Dissappointed so far
 

I am having nothing but issues with my Earthquake 3.0 so far. 1st off was the plastice piece that connects the steering servo to the steering linkage was broken from the factorey, I replaced it with a generic servo saver but now the steering is horrendous.

I can't get the engine to run whatsoever to even break it in, I have about 1 1/2 tanks of fuel through it so far, I am now trying to drive for the 2nd tank in the break-in but i can't get the car to idle right at all. If I slow the idle down to where the car doesn't take off then the engine dies, if I speed it up enough to keep the engine running then there is no point in using the throttle for the driving because then the rpm's go to high, and then it is very hard to stop because the brake is trying to stop a car while the driveline is still pushing it.

I have had the car for a week now and Ihave not had any enjoyment with it at all. Extremely dissappointed so far.

Right now I have the low speed needle about 1 1/2 turns out, the high speed needle about 4 turns out and the idle needle is set to about 1 to 1 1/2 MM.
</p>

Can anyone help me out?? I researched these cars and everything pointed to them being a quality product, please someone get me going int the right direction so I am not proven wrong.</p>

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

I'll try to help you out I had the same problems with my vortex ss when I first started but it starts on the first pull now, first on the controller there is a knob that says throttle you can adjust it up and down so the rpm doesn't go so high then it won't take off by itself, always make sure the glow igniter is charged you can take your glow plug out and connect it to the igniter and the glow plug will glow red if it doesn't the igniters not charged enouge or the glow plug is burned out, I have the 3.0 and I have the high speed 2 1/2 turs out the big one , the low speed on the throttle set flush and the gap about 1 mm, next you will want to fill your shocks with 80 weight silicon shock oil they don't put very much from the factory in the shocks so it will bounce alot you want it to land and not bounce, it's about 3-4 dollars a bottle. I hope this helps you out.

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

did you buy it new? Have you talked to Redcat. Check out Youtube (Alishanmao) he works for Redcat and has a lot of user freindly vids on there. If you just search Redcat racing Earthquakeyou will find him.

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

I haven't talked to Redcat yet, I did buy it new. I managed to get one tank through during breakin but it was just the idling one and it was still idling very fat, I had it up against a awall so it wouldn't take off.

I have watched the Ali Shan Mao videos and I have tried following them but nothing I do seems to work on the motor.</p>

I bought it from a dealer on Ebay though and they have a no return policy (not a good idea I guess) so I really need to try and get this going.</p>

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

I had a few problems with mine it an 8e series not nitro, he is on this forum also or you can try him through his youtube account, I have emailed him a few times and he emails right back. And on the return policy it only applies if you have a warranty issue in the first 90 days go to Redcats website. I think you should find some others who are running those motors on here in the Earthquake,Backdraft ect............ Good luck.

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

Ya got your needles out of whack to begin with.. Try putting them both at 3 turns out, and reset you idle gap screw (with pressure on the arm trying to close the throttle) to 1mm.. Also -VERYIMPORTANT-, if you have a rotary carb, set the LSN with the arm in the "full throttle" position. If it's a slide carb, slide the arm all the way out (full throttle)before setting the LSN.. Slowly screw em in until you feel resistance, then 3 (360*) turns out.. That should put the screw just about flush with the edges of the base.. Same with the HSN, 3 full turns out should be close to flush, but probably will be slightly "in".. Anyway, with a freshly charged ignitor (and a new glow plug if you have one) warm up the engine with a hair dryer or heat gun for about 40 seconds, moving it around the engine every 10 seconds.. Then prime the carb, hook up the ignitor and give her a pull.. It'll run.. (If it stalls when ya remove the ignitor, lean out the LSN until it stays running w/o the ignitor..) The idle will be high for these stages of breakin, but after a tank or two it'll loosen up enough to let you richen the LSN again.. I wouldnt even worry about the idle and stuff until your done with the breakin. It'll keep getting faster and faster as the motor breaks in and loosens up.. Once your done with breakin, tune it for performance.. Also, resist the urge to gun the throttle during breakin.. Follow the directions and you should be good to go! Good luck! And Welcome to the forum!!:)

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

Once you put fuel in the engine and run it the car cannot be returned; check this out. http://www.redcatracing.com/information/warranty.html

If you have a defective part on the car such as the engine depending on the circumstances if you call redcat.com they will exchange it.

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

Thanks for the input, I will give it a try in the morning, I know the engine runs so thats just a matter of learning how to tune it, i will try setting the needles how you said.

My next problem is the steering, i put in the servo saver and had to add a small spacer under the servo to fit it, the servo saver doesn't touch anything but the sterring is very sluggish to say the least and turning to the left it is fine, but turning to the right sometimes it doesn't seem to go at all</p>

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

Yea, nitro can test your patience real quick! It's worth the work though, once ya get it tuned in, nothing beats hearin that nitro engine sing! :) About the steering.. The servo's they use are not very good, to say the least.. You'll have to keep "VERY" fresh batteries in it to get them to work right, (Definitely get a rechargeable "hump pack" 6v for therx.)and even then they sometimes go on the fritz pretty quick.. I updated the steering servo's in both my Redcat nitros.. If ya want a good, "cheap" servo for the steering, take a look at this one: Hobby Partz Servo Good luck!!</p>

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

Checkout this guy on youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/Squirrelod

Watch all his videos on nitro engine tuning; he covers just about everything you need to know and want to know about rc cars
You should check them all out; they are pretty interesting.

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

I reset my needles and I can get the engine started in one pull, but the second i take out the glow plug igniter it dies.  Any suggestions?

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

Sounds like you need a new glowplug; go to the nearest HobbytownUSA and pick up a few.
Coldplugs are for warmer weather and medium/hot plugs are for colder weather you might want pick up a fuel filter also and see if they have any books on RC Basics believe me from experience it will help you out a lot.
Do yourself a favor and read your manual for the break in process completely; do not forget to do this and if you want your engine to last make sure you put your piston down at bottom dead center (BDC) check this video out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9uPLys90gQ


From what I heard and experienced the life of a nitro depends on how you break in thew engine and how you take care of it.
This is a pretty good book; it helped me out a lot.

https://secure.rcstore.com/pcd/eServ...lTdWJUZXJtPTA=

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

A new glow plug may help, but my new SH.18 did the same thing. (my old SH .18 would run w/o the ignitor, at 3 turns out on both needles, during breakin) but they've either done something new with the engines or the glow plugs?I leaned out my LSN until it would run w/o the ignitor, and did the breakin like that. Just make sure your brakes are adjusted (give the thumb screw a couple extraturns to tighten em' up)and continue with the breakin. With the LSN leaned out it'll make it idle pretty fast, enough that the car will probably want to drive off..So just do the figure 8's or whatever giving it 1/4 throttle blips and use the brakes when needed to slow it down and stop it. Use either a temp gun or a cup of water to keep track of your engine temp(flick a few drops on the head, and it should evaporate in about 5-7 seconds. If it sizzles the motors too hot and ya need to richen the LSN some) Dont let the engine get over 210* during breakin.. Once you get a few tanks through it, it'll loosen up and let you richen the LSN and keep running w/o the ignitor.. But even if it did run w/o the ignitor, at 3 turns out, it'd be so rich thatthe motor wouldnt get hot enough to properly breakin anyway..For it to work properly, the motor needs to get up to around 200-210 during the breakin/cooling periods, so your engine will have a long and healthy life.. OK, Go get em'!;)

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

Finally got the sterring fixed and engine broken in, running pretty rich right now, but when I lean out the high speed needle I can't prime the engine, the fuel won't go up the lines.  If I turn the needle out and richen it up by 2 turns the fuel will move, then I lean it out and start it up.  Anyone know why?

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

i know what you mean dude, i do more work on my car than running it
just blew the tranny yesterday, caught it on video...

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

If you've turned the HSN until it's not letting in fuel, it's WAY too lean.. 2 turns out (on an SH.18) HighSpeedNeedleis probably still too lean.. Now that ya have it broken in, set the needles for performance.. Since we know it's too rich at3 turns out, put them both at 2.5 turns out(reset your idle gap to 1mm) and go from there.. Use a couplefull throttle passes to set the HSN (needle where the fuel enters the carb) and use the "pinch test" to set the LSN (needle where the throttle linkage hooks up) Once ya have them set, you shouldnt have to mess with the LSNagain, just slightly tune the HSN for different weather conditions..

Full Throttle passes- Get theengine warm, find a long straightaway and hold it full throttle for about 4 seconds.. (4 actual seconds is quite a long time, so dont short it) Ya want the engine to reach top RPM's and either start missing or flame out (die).. If it doesnt do this, lean the HSN an 1/8 and do the pass again.. (note: this test could make your motor HOT sokeep an eye on your temps! If it gets over 250* (or spit sizzles on the head, shut it down and let it cool off a few minutes.) But what ya want to do is get it "too" lean, then back up your adjustment (richen) it an 1/8 of a turn, and your HSN should be good.. Also check the temp after ya get it set.. If it gets over 250* or spit sizzles on the head, richen it 1/8 and try again.. Ya want it to run good, but ya also want the motor to last..

Pinch test- after you've got the HSN set, and the car is good and warmed up, pinch the fuel line that enters the carb.. Ya want the engine RPM's to rise slightly and shut off within 4 seconds.. If it takes longer than 4 seconds, or rpm's rise substantially, the LSN is too rich.. If there is no rise in the RPMs at all, before it dies, the LSN is too lean.. Adjust in 1/8 turns, drive the car for a bit to let the change take effect, then do the test again..

After this ya should have it set and not have to mess with it as long as the outside temps or humidity doesnt change much.. If it does, just adjust your HSN to dial it in.. Good Luck!

NOTE:If ya dont want to pull your arm off tryin to start these things, ya need to prewarm the engine with a heat gun or hair dryer.. I use an old hair dryer and hold it on the engine about 10 seconds per side, and 10 straight down into the head) After that it'll start on the first pull most of the time!;)

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

Thanks for the advice, I'm gonna take it tothe park in the morning where I have plenty of open space to get some god runs in, we'll se what happens.  It was nice to actually get some tanks through it today, even running really rich it was keeping up with my friends 1/10 brushless truck.

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

Cool! If your keepin up with a brushless RC, your tune isnt too far off! A half turn off in these things can make em' go from spot on to not even hittin the board.. Just make sure you have the carb full "open" when ya adjust the LSN.. When it's closed the needle can bottom out on the spray bar inside the carb.. Put both the HSN and LSN at 2.5 out and set your idle gap at 1mm.. That should get ya goin enough to do the test runs and dial it in! I just tuned in a new SH.18 today (for performance) and my final settings are 2.5 out on the HSN and 1.5 out on the LSN.. I think my idle gap is 1mm, but I finally got the air cleaner on good and dont want to pull it to check.. If 1mm is too fast, just adjust your idle down with the idle screw.. My top temp, w/ above settings, was 209* (ambient was around 70* here today) Also, make sure your air filter is serurely attached to the carb!! I burnt up my 1st nitro due to not ginving the air cleaner the proper attention.. It'd fall off under the body and I'd just keep driving it, thinkin it'd be ok for "just a few more minutes".... Well, a gallon in and the motor lost compression, due to ingesting debris when the air cleaner wasnt attached.. Good luck!! Let me (us) know how she does!! :)

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

Well i got it to the park an put about a half a tank through it, I had the needles set, low sped 1 1/2 out, high speed 2 1/2 out, it started running a little sluggish so i checked the temp and it was around 260.  I turned the high speed out another half turn but then it wouldn't start up again so i parked it for the day.  Try again tomorrow. 

On the plus side when it was running i got some good jumps in with it, so it did put a smile on my face.

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

Did it go from running good to then sluggish? If so, the heat probably caused it.. But a "half turn" is ALOT!  260* is borderline, so ya shouldnt need to adjust much to get the temps down.. Make sure your body has a nice hole in the windshield that lines up with the "head" of the engine, so it can get air to it when your running.. Also, depending on how it runs, you may be able to richen both needles a 1/12 or so, to get the temps down into a more reasonable range.. Just use your instincts!! If it's running real good off the line, try richening the LSN a little, if it's running like a raped ape on the top end, richen the HSN a little.. But dont make big (ie: 1/2 turn) adjustments at one time, it'll throw it out of whack..  1/4 is as much as I do at a time, and that's only if its so far off that it wont run at all, or flames out, etc.. (something drastic) But glad ya had fun and hope ya get her dialed in here soon!! Your almost there, once ya get the tune close you can start havin some real fun!! Good luck and keep us informed!! :)

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

Well I have it just about tuned in now, I am still running a little hot, I have just been playing with the HSN to try and get it cool, I did notice that when I start off it takes off like no tomorrow so I think I can richen up the LSN some.  Will that help with cooling?

Did get some spectacular crashes out of it this afternoon and it just kept going, I gotta say it is a tough little truck.

RE: Dissappointed so far
 

Yea, the LSN will help with cooling too.. Glad ya got to do some bashin!