Nitro Engine Starting Tips

[Rednut05]

I'd mostly love some tips for starting a Nitro engine, glow start, on a cold day?

This is out in the field, no electrics to talk of.

Any tips?

[wildoliver]

Is it pull start, motor start or drill drive?

I hope you have some electric otherwise the glow plug could be hard lol!

Basically they can be a pain to start in the cold, some fuels are better than others, make sure your glow plug is newish, glow plug starter fully charged, prime the fuel through, stick glow charger on for 10 secs to get plug hot and try to start.

Obviously I am assuming your engine is set up correctly.

[sgrimshaw]

What sort of model?

[Rednut05]

It is a Hot Bodies Lighting Gt.

Drill start as opposed to pull start.

Well yes the glow plug has it's electrics!

Just wondered if there was any tips on starting them from the cold or best place to keep them etc..etc..?

I think I set it up right, runs fine, blueish smoke etc... but it is mu first one so there could be something i'm missing!? On a warmer day it starts quick enough though.
I guess it's mostly just the 'snows a comin'' cold weather.

[wildoliver]

If you can keep them indoor and warm they start a lot easier.

My fusion also is drill start (probably same engine) and is also a bugger to start in the cold, although when it is hot it starts easily.

[Rednut05]

Well I went biking and left it in the boot, so when I came back it'd be taken out a warm house, into a cold car and then sat there for quite a while while I was out on the trails.

I ended up sticking the aircon to blow into the foot wells and stuck the buggy in the foot well for a few minutes.

[sgrimshaw]

Make sure the glo starter is well charged.

Sticking the car in the hot airstream from the aircon is a good move.

I've found that loosening off the glow plug very slightly will reduce compression enough to make the engine turn over and therefore start more easily until you get some heat in the engine - it only takes a few seconds of running to get it warm.

Once fired up it'll usually run poorly so just let it die, tighten up the plug and then restart.

Don't know about your car, but my Traxass's with electric start hydrolock very easily, the loosening off helps avoid this too.

Simon

[wildoliver]

Just from an engineering point of view.........

Loosening the glow plug can cause hot gases to escape round the threads, which will in time "eat" the alloy. Not a good idea.

Also be carefull with hydrolocking, if it happens it will bend the conrod, which is not good!

[balsakkie]

hi there, have you considered a starter box, they cost around 30 pounds in a shop and around 10-20 on the internet, all you need is a drilling machine and bobs your uncle, im thinking of investing in one as ive broken my pull start to many times, go to your local rc shop and ask them they should be able to advise
you
good luck
wayne

[marandlau]

Swear at the bugger! Works every time!"