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Nitro 4-Tec 3.3
Maintaining and Storing Your Nitro 4-Tec 3.3
If the engine is worn or
damaged enough to require
replacing the piston, sleeve,
or connecting rod, consider
exchanging your old engine
for a brand new engine
under the terms of the
Traxxas Lifetime Engine
Replacement Plan (ERP). It
could save you time and
effort. Details are in your
model’s documentation
package or on our website.
The TRX 3.3 is designed to
be easy to rebuild. Critical
engine components such as
the crankcase, crankshaft,
and engine bearings are
made to extremely high
quality standards and
should under normal
circumstances outlast
multiple sets of pistons,
sleeves, connecting rods,
and wrist pins (reciprocating
assemblies). It could be
more economical for you to
continue to use your good
bearings and crankshafts,
and simply replace the
reciprocating assembly as
needed. Engine assembly is
not difficult and replacing
the reciprocating assembly
does not require any special
tools or skills.
Your Nitro 4-Tec requires timely maintenance in order to stay in top
running condition.
Neglecting the maintenance could allow dirt,
deposits, and moisture to build up inside the engine leading to internal
engine failure.
The following procedures should be taken very seriously.
After each hour of running:
Clean and re-oil the air filter. The instructions for this procedure are on
page 22.
We cannot stress enough the value of cleaning your air
filter at the scheduled intervals.
The cleanliness and condition of your
air filter directly influences the running life span of your engine.
Do not
skip air filter maintenance!
Clean the outside of the engine of accumulated dirt, oil, and grime.
Accumulated grime will decrease the engine’s ability to cool itself.
To maintain optimum radio system performance, the RX Power Pack
(receiver battery) should be recharged after each hour of runtime.
Tighten the wheel nuts (especially on the left side). Use the 8mm end
of the included glow plug wrench.
After each running session:
Perform after-run maintenance on the engine. This clears the engine
of destructive moisture and other corrosive deposits.
This is extremely
important for the life of the engine. Read on for after-run
maintenance procedures.
Inspect the gears for wear, broken teeth, or debris lodged
between the teeth
I
nspect the vehicle for obvious damage or wear. Look for:
1. Loose or missing screws
2. Cracked, bent, or damaged parts
3. Cut or loose wiring
4. Cut or kinked fuel lines
5. Signs of fuel leakage
Other periodic maintenance:
Connecting rod: The connecting rod should be replaced when the
piston and sleeve are replaced. Also replace the piston wrist pin and
G-clip whenever the connecting rod is replaced. As with other
internal engine components, connecting rod life depends engine’s
usage and the quality and frequency of the engine maintenance.
Inspect the connecting rod after 3-gallons of fuel have been used.
Piston/sleeve: The life of the piston and sleeve will
vary greatly with how the engine was used and
maintained. The piston and sleeve should be
replaced when they no longer seal effectively (loss
of compression). Symptoms include the engine
being difficult to start when warm, stalling when
warm, and stalling when throttle is suddenly closed
to idle. Replace the wrist pin and G-clip whenever
the piston and sleeve are replaced.
After-run Procedure
You must perform after-run maintenance on your Traxxas
engine whenever the model will be stored for longer
than a few hours. Taking the time to prepare your engine
for storage will reward you with longer engine life, easier
starting, and better performance.
When a nitro engine is shut off, some excess unburned
fuel remains in the engine. The methanol in model
engine fuel is hygroscopic, which means it easily attracts and absorbs
moisture. This moisture can cause rust and corrosion on the steel engine
parts (crankshaft, bearings, wrist pin and starter shaft) if the fuel is not
removed from the engine. There are after run oil products available from
your hobby dealer or you can use WD-40™,
a common household lubricant. To ensure your TRX 3.3 Racing Engine is
protected from internal corrosion, use the following procedure:
1. Whenever possible, shut off the engine by pinching the fuel line
closed. This allows most of the excess fuel to be consumed by the
engine. Be sure the throttle is in the idle position. You may have to
pinch the fuel line closed for several seconds before the engine stops.
2. Completely empty the fuel tank. Use your fuel-dispensing bottle to
suck out the old fuel. Do not mix the old fuel with your fresh fuel
supply. If you leave fuel in the tank, transporting or handling your
Nitro 4-Tec may cause fuel to run into the engine.
3. With the fuel tank empty and the throttle at the idle position, try to
start the engine. The engine will most likely start and run for a few
seconds as it uses up any fuel remaining in the engine and fuel lines.
4. Once the engine stops, clean the outside of the engine with
compressed air or spray motor cleaner. Once the engine is clean and
dry, remove the glow plug power wire, glow plug, and air filter.