Running In

There is nothing more important in the life of an engine both for its longevity and performance than to run it in properly. Skimp on the running in and it's almost a certainty that you will have problems with an engine.

This is a boring task but in the long run will give you a longer lasting and more reliable engine. The lubrication for all the internal parts of the engine is mixed into the fuel, this is why the running in process is important. Before starting an engine run fuel through the system and through the engine, when starting go slow and careful not to cause any damage by over revving . By running the engine rich to begin with you are ensuring there is plenty of lubrication available to all the new parts as they bed into place.

Although an engine running to lean will run faster than one running rich the fact that less lubricant is getting to the moving parts will cause excess friction, overheating, loss of compression and in extreme situations the engine will seize. Run the engine rich for around six tanks before you lean the engine and make it race ready. It is recommended to run the engine in while driving around and not sitting on blocks, during this process max rpm should not be reached.

After six tanks slowly start to lean the engine, turning the main jet needle clockwise, ensuring there is smoke from the exhaust at all times. As a general rule the engine shouldn’t run above 100deg C in any application. If you continue to lean the engine you are reducing the oil level in the engine and increasing wear and heat.

The low end bottom needle is designed to improve idling and quicker engine response to full throttle. The bottom needle should be turned cautiously one eighth of a turn at a time in a clockwise direction (leaning the mixture). This action is necessary if the motor hesitates and blows a lot of exhaust smoke when the throttle is initially opened. On the flip side if the engine initially has no smoke and when it returns to idle the engine cuts then richen the bottom needle.

PROBLEMS STARTING THE ENGINE

Hydraulic lock.

Excess fuel in the chamber. Remove the glow plug, turn the car upside down and allow excess to fuel to run away

Ignition problems.

Remove the plug and try lighting the plug, if there is not a strong glow the wire in the plug may have broken but first check the ignition battery

Fuel starvation.

Check all pipe work and fuel tank for blockages. Be careful when removing the needles from the carb to ensure exact replacement once cleaned. Settings to lean top and bottom.

Wrong type of fuel.

When choosing a fuel you should select a well known brand and one which will suit your application. On road engines are designed to use less oil (5-8%) than off road (10-12%). Also make sure to check you use the correct Nitro content for your engine. Check instructions for the correct recommendations.

No idle.

Engine too lean on bottom so starving the engine, or too rich so flooding the engine with fuel. No compression between piston and sleeve, engine has become to hot and worn out. Idle to closed when carb is shut. Wrong type of fuel for your engine.

When running the engines it is just as important to keep the air filters clean and well oiled. This will help keep the internals of the engine clean and again reduce wear and increase life and reliability. 

Thanks to Helger Racing for the use of their information