Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Land Models / July 2005

It depends on alot of factors. I think 4-5 gallons is not unusual to be the
time to rebuild. Do you use after run oil? Do you loosen the spark plug
after running? Do you check the engine temp frequently? If the engine was
running hot, which I've heard these engines do, then that could cause early
compression problems. The 1st thing I do is invest in an aftermarket cooling
head. I prefer the Crazy Nut Racing head. It is awesome! (No I don't work
for them!) These can all help prolong engine life. Hope this helps.
                            Scott

4 gallons in 5 weeks? (!)
geez. Im insanely jealous. I feel lucky to have found time to kill a half
gallon this year.
Yeah, its possible its worn already.
test it when cool. still loose?
What fuel are you using? (makes a difference!)
Glow plug loose? crap on the gasket causing a leak? Head bolts loose?

Hi, all.  I'm having a similar problem with my new Jato.  However, I'
still working on the first gallon!!  I broke it in per the manual, an
have been very careful keeping it on the rich side, but now I get
half tank and it quits and doesn't want to start until it cools.  
don't have a temp gauge yet but it seems to be overheating.  I can tel
when its hot and its HOT HOT and it gets HOT HOT.  Even when it's cool
with the glow plug removed there is "NO" sticking at TDC.  If I clos
my eyes and spin it I can't tell when it hits top it's so smooth.  I'
wondering if this is a bad thing.  It's been really hot lately (90s
100s), so I'm wondering if it didn't ruin the sleeve no matter how ric
I kept it.  I'm running Eliminator 20%, btw.  I want a bigger heat sink
but have heard mixed feelings about them.

Superfl

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superfly13_6

Oh, one more thing.  I took the head off to take a peek at the sleeve,
and there's no marks or discoloration.  Shiny silver throughout.  This
might help diagnose my problem.

Okay, I feel like a goober now.  After 3 days of tinkering and cleaning
and resetting needles and inspecting the carb and getting downright
angry at what seemed to be a substandard engine, I fixed my problem.
The idle was too low.

It idled fine when I first start it up, but half tank later, it would
die usually after coming to a stop after a big acceleration.  So,
whadyaknow, raising the idle means two tanks and still running.
Although, there are a few other factors too.  It's cooler today, and I
lengthened the pressure line about double, and halved the fuel line
too.  I heard those were areas on the T-Maxx that could solve some
problems.  But it didn't cure until I raised the idle.  Not wanting to
tinker with anything anymore, I'm not going to go back and figure out
whether they helped or not.  I'm just going to go beg my wife to let me
go to the track.  Later, all.

Superfly

Looks like I REALLY solved my problem this time.  My problem got fixe
today. It was my fuel. Or should I say it was my OIL. I've been usin
Eliminator 20% Nitro 18% oil, and after about 1/2 gallon thru it i
would get thru about 1/2 tank and then die. Usually because it was ver
hot. I don't have a temp gauge but I can tell when it's HOT. Didn't hav
too much compression when it was that hot, too. I richened it to th
point where it would barely run and it seemed to make the proble
worse. It's been 100-105F here lately so I got myself a CrazyNut hea
thinking it would solve my woes. It didn't. Better, but I stil
couldn't get a tank thru without overheating even with that big ROUN
head they have.  So, on a hunch from reading all the posts o
overheating engines, I went to Trinity Monster 20% Nitro 12% oil (jus
like all the fuels Traxxas recommends). AFter 1/2 tank I felt the to
of the head and it was like a warm blanket. Right then and there I kne
I had solved my problem.

It seems too much oil can heat an engine. I read this on a few post
out there. I don't really know why. Maybe because it has to get rid o
all that oil so you are forced to tune it in such a way that it heat
up really quick to an "overheating condition". Then 5 minutes later, i
becomes too overheated and compression goes down like a Led Zeppelin
Voila. 10 minutes later it starts just fine.

I ran this new fuel (the other stuff was new too, btw) thru
continuous tanks at low medium & high speeds. Purrs like a kitten now

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superfly13_6