Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Land Models / August 2006

I think you'll find it was 250f - I'm pretty sure it would be dead if it
went to 250c - thats like, what, 500-600f?  What engine specifically as we
taking about and what is it running in?  Some like to run hot (usually high
performance race spec lumps - RB WS7 II and the like).  Once you've ran a
few, you'll start to not use the temp gauge, you'll get used to the sound
and the feel (performance wise) and you'll know when it's dialled in nicely.

Well to be fair, I've over-leaned engines many a times, as long as you don't
just keep driving it and adjust it after it's complained you'll be alright,
you might reduce it's life by a bit, but I usually get bored and change
engines before this has ever mattered hehe :-)

Yea that sounds about right, probably means you can lean your LSN another
tiny touch, but if it's taking off ok anyway, leave it.  Personally, my Sav
has a slightly over rich bottom end as a kind of primitive launch control -
if I dial it in perfect it spends it's day flipping over with wheelies :-).
The advantage of course of this as well is I'm probably saving my rear diff
a lot of pain.

No probs, HTH.

Not at all my friend!

That's 482* F!!  Like Dan has already suggested, recheck your guage and make
sure it's reading celcius and not F.  If it was 250F you're doing ok; if it
was 250*C start looking for a new motor.  I've only seen one motor run even
close to that temp without immediately dying and that was a Wasp .18 that
was running 410*F-ish.  It blew it's little guts out all over my yard within
a few minutes at this temp.  Anything above 300*F (149*C) indicates that the
HSN is too lean.

Temps are pretty consistent across the board of engine sizes, from .12 to
.32.  Just about everything is happiest between 240*-300* F.  Some of the
Italian racing mills will run in the 350-375's all day long, but they cost
more than the vehicle they're in!  I have found that a nitro mill will
overheat long before it's reached it's performance potential, so if you tune
solely based on performance and smoke trail and ignore temp altogether
you're likely gunna be running her on the hot side.

FWIW, I have a .25 in my Savage with around 15 gallons of fuel thru it (yes,
15!).  It runs like brand new and shows no signs of giving up the ghost
anytime soon.  She has always been run 275-300*F on O'Donnell's 20% Race
Blend with OS A3 (fall and winter) and #8 (spring and summer) and had Marvel
Mystery Oil squirted down the carb as after-run oil after each session.
These little motors will run forever if you take care of them correctly and
pay close attention to tuning and temp.

<Dan, I know you're reading this...................and to you I
say.................I might be a bit anal with my nitro stuff, but who's
engine has more fuel run thru it and is still running strong and whose if
full of sand and in need of replacement!  :-) >

The first one is always a bugger to get a feel for.  I killed a motor <poor
little thing> before I got good at tuning.  I started in this hobby all by
myself, just like you.  I didn't find this group until after I had started
to get a feel for it.  I know how you feel!  Just start rich and SLOWLY lean
the HSN out until the performance and temps are within acceptable ranges.
Ask lots of questions on here; there are some very knowledgeable folks who
are willing to give their time and advice.  I'm very anal with my tuning,
running, cleaning and maintenance; others are quite the opposite.  Somewhere
in-between the two is probably the best!

Yup.  A healthy puff off-idle is just fine; as long as you can see
blue/white at WOT and max speed you're doing allright.

Doc

On paper they look good.  Real good.  Unfortunately they're a bit of a
bugger to purchase and get parts for on this side of the pond; they seem to
be much more prolific over in the UK and Oz.  They're rated around 3.5 HP
aren't they?  Have you looked at the Axial and SureFire .32's?  They
definitely have my attention.............

Doc