Gen X Hobbies Rc Car super store for Nitro Rc Cars and Electric Rc Cars

Nitro Car and Truck FQA

My engine isn't old but it's "worn out", why?
Things that cause the engine to wear quickly:
-Improper air filtration
-Running too lean
-Not enough cooling
-Cheap fuel
The solutions:
Improper air filtration... keep your air filter clean and oiled, upgrade to a high performance air filter if you run in areas with excessive dust. You'd be amazed at the engines that we see come in with dirt all over the inside of the engine.
Running too lean... adjust the carb. as often as needed so that you see a nice trail of smoke at FULL SPEED. Running it too lean on the top end will overheat the engine.
Not enough cooling... cut out your body windows according to instructions. If you don't have enough airflow over the head you won't be able to keep the engine cool. It is highly recommended that you purchase some sort of temperature gauge. Engine temperatures over 250F will cause the engine to wear quickly.
Cheap fuel... don't buy $10/gallon fuel that is blended for airplanes. Car fuel is designed for cars, the oil blend is different than helicopters and airplane fuel. Not all car fuels are the same, some have less oil than others. Too much oil will bog down the engine at idle and decrease performance, not enough oil will make the engine wear more quickly. Car fuel labeled "Race" usually has a little less oil, it is intended for maximum performance at the expense of engine life. If you are driving off-road you really don't need a "Race" blend. The fuel is what lubricates and cools the engine, don't skimp on quality.

How do I stop the engine?
If the engine is tuned properly (not too rich or too lean), it is perfectly safe to let the fuel run out completely and let the engine die. If you want to stop running the car before the fuel runs out, use a rag to stick over the exhaust tip to stop the engine. Make sure it is thick enough or bunched up so you do not burn your hand. Do not use your thumb over the air filter to stop the engine, you may push dirt from the filter into the engine. NOTE: NEVER use your finger or thumb to stop the flywheel of the engine, this is very dangerous and possibly harmful to your hand!

Top of page

When I hit the brakes, why does the engine shut off?
Your idle speed adjustment screw is incorrectly tuned. When you apply full brakes, the carburetor opening must not be completely shut off. To adjust the engine's idle speed, see the engine tuning sheet that came with the engine or your kit.

How do I know if my engine is flooded?
The quickest way to tell if your engine is flooded is if when pulling the starter cord, the engine seems to "lock up" and the car lifts off the ground. If this happens, don't pull on the cord any more! This is often called "hydro lock" and trying to pull the cord will break the pull starter spring, the pull start string or damage the engine. Another way to tell your engine is flooded is if you know the glow plug is new, the battery in the glow plug igniter is fresh and the engine still won't start after many pulls on the starter cord.

How do I un-flood my engine?
There are two methods of "un-flooding" the engine: The first requires you to use an 8mm socket to take out the glow plug (don't lose the washer!) and turn the car upside down. Pull the starter cord slowly. If the engine is flooded, you will see several drops of fuel fall out of the engine. After pulling the cord a few more times and seeing no extra fuel come out, replace the glow plug and washer, then re-prime the engine properly and it should start right up. The second method doesn't require any tools, but if the starter cord is locked up, you must not use this method! Close the needle valve (clockwise) all the way, open it (counterclockwise) a few clicks or 1/8 of a turn, put the glow plug igniter on the glow plug, and pull the starter cord. Closing the needle valve cuts off the fuel flow from the tank, and when the engine starts up it will run for a second or two, then cut off. This burns up the fuel that was in the engine. Now you can set the needle valve where it was previously, and re-prime and start the engine.
Top of page

The engine dies when glow plug igniter is removed!
Your glow plug is bad or damaged. It must be replaced with a similar glow plug. It is always suggested that you keep 2-4 glow plugs available as spares at all times.

How much smoke should be coming out?
When the car is idling (engine running, car not moving at all), a small amount of smoke should be coming from the muffler or tuned pipe. At full throttle, there should be a large amount of blue-white smoke coming from the muffler or tuned pipe. If you put your hand about 6 inches (15cm) from the opening of the muffler or pipe for a few seconds while the engine is running at full throttle, you should have a light coating of oil on your hand.

What should I do with the air filter?
The air filter is a critical component of your engine. We cannot stress enough that for proper care of your engine, the air filter must be in proper working order. The air filter in all of our Nitro kits is pre-oiled for your convenience, however it must be cleaned and re-oiled after running 2-3 tanks of fuel. To clean the air filter, take the foam filter element out of the rubber boot and use fresh Nitro fuel to rinse the dirt from the foam element. Use your fingers to work the dirt out of the foam. When all the dirt particles are removed (this may take several rinses), squeeze out any Nitro fuel then apply a small amount of foam element air filter oil. Install the foam element in the rubber air filter boot, making sure that the foam is fully seated in the boot with no open spaces around it that air can leak through.

Why won't the pull starter pull all the way out?
The pull starter should only be pulled out about one foot (30cm) to start the engine. It is able to pull out up to 2 feet, but this extra length is only slack to prevent damage to the pull starter spring. If you cannot pull the string out even one foot (30cm), the engine is probably flooded.
Top of page

My tires start spinning when the engine starts!
Your idle speed is too high and/or your clutch shoes have melted to the inside of the engine's clutch bell (the black metal gear attached to the engine). To adjust the engine's idle speed, see the engine tuning sheet that came with the engine or your kit.

Why do my spur gears keep stripping?
Stripping a spur gear (a flat spot on the plastic gear that turns the drive-train of the car) is not caused by the spur gear or pinion gear. A stripped spur gear is caused by the pinion gear not having the correct mesh with the spur gear.

What does a slipper clutch do?
A slipper clutch is a device that fits on or near the spur gear, and helps absorb "drive-train shock" that occurs when a car lands from a jump. A slipper clutch also helps aid traction in slippery conditions, since it acts as a mechanical way to limit the power that reaches the drive-train.

My car is glitching/I can't control my car!
The first thing you should do before starting to run your car is make sure no one is on the same frequency as you are. In the US, frequencies are labeled with a simple number. In other countries, most racers use the last digits after the decimal point to identify the radio frequency they are on. Before running your car you MUST make certain that no one else will be interfering with the radio frequency you are using. After making sure you are on a clear frequency, check these items, in order: radio antenna fully extended, radio batteries fully charged or fresh, the receiver antenna wire is not touching graphite or metal items, the receiver or transmitter crystal is not broken, the receiver is mounted as high as possible on the chassis, or finally the receiver is mounted so the crystal is as far above the chassis as possible. If none of these help, contact the manufacturer.
Top of page

Electric Rc Car and Truck FAQ's

How long does a battery last?
The "runtime", or the length of time you can drive an electric car, will vary depending on the type of motor you use and the type of battery you use. Runtimes can vary from 4 minutes or less to up to 30 minutes! Typically, as a hobbyist driving your car in your driveway or parking lot, you can get between 4 to 6 minutes of good, fast runtime out of your batteries.

How long does battery charging take?
Battery charging can range from 15 minutes to almost 40 minutes. Most batteries that R/C newcomers buy will be charged in 15 to 20 minutes. Each battery has a "milliamp capacity", this is the number printed on the package (1400, 1500, 1700, 2000, 2400, 3000, etc.). The higher the number, the more power the battery holds and the longer it takes to charge the battery. Also, battery chargers can charge at different "amp rates", or power output, so a battery that can charge at 6 amps will charge a particular batter faster than a charger that's charging up that same battery at 4 amps.

Are saddle or stick packs better?
For R/C newcomers, stick-type battery packs are fine. Saddle-type battery packs are better for racing (in kits that use these types of batteries), however you don't have to worry about this if you're just starting out.
Top of page

Do I have to build battery packs?
Usually, only the highest-quality batteries are packaged in what is called "6-cell loose packs". These batteries must be soldered together and attached with wires and metal bars. Like saddle packs (above), these batteries are best left for racers and if you're just starting out you don't need to buy these 6-cell loose packs.

What motor should I get?
For your first motor, we recommend a standard "stock" motor that has 27 turns. If this is not available, a motor with 17 to 23 turns is recommended. These are low-speed motors that allow you to get used to driving the car. If you do crash it or hit something, you probably won't be going that fast to do much damage to the body or car itself. More experienced hobbyists can pick a lower-wind motor (11 to 16 turns), which goes much faster. Popular motor manufacturers include Team Orion, Reedy, Trinity, Peak, and many others.

What do winds/turns on the motor mean?
A "turn" is the length of wire that is wrapped around the part of the motor spins inside (called the armature). The more turns on the armature, the slower it turns, and the less turns, the faster it spins. The highest turn motors are the slowest, these are the 27 turn "stock" motors popular in the United States. The lowest turn "modified" motors are the fastest, these range from 7 to 9 turns. Modified motors use much more power than a stock motor. A "wind" is the number of wires that are used to wrap around the part of the motor that spins inside (called the armature). For Touring Car use, the most popular wind for a modified motor is a "double wind", meaning that two wires are wrapped around the armature. Stock 27-turn motors use a "single" wind, so only one wire is wrapped around the armature, 27 times. The lower the number of winds, the faster the motor reaches top speed and the more torque it has. The higher the number of winds (usually up to six), the slower the motor reaches top speed. High-wind motors are usually used to race pan cars.

Why do some racers solder their battery/motor wires instead of use plugs?
Most battery plugs are very inefficient in use and racers want to squeeze every bit of power out of their motors and batteries. Soldering the wires directly to the motor and/or battery instead of using plugs is one way to regain some of the lost battery power. There are a couple of types of plugs that lose almost no power, however pre-assembled battery packs aren't equipped with them.
Top of page