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ORIGINAL: bbradUSMC

I just picked up the Caldera 3.0: http://www.redcatracing.com/Caldera3-0

I am looking to do some upgrades.

Already thinking about this lipo: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...mpatible_.html

and this charger: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...cessories.html

Would also like to upgrade to metal servos and either a larger gas tank or run a secondary tank. Suggestions would be great.

If there are other upgrades I should do please throw them out there.

EDIT: Do I need an adapter for the charger to go to a house outlet? Will it work with my car battery? What is the expected charge time and run time with this set up?

I know lots of questions. I'm a newb to this world. I grew up building Jeeps not RC cars haha.

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ORIGINAL: Dads like rc too

I'm a little confused. You have a Caldera 3.0, Nitro right? What are the lipo's for? Yes you can put a bigger tank with some modification. Alloy steering knuckles are a must for the Caldera, leave everything else plastic. That charger needs a 12v power supply or a car battery for power.

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ORIGINAL: bbradUSMC

I will probably stick with plastic unless I break them more often than I think I will.
BTW my car seem to be getting very hot when running on only one tank. So hot that I think it is causing it to kill itself. What could cause this? I am running at the about stock setting, 2 - 2.5 turns from closed. I did not touch the low.

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ORIGINAL: Dads like rc too

Turns mean nothing, just a starting point. Your running too lean if it's getting hot at the end of a tank. If you have a temp gauge, tune so your around 230 degrees. If you don't have a gauge, make sure you still have good smoke when running. Also you can try the spit test, far from perfect but it at least gives you an idea of temp. Put some spit on the head, if it takes 4-5 seconds to evaporate you should be ok. If it sizzles your too hot. Also keep in mind with the cold spell everyone is experiencing right now that as the temp drops your engine will run leaner.

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ORIGINAL: bbradUSMC


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So the fuel helps keep the engine cool then? I am in Hawaii, temps stay between 70-85 here lol. I will keep that in mind when I make my way back to Texas though in a couple months. I think my buddy has a temp gun.
Also, how long should a glow plug last. I think the engine temp has a lot to do with it, but I am burning through them very fast. What is the norm for them to last?
What do you think about an E starter? One that has the shaft attatched to it and is hand held. That pull start gets old fast. I already broke the first one and had to buy another because I pulled too hard.

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ORIGINAL: Dads like rc too


yes, the fuel controls engine temp. The leaner the hotter. Leaner is faster also, have to find a good spot in the middle. The glow plugs are most definately going from one of two things. Either your just too lean and hot which kills plugs, or your continually flooding it which also puts a strain on the plug. Flooding is the other reason your having problems with the pull start. It's easy to understand why everyone wants a ez start when they're new to the hobby. I personally do not like them. It's another thing to carry around with you and keep charged. They can damage the engine also. Once you have some experience, you'll be starting your engine the first or second pull. Remember that when starting your engine if it doesn't start in a few pulls or at least cough or give you some sign that it wants to start within 10 or12 pulls, it's probably not going to start. Stop and see what's to right instead of just pulling and pulling.

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ORIGINAL: bbradUSMC


Makes sense. I think the combination of breaking in my engine, it was running very rich at that point, and it running too lean when I set it to ''stock'' setting, is causing my plugs to burn up. I will give it another half turn or so, run it a bt and check the temp. Yesterday I couldn't figure out why it ran all day and then wouldn't start anymore. Turned out my igniter was dead haha. Still learning.

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ORIGINAL: Dads like rc too


just remember, when in doubt turn it out. It will never hurt a thing to back the needles out and see some fuel spitting from the exhaust. Now you can tune in from there. Also keep in mind when adjusting and it's running good...leave it alone. Too many times we tend to "want a little more" out of these engines. Most of the time when they're running good they're not far from running too lean. If it's running good and still smoking, just have fun with it.

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ORIGINAL: Dads like rc too

Make sure your servo saver isn't adjusted too loose. If it is, your steering will be sluggish. Also, careful how big you go with tire size. The bigger they are the more low end you'll loose. You can compensate by changing your clutch bell. The less teeth on the bell, the greater the low end torque. Clutch bell from HPI Savage will fit.

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