RC Car Engine - Radio Control Hobbies

In order to keep your remote control car in top shape, it’s important to take very good care of its engine. Just like a regular vehicle, the engine is the most important part. If it stops working, the whole car will cease to function.

If your engine is having trouble, there are some things you can do to troubleshoot it. First, make sure the piston and sleeve are working. If your car is a nitro-powered car, remove the glow plug and turn the flywheel. When the piston reaches the center, you should feel a bit of resistance. If there is no resistance, there won’t be a tight enough fit for the engine to work well and the piston and sleeve may need to be replaced.

You probably already know to check the glow stick, but it’s not always the stick that’s the problem. Sometimes it’s the starter. Make sure the starter is fully charged and the contacts are clean and free of corrosion. Press the glow plug into the starter and keep an eye on the coil. As you place the plug into the starter, it should start to glow brightly right away. If it is dull or doesn’t glow, you need a new plug.

The process is the same in the case of electric starting systems. Just remember to make sure that the glow plus touches the head of the heat sink as you start the engine. If you forget to do this, the plug won’t light up because the circuit won’t be completed.

You need to ensure that the engine’s heat sink head and the screws on the back plate are tightened well. If you torque the screws one at a time, the parts will be warped and won’t seal correctly, so tighten them in the correct pattern.

If you need to access the back plate in a pull start engine, you will have to remove the starter housing. Just make sure you don’t accidentally uncoil the starter spring as you do this! You can put a screwdriver in between the housing of the back plate to make sure the spring doesn’t pop out, and then you can tape the assembly after it’s been removed so the spring won’t fall out while you work.

Check out the gaskets and the O-rings. These seal the carburetor base and back plate. If these are damaged, there won’t be a good seal, so they will need to be replaced. You can also use Permatex Ultra Copper sealant or another similar sealant to make sure there are no air leaks in this area.

If your engine shuts down as soon as you accelerate, you should check the idle-limit screw. This screw is right in front of the opening of the carburetor. The screw should leave about a 1 mm opening when the brake is applied. If not, you should adjust this. If the screw turns loosely, you can place a drop of thread-lock onto it to keep the engine from vibrating and causing drift.

Also, make sure to check out the fuel lines for leaks. Even the tiniest leaks in the fuel and pressure lines can cause problems with starting and operation. Fuel tubing is very inexpensive, so if you’re ever having problems you can’t diagnose, try replacing the tubing.