Newbie Question

[Chicagojoe]

Hey guys

I just got into R/C cars and I have a few questions

1. I know that there are different types of nitro fuel such as 10%, 20%,30%. What do those percentages mean and what is the best to run?

2. From what I understand, if I have a gear with a lot of teeth, I should get more top end. If I have a gear with less teeth, I would get more acceleration, but less top end. Is this right?

Joe

[Ponch]

Originally Posted by Chicagojoe

Hey guys

I just got into R/C cars and I have a few questions

1. I know that there are different types of nitro fuel such as 10%, 20%,30%. What do those percentages mean and what is the best to run?

2. From what I understand, if I have a gear with a lot of teeth, I should get more top end. If I have a gear with less teeth, I would get more acceleration, but less top end. Is this right?

Joe

Hey, welcome to the forum.

The percentage is of nitromethane content. Nobody that I know runs 10%. The higher the percent, the more power you'll get, but it'll also shorten engine life (not very noticeably though). I run 30% and so do many others, and some even have ran 40%.

There's always 2 gears, one directly connected to the motor/engine (the pinion or clutch bell) and one that the pinion or clutch bell spins, called the spur gear.

You're right on the gear thing, as long as it's the "pinion" or "clutch bell" (pinion on electric, clutch bell on nitro)(smaller gear of the two). If you went up on teeth on the spur gear (the bigger in size gear of the two), you'd get more low end. If you go down on the spur gear, you get more top end.

Matt

[Chicagojoe]

Originally Posted by Revo2k

Hey, welcome to the forum.

The percentage is of nitromethane content. Nobody that I know runs 10%. The higher the percent, the more power you'll get, but it'll also shorten engine life (not very noticeably though). I run 30% and so do many others, and some even have ran 40%.

There's always 2 gears, one directly connected to the motor/engine (the pinion or clutch bell) and one that the pinion or clutch bell spins, called the spur gear.

You're right on the gear thing, as long as it's the "pinion" or "clutch bell" (pinion on electric, clutch bell on nitro)(smaller gear of the two). If you went up on teeth on the spur gear (the bigger in size gear of the two), you'd get more low end. If you go down on the spur gear, you get more top end.

Matt

Thanks for the info

[Ponch]

Yep. No problem.

[thenewguy821]

Originally Posted by Revo2k

The higher the percent, the more power you'll get, but it'll also shorten engine life (not very noticeably though). I run 30% and so do many others, and some even have ran 40%.

I would have to disagree with you on this one. I have been running 40% for just over 2 years now, and have only had ONE engine die prematurely. This wasn't at all related to the Nitro content, it was die to a bad weld on a Trinity pipe causing an air leak.

I will agree that Higher nitro %'s are a little less forgiving with tuning, and CAN shorten engine life if not tuned right. As long as you have a good tune, the higher nitro's are fine. I definatlety wouldn't recommend it to someone just getting into the hobby though. Start with a lower Nitro % ( minimum of 20%), and develop your tuning. Once you are confident in your tuning, then you can go up to higher % "Race" fuels.

[Ponch]

Originally Posted by thenewguy821

I would have to disagree with you on this one. I have been running 40% for just over 2 years now, and have only had ONE engine die prematurely. This wasn't at all related to the Nitro content, it was die to a bad weld on a Trinity pipe causing an air leak.

I will agree that Higher nitro %'s are a little less forgiving with tuning, and CAN shorten engine life if not tuned right. As long as you have a good tune, the higher nitro's are fine. I definatlety wouldn't recommend it to someone just getting into the hobby though. Start with a lower Nitro % ( minimum of 20%), and develop your tuning. Once you are confident in your tuning, then you can go up to higher % "Race" fuels.

^^^Listen to him lol... I was just going off what I thought I heard but could be wrong lol...

[Chicagojoe]

Originally Posted by thenewguy821

Start with a lower Nitro % ( minimum of 20%), and develop your tuning. Once you are confident in your tuning, then you can go up to higher % "Race" fuels.

Right now I am running 20% but only because thats what came with it when i bought it.

[thenewguy821]

Originally Posted by Chicagojoe

Right now I am running 20% but only because thats what came with it when i bought it.

That's perfect for starting out. Get used to tuning it, pay attention to how it performs when tuned right and how it sounds. When it starts acting differently, pay attention to what it is doing. Listen to the RPM's, is it bogging or cutting out, etc. and make your adjustments. As you are more confident with how well you can "read" what the engine is telling you, then you can decide if you want to stick with 20% or go higher.

[thenewguy821]

Here's a quick video on tuning. It was made by HPI, but it will show how to distinguish what the different engine sounds are telling you.

Engine tuning

[cemeb4dk]

heres a great read for tuning
http://www.rchobbies.org/cars_eng-tuning.htm