NITRO RUSTLER • 35
• Check your fuel mixture settings. It may be necessary
to adjust the fuel mixture if the outside temperature
or barometric pressure has changed significantly since
the last time the engine was run (see Fine Tuning the
Carburetor on page 29). Turn the high-speed needle out
(rich/counterclockwise) 1/4 turn, hold the throttle trigger
at about 1/2 throttle and try again to start the engine.
Once started, retune the engine for performance (see
page 27).
• Check to make sure the fuel is getting to the carburetor.
Remove the fuel line where it connects to the carburetor
to see if there is fuel in it. If not, you may need to prime the
engine. Reconnect the fuel line and then refer to page 24
for instructions on priming the engine.
• The engine could be worn. If the fit between the piston
and sleeve is loose, compression is reduced, and the
engine will be difficult to start when it is warm and may
tend to stall when running and when the throttle is
closed suddenly to idle. Engine life depends on many
factors, including fuel type, air filter maintenance, needle
settings, and how the engine was used. For example, if
the engine was allowed to ingest dirt from lack of air filter
maintenance or running through water, then the internal
engine components could wear out extremely fast.
• Glow plug may have failed. If using an EZ-Start, check
to see if the glow plug light is on during starting. If not,
replace the glow plug. If using a glow ignitor, remove and
check the glow plug.
Engine performance sluggish:
• Engine performance depends mostly on the fuel mixture
settings and how they compensate for the current
atmospheric conditions. Before you suspect other failures
with the engine, richen the high-speed needle at least
1/4 turn and then retune the engine for performance (see
page 27).
• If the fuel mixture seems to be set correctly, make sure
the fuel is fresh. If the fuel is old or was left uncapped for a
long period, then some of the important fuel components
could have evaporated. Try new, fresh Traxxas Top Fuel
®
.
• Try a new Traxxas glow plug. Sometimes a glow plug will
work well enough to start the engine, but will not be able
to deliver the engine’s full performance potential.
• Check to make sure there is no binding in the driveline
that would cause excessive loads on the engine.
Clearing a Flooded Engine
If the engine is primed for too long during startup, then it
can become flooded with fuel. When the engine is flooded,
it will no longer turn due to excess fuel in the combustion
chamber preventing upward movement of the piston. Use
the following procedure to clear a flooded engine:
1. Remove the blue glow plug wire.
2. Remove the glow plug and gasket with the glow plug
wrench supplied with your model. A 5/16 or 8mm nut
driver will also work.
3. Turn the model upside down and plug in the EZ-Start
controller.
4. Push the EZ-Start button for several seconds to clear the
engine of excess fuel. Do not look into the glow plug hole
while the engine is spinning or you could spray fuel into
your face!
5. Turn the model over and reinstall the glow plug and
gasket.
6. Reconnect the blue glow plug wire to the glow plug.
7. Reconnect the EZ-Start controller.
8. Do not prime the engine. Pull the throttle to 1/2 throttle
and push the EZ-Start button. The engine should start
immediately.
Piston stuck at “top dead center” (TDC)
“Top dead center” is the position
where the piston is at the very top
of the tapered sleeve. Occasionally
an engine can get “stuck” at this
position. This is most likely to
happen on new engines during
break-in, but can also happen at
other times. If the engine is stuck at
TDC, use the following procedure to
release the piston from the sleeve:
1. Remove the glow plug using the
included tool or 8mm (5/16”) nut
driver and verify that the piston is
at the top of its stroke.
2. Use a flat blade screwdriver to
rotate the flywheel. Place the
blade of the driver into one
of the grooves of the flywheel
and push down, turning the flywheel counterclockwise
when viewed from the front. The flywheel should turn,
unsticking the piston from the sleeve.
3. Put two or three drops of light machine oil into the glow
plug hole to lubricate the piston and sleeve. Do not use
too much oil. It will hydro-lock the engine. Verify the
starter will spin the engine with the glow plug out.
4. Rotate the flywheel so the piston is at bottom dead center
and replace the glow plug with the gasket. Reconnect the
blue glow plug wire.
5. You should now be able to start the engine with the
EZ-Start.
TROUBLEShOOTING YOUR mOdEL
Top Dead Center
Bottom Dead Center
If you have questions or need technical assistance, call Traxxas at
1-888-TRAXXAS
(1-888-872-9927) (U.S. residents only)
