Tuning a nitro engine:

Very often, we all hear that engine on the track that's way out of tune. It's very easy to have this problem occur to the best of us but it's easy to get your engine at its best or very close to it.

This tuning method is often called the pinch test. Get your engine started and make sure the car and engine are both warmed up before tempting to tune. Make sure the car will idle before heading out on the track. This will prevent alot of headaches during tuning.

While on the straight, you want to car to clean out good and reach high RPM without any hesitation. If it struggles to clean out or reach the top-end, it's time to lean the top-end needle. To lean is to turn the screw clockwise. Refer to the top of the needle as a clock face. Tune 1-hour at a time. When the car actually bogs on the straight stretch, it's more than likely not getting enough fuel and running lean. To richen, turn the needle counter-clockwise. Once the top-end is set, it's time to adjust the bottom-end needle which is overlooked by many.

After a high speed pass, quickly pinch the fuel line about 2 inches from the carb. If the engine wants to quit around 3 seconds, the low-end is set. If it wants to run past 3-seconds, the low-end is rich and needs leaned out a bit more. If the engine revs and quits before 3 seconds, it's lean and needs to be set a bit richer. The goal is to tune the low-end at the 3-second mark.

Now it's time to set the idle once again. The idle may be low or high depending on the situation your engine was in during the tuning process.

Next time, I will give you another engine tuning variable that will always get you engine in the ballpark but can be a little more technical.

 

Happy tuning!