines (.21+) use 30%. Most Cars/trucks that use a BIG BLOCK engine are going to need a little extra "umpth" since they are bigger, heavier and require more power to get them moving.:eek:

RE: help with hpi engine
 

just make sure you use the correct flywheel for starter box.