Frequently Asked Questions Factory Carb Settings How do I start the engine? How do I break in the engine? When I hit the brakes, why does the engine shut off? Why does my engine stop when the tank is still half-full? What should the engine temperature be? How can I improve the performance using the exhaust system? How do I know the engine is running properly? My glow plug looks good but the engine doesn’t start, why? What kind of fuel should I get? Do I need break in fuel? How do I maintain the engine? What is after run oil and how do I use it? What should I do with the air filter? My engine isn't old but it's "worn out", why?

How do I start the engine? Fill up the fuel tank and “dry-start” the engine for about 5 seconds with the carburetor in idle position and without applying the glow plug driver; this allows the fuel to reach the engine. Then apply the glow plug driver and start the engine. The engine should fire up immediately. If the engine does not fire up immediately, check the fuel line to see if fuel is reaching the carburetor. If fuel is not reaching the carburetor, remove the glow plug driver, cover the exhaust tailpipe and “dry-start” the engine for about 3 seconds. This will build extra pressure in the line to the fuel tank, causing the fuel to be pushed to the carburetor. Apply the glow plug driver and start the engine. Once the engine has started apply a little throttle and allow the engine to warm up to operating temperature.

How do I break in the engine? A gas powered engine requires careful running in to allow the internal parts to achieve proper operating clearances. Enrich the fuel-mixture from factory position by turning the main needle 1/2 turn counter-clockwise. Run the car up to half-speed (at most) using moderate acceleration. Do this for 4 - 5 tanks of fuel. On the next 3 tanks of fuel, slowly increase the speed and acceleration, and start leaning the main needle setting by turning the needle clockwise.

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.

Why does my engine stop when the tank is still half-full? Your engine is running too lean. Because not enough fuel is getting through the carburetor, the engine runs too hot and shuts off by itself. The high-speed needle must be adjusted so more fuel gets to the engine.

What should the engine temperature be? The right engine temperature will vary widely, depending on the air temperature, fuel used, altitude, driving style, air flow conditions of the body and several other factors. There is absolutely no way anyone can tell you an ideal engine temperature. It is generally accepted that a proper range of temperatures is between 95 and 115 degrees Celsius (or about 205 and 240 degrees Fahrenheit). The biggest variable of all in measuring engine temperature is where and how the measurement is taken. Your infrared thermometer may be calibrated completely different than ours, or you may be pointing at a different spot on the head. We usually check the temperature pointing the infrared on the glow plug.

How can I improve the performance using the exhaust system? The exhaust system has 2 functions: to silence the engine and to optimize the performance of the engine. Silencing is determined by the design and constructions of the pipe (i.e., the number of chambers and the diameter of the tailpipe), while performance is governed by the shape and length of the exhaust system. Shortening the length of the exhaust system will improve top-speed performance at the expense of some bottom-end torque. Lengthening the length of the exhaust system will improve bottom-end torque at the expense of some top-speed performance. However, shortening or lengthening the exhaust system beyond a certainpoint will dramatically decrease performance.

How do I know the engine is running properly? The fastest way to know if your engine is running properly is to read the glow plug and the under head. It is usually possible to take out a new glow plug of an engine and look at it closely to see if the engine is running too rich, too lean, etc. Using a new glow plug, install it in the engine you want to test. Run the engine for a full tank of fuel at race speeds. When the engine runs rich the wire is wet and shiny and the under head is white coloured. Normally when the engine runs lean the wire is dry and out of shape; the surface of the under head could be damaged. The wire is lightly wet and shiny and the under head is gold coloured when your engine is well tuned.

My glow plug looks good but the engine doesn’t start, why? Sometimes the wire looks good but it is broken. To know it check the condition of the glow plug by taking it out of the engine and applying a glow plug driver to it. The coils of the spiral wire should glow a bright orange-white.If the glow plug wire does not glow, check the battery in the glow plug driver by testing a new glow plug. If the glow plug driver cannot cause the wire on a new glow plug to glow brightly, replace the battery. Broken glow plugs are typically caused by running the engine too lean. Always unscrew the main needle setting after you have experienced a glow plug failure.

What kind of fuel should I get? Only use commercially available fuel formulated for model engines. For the .12 and .15 engine, we recommend using a fuel with 16% nitromethane, and a minimum of 10% oil. With the .21 we recommend 25% nitromethane.Before using the fuel, shake the fuel can thoroughly to blend the oil and nitro with the methanol.Do not leave the fuel can open for long periods, as methanol quickly absorbs moisture from the air. This degrades the quality of the fuel, and increases the potential of corrosion forming inside the engine.Do not use fuel that has been unused for 6 months or longer.

Do I need break in fuel? We have not found any special properties or advantages of using these running in fuels. We use and recommend regular fuel to break in engines, using the same nitro content and brand fuel that we will run in the engine when racing.

How do I maintain the engine? A Novarossi engine requires little maintenance as long as the engine does not overheat and proper fuel and air filter areused. After each run: dry up anyfuel that may remain inside the engine; wash the engine (when it is cold) using a mixture of petrol and oil at 10%; clean the air filter or replace it if necessary; add a high grade “after run” oil (code:1O1) into the engine to avoid internal corrosion.

What is after run oil and how do I use it? After run oil is a special oil that is meant to be used when an engine is to be stored for more than a week and not run.Take off the air filter and glow plug, and drop about 5 drops of oil into each opening. Rotate the flywheel several complete rotations (pull the pullstarter spring or turn the flywheel on a starter box) to cycle the oil throughout the engine's internal parts. We highly recommend using after run oil on any engine that you do not plan to run for more than a week. Do not use a lubricant like WD-40 or oil that contains silicones on the internal surfaces of your nitro engine. We recommend Novarossi after run oil (code:1O1).

What should I do with the air filter? The air filter is a critical component of your engine. A properly maintained air filter is essential to the life and performance of the engine. Never run your engine without an air filter because dust and dirt will enter the engine and severely damage it. Always use air filter oil on your air filter; the oil softens the foam, allowing it to trap dirt more easily.Do not let your foam air filter become dried out. Apply some air filter oil to the foam and rub the foam between your fingers to work in the oil. Make sure that the air filter is completely oiled and stays so at all times. To clean the air filter, take the foam filter element out of the rubber boot and use an appropriate cleaner 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), 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.

My engine isn't old but it's "worn out", why? Not enough cooling, running too lean, improper air filtration and cheap fuel cause quickly worn out of your engine. The solutions: Not enough cooling: If you don't have enough airflow over the head you won't be able to keep the engine cool.Cut out your body according to the organizers rules. Engine temperatures over 115°C (240°F) will cause the engine to wear quickly. Running too lean... adjust the carb as often as needed so that you see the right trail of smoke at full speed. Running it too lean on the top end will overheat the engine. Improper air filtration: keep your air filter clean and oiled, upgrade to a high performance air filter (for instance Novarossi air filter code 30001or 34350) if you run in areas with excessive dust. Cheap fuel: don't use cheap fuel. Not all 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. The fuel is what lubricates and cools the engine, don't skimp on quality.

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