Rookie looking for advice

[Fast RC 007]

Hi everyone, I just started racing on HobbyTown Oshkosh Dirt Oval. It's my first Nitro and I could use any setup advise and Nitro advice. I have a DuraTrax Nitro Evader BX. Everyone at the track is very friendly and has given me some good tips and help, but they have their own cars to take care of too. But with what they have helped me with the car drives pretty good except the motor. So...here's where I need some more advise...I seem to be chasing the setup on the motor. It idles too fast, then too slow and stalls, I adjust the idle, low end, and high end, but as the weather changes over the course of the evening...I can't keep up with it. I get it to run good for one race, then the next race it doesn't run the same. What is a good start point for the settings? Maybe I need to go back to the begining and start over. I really enjoy racing on the oval, but am getting frustrated faster than I can drive. Thanks for your help.

-Sean

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[shrttrackr]

hey sean

chasing a motor adjustment when running outside is always a lot of fun.;) i cannot tell you a base starting point as i do not run one of the duratrax engines. i would bet that the carbeurator on that engine is not very good. the carbs are usually the weak point of the ready to run vehicles.

an OS (10a or 10e) carb will make almost any engine easy to tune. see if one will fit on your car and then look for a good used one. you can usually find them pretty cheap.

as for chasing the settings through the night.... USUALLY, as the night falls, you will need to lean the engine mixture to make up for the change....BUT, you have to have your motor tuned correctly for the day time first.

big worm...any advice for this guy?

hope this helps a little.

craig

[Fast RC 007]

Thanks Craig, btw...the engine is an OS DTX .18 (3.0cc)

[Dirtdog]

It sounds like you have an air leak somewhere. Check at the base of the carb. Make sure it is pushed down and the cinch nut is tight. Make sure the glow plug is tight also. Pressure test your fuel lines and fuel tank to see if they hold pressure. O.S. engines are some of the easiest engines to tune, so you probably have a mechanical problem somewhere. A fast idle on an engine usually indicates a lean bottom end. They will make a fast funny sound when they idle. Nitro engines are a peculiar beast. They are a handful for a beginner, but with time and knowledge, they can be mastered. I was a total klutz when I first got into racing nitro cars, but I can tune almost any engine now. One thing I learned, is to adjust one needle at a time. There are many more things that I could tell you to check, but space is limited. Hang in there, things get alot easier as time goes on.

[Fast RC 007]

Thanks DirtDog.

[Fast RC 007]

Well, I raced Sat night in Oshkosh and had much better luck. I tightened all connections on the engine, replaced all the fuel lines, re-routed the main fuel line to go up above the tank then back down to the engine (it ran down beside the tank before), added a couple of loops in the line to the exaust to maintain backpressure (it was filling with fuel before), and re-set the needles to the manufactures starting suggustions. This, plus some fine tuning on the carb from John at the track, and the engine ran good all night. I don't feel quite as dumb as before. Thanks for your advise guys and feel free to post some more, I still have a lot to learn.

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[Fast RC 007]

my engine is running good and i have good speed, but i can't seem to make a good corner. i have to completely lay off the throttle and slam the wheels to the left to get the car to turn, and then it only does so after it is almost stopped and just coasting. how do i tune for steering?

[aceedmonds]

put some weight in the front of the car

[mkiiracer]

get some softer springs in the frount. also try a 30 to 35 shock oil
set your castor and camber for an even tire wear the they are easier to control when you have maximum tread on the ground when you need it the most.
and practice practice practice.

[Fast RC 007]

thanks guys, i'll give that a try.