I started my break in process a little while ago and it seems like it was idling (rmping? motor sounded like it was working very hard) very high. I thought maybe that was normal for the break in seeing as how Ive never had a nitro car. I know its supposed to run at a rich setting but im not sure about how its supposed to idle. So I was running the car blipping it and all that mess. It seemed to run for a few minutes then cut off. Temp was up to 248 F at one point. Any suggestions?

I just went outside and started up the motor and just let it idle. It cut off after about 30 seconds.

You should be able to get about 30 to 60 seconds or more of just idling. If you haven't leaned out the needles at all and it's running that hot then you have something causeing the engine to run lean. Something like a leaking fuel tank cap or a small hole int he fuel line, maybe the header gasket is leaking. I would check all that stuff out if you haven't leaned the engine out yet and it's still running rich.

After that idle I had trouble starting it so I changed the glow plug and made sure my igniter was working properly still no luck. I tried turning it over a number of times and thought I might have flooded the engine doing it so I took the plug out and made sure it wasnt that. So I looked at my Redcat manual and it said the factory setting on the high needle was two and half turns counter clockwise after you ran it down flush so I ran it down flush then turned it two and half turns. Still wouldnt crank up so I gave it another half turn then it cranked right up. It ran for a while until I cut it off because it hit a little over 300 degrees. These things are frustrating for a noob .

Something is way out of wack on the tuning end.

Here Read these, you can print them out too:

Redcat Quick Start guide:
[link=http://www.redcatracing.com/quickstart.pdf]http://www.redcatracing.com/quickstart.pdf[/link]

Engine Tuning Guide:
[link=http://www.redcatracing.com/tuningyourengine.asp]http://www.redcatracing.com/tuningyourengine.asp[/link]

Alrighty I read the Redcat Engine Tuning and the Quick Start. I followed the instructions as far as turning the high needle snug then three full turns counter clockwise. My car does want to move while its sitting idle so I need to adjust the idle screw. It didn't really say anything about the low needles factory setting. I just messed around with it a little. In the end the car would crank easy I had a nice trail of blue smoke. Seems like it spits out, I don't want to say quite a bit but, a noticeable amount of gas from the exhaust. Most of the time it was running it was around 250 degrees when it started running out of gas it got up to 290 degrees. Its kind of humid outside so maybe that has something to do with it. This thing makes me feel like an idiot :P

No don't feel stupid, I can tune a 6 barrel carb but I had a heck of a time learning how to tune nitro car carbs. Your low speed needle should be flush with the collar. Sounds like your temps are good, but I'm thinking your lowspeed needle is in a little too much and if it's humid out then you should lean the highspeed out a little tiny bit and make sure the lowspeed needle is flush with the collar.

Awesome. Thanks man I really appreciate the help. One more question if ya dont' mind :P. I read that I shouldn't leave gas in the tank but at the same time not to let the engine run the tank dry. Is it ok to let the engine run the tank dry or what should I do with that little bit of fuel left over in the tank?

You should run it completelly out of fuel when you are done for the day. Get as much fuel as possible out of the engine. Make sure when your done you are using something for afterrun oil.

People have always argued running out the tank will it hurt the motor or not. It does lean it out quite a bit but most people do it anyway. If I dont run it out on accident, I flip it upside down and dump the little bit that is left out, and blow out the lines. I tear my car down quite abit(just about after every use because of the lovely florida sand lol)

Should just pinch the line to purge the fuel from the crankcase. Not always but sometimes running out the tank can cause prolonged lean out and create a lot of heat and thats what you don't want. I personally don't take the chance unless racing

I started to go outside today to start the car and see what needed adjusting and to finish the break in and it started storming. Ive only ran a tank through this car and I really wont get to mess with it until next friday. It won't hurt the engine that I didn't do the break in all at once will it?

no, your fine, just make sure the piston is on the bottom of the engine when your done running it, (when hot) but you can do the break in any time. Your supposed to let it cool between tanks anyways.

I took my car out on the porch (since its covered) and let the engine idle the rest of the fuel out. I noticed it seemed to have a little fuel spray from the exhaust which seemed to be constant and when it ran out of fuel I turned the car sideways to see if there was any fuel in the exhaust and a few dime size drops came out. It was a little thick too. Any suggestions? Sorry for all the questions I just really suck with this thing :P.

dont worry about the questions, its normal during break in to see oil shooting out of the exhaust, that means its getting enough oil. you will find that when the car is tipped on the exhaust side oil will come out no matter how you tune it, this is how the engine gets lubricated, its in the fuel and comes out with the exhaust.

Thanks. I really appreciate all the help and how quickly you guys respond.

we try, lol

Ive had my 1/10 buggy for like 2 months but i cant tell if the piston is on the bottom or top... how can i tell?

if you have had it for 2 months, and you cant tell now, then you didn't do breakin right lol. Take out the glow plug, and turn the flywheel until the piston is at the bottom. Get a mag light and look in the hole if you cant see it. Then mark the flywheel. Its important to do this during breakin and whenever you remember to afterwards.

My LHS broke it in...they have a great service. I think it was like 10 bucks but they payed for the fuel came back like a day or two later and it was ready

[X(] I ment to say I not they... That would be a little scary if it was 10 for everything. Its really local to so the guys really help out a lot

Thats scary for me [X(] I break in engines all the time and use the better part of a quart of fuel (quart of fuel $11.99 WERKS)[&o] I hate to be a pesimist but $10.00 and they buy fuel makes me wonder...........I could be wrong but I don't hardly ever have break in problems come back on me and I charge $15.00 + fuel[8D] and I spend about 2 hours on a break in, but its at my own time

the guys by me charge $45 but they include the fuel, lol.

I charge a lot more for a bring in and always plus fuel