I've read a couple of threads that talk about the engine idling forever as though this is a bad thing? Is this true?
My hyper.21 runs great, not to hot, pulls away good and has a good top speed with smoke trail at WOT. However, it will stay idling for a good few minutes, just enough to stop the clutch engaging, with a nice constant sound. I'm not sure how long it will do this 'cos I just do what I need to do then send it on its way, but it has idled before for a good 5 mins while I've tinkered.
It started to get a little hot then, but only because there was no airflow over the heatsink. Should I be worried?

Worried you engine idles and runs perfect? Um...no. that is what most people would call a ideal tune. The fact that it continues to idle without loading up with fuel and dieing is a GOOD thing.

Thanks Todd, I knew I could rely on you to put my mind at rest.

hahha. No but serious, it sounds like you got that engine dialed.

Yeah, the engine's sweet. Its just the rest of the truck that keeps breaking. But do you know what? I don't mind. I get almost as much pleasure pulling it to bits, tinkering and upgrading etc.
Thanks to this forum, I'm now an addict.
Anyone got he number for Nitro Anonymous?

No but I think alot of people could use a 12 step program....including me! until then I'll just waste in my addiction.....

There might not be a Nitro Anonymous yet... but there will be if this hobby continues to grow like this.

Check out www.avatarsanonymous.com

Most RC engines are ABC or ABN engines which mean they have a tapered cylinder bore which allows continuous mating at the top of the piston/cylinder area which experiences differential expansion due to higher temps.

If you run your engine at an idle speed which does not heat the cylinder hot enough to expand, you risk unnecessary wear of the taper-it is what gives your engine compression.

ABC/ABN engines were originally designed to be run at full throttle in racing.

I personally would not idle my engine excessively. I would never idle my engine to break it in. To do so is contradictory to the theory behind our ABC/ABN engines.

Oh, yes, I agree I wouldn't let it sit and idle for long periods of time, but having it tuned so it has the ability to do so is fine. And it beats the hell out of retrieving a dead car on the far side of the track to constantly restart it, because it dies when it sits for more than a few seconds.

I've also got a hyper .21 but my truck dies when it sits at an idle for more than 5-10 secs. Any suggestions?

maybe lean your low speed needle a 16th of a turn, and see if it helps any, to see what its going to take to get it right. If its dieing because its rich it needs leaned to run longer...if its dieing because its starving for fuel it need more fuel. Pretty basic carb adjustments really.

actually i read in RCCA that a dialed idle is one that lasts 20 seconds.

Im sure they said that. opinions on how to tune a nitro engine are like aZZholes. everyone has one. My buggy will idle all day long without stoping and its tuned *****ing.

If my car would only idle for 20 seconds at a time then die, I would be tweaking it so it didnt. Becaue a engine that dies evey twenty seconds would really piss me off. Anyone who knows what a pain in the ass starting one of these is would agree. Its not like a starter box is something you carry around in your pocket!

I suppose the idea behind it is that there is always more fuel than it needs and you can tell this by the way it loads up every 20 seconds to the point it dies. Actually mine probably will idle for 20-40 seconds before dieing. But I do have engines that are tuned to run very nice, and they seem to idle at will indefinately. I think alot of it matters on the engine desighn. You have to keep in mind all these engines run on Nitro, but they all have their little quirks about each individual one. Some a certain statement maybe totally accurate and for another engine thats similar, it could require and act completely different given the same tune. There is a little voo-doo majic involved with these nitro cars.

I disagree with that notion.

Idling has nothing to do with tuning.

I can get any piece of junk to idle like its dialed if what your saying is right!!

1) Works and pulls well when I blip the throttle
2) hauls ass whenI squeeze
3) doesnt stop when I break
4) Sings...and doesnt pop, stutter or choke.

ram

I think I agree with Todd about the vodoo!!!!!! LOL
All my opinion is that my engines idles fine, pulls away brilliantly (unless its been idling for a couple of mins then it takes a sec to clean out) and has a great top speed.
It starts first time in the day after about 4 pulls no matter what, and if it runs out of fuel (the only way my engine does stop) it starts first pull every time once I fill it up again.
If this set up is damaging my engine then somethings wrong I'm sure, as reading the problems that some people have with some engines (ahem, T-Maxx 2.5 anyone) I think I'm pretty lucky.