Note: This engine was designed to racing tolerances
and may take longer than 5 tanks to fully break-in.
To insure long life and good performance from your
DuraTrax .18 engine, you MUST break-in the engine. The
break-in period is critical for long life of the internal parts of
the engine. This should be done over the first 5 tanks of fuel.
Some Things To Remember During Break-In
❏
1. Run with the body off. This will keep the engine cooler.
❏
2. Keep the air cleaner on at ALL times
❏
3. Run on a smooth, hard surface. An empty parking lot
is perfect.
❏
4. Use the same fuel that you will use for normal running.
❏
5. Resist the urge to accelerate and decelerate the
touring car quickly. Apply throttle and brake slowly
and smoothly.
❏
6. Break-in puts stress on the glow plug and you can
burn it out during break-in. Make sure you have an
extra plug or two on hand.
❏
7. Do NOT overheat the engine. You can check the head
temperature by using one of the temperature gauges
that is available or by putting a drop of water on the
top of the cylinder head. If the water boils away
immediately, shut off the engine and allow it to cool. If
it takes more than 4 seconds to boil away, the engine
is at proper running temperature for break-in.
Before running the engine, read the manual and watch
the engine video that came with this kit.
There are several simple steps to starting the engine:
❏
1. Install a glow plug. This threads into the top of the
cylinder head.
❏
2. Fueling - Fill the tank almost to the top. Leave a little air
at the top of the tank.
❏
3.Prime the Engine (when cold) - Wrap you finger with a
shop towel and place it over the tuned pipe's exhaust exit. Pull
the recoil gently until you can see fuel reach the carburetor
(looking through the fuel tubing). Note: The engine should not
require priming when hot unless you ran out of fuel).
❏
4. Open the high speed needle valve exactly 2 turns
out (counterclockwise) from fully closed. The high-speed
needle is sticking up from the carburetor inside the brass
housing. All of the carburetor settings are adjusted with a flat
bladed screwdriver. Caution: Do not
overtighten the high speed needle or
you can damage your engine.
❏
5. RTR Version ONLY: Install the
included "C" size battery into the
included glow starter as shown.
❏
6. Install the glow starter onto the glow plug and gently
press the top of the glow starter down and turn in a
clockwise direction. This will lock the glow starter onto the
glow plug. To remove the glow starter, gently press down on
the top of the glow starter and turn counter clockwise.
❏
7. Start the engine by pulling the recoil - Use short, quick
pulls. DO NOT pull the recoil starter's string to the end. You
only need 10 to 12 inches of pull to start the engine.
Many times it is helpful to start the engine at around half
throttle. Have a friend pull back on the throttle some while
you start the engine. This may be an indicator that the low
speed needle setting needs to be adjusted. When the
engine starts, immediately return the throttle to idle. If this is
not done the engine can over-rev and cause engine
damage. If the engine is difficult to turn over with the recoil
starter, especially if it is brand new, loosen the glow plug a
half turn before starting the engine. This allows some
compression to escape, but the engine will still start. Make
sure you tighten the glow plug after the engine starts. If the
recoil starter is still difficult to pull, the engine is flooded -
there is too much fuel inside the engine. Remove the glow
plug, and then turn the engine upside down and pull the
recoil 5 or 6 times. This will clear the engine of fuel, and you
will notice the recoil pulls easier. Replace the glow plug and
repeat the starting procedure.
Tanks 1-2
Your first two tanks of fuel should be running the touring car
at a very rich high-speed needle valve setting. This allows
the fuel to carry as much oil as possible into the engine to
lubricate the internal parts during the break-in.
❏
1. After a minute or two of running back and forth at
medium speeds, slowly accelerating and decelerating the
touring car, make sure the engine is not overheating by
putting a drop of water on the cylinder head. If it boils away
within 4 seconds, stop the engine and allow it to cool. Open
the high-speed needle around a 1/4 turn before starting
again. This is a good habit to get into every time you run to
BREAKING-IN THE ENGINE
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