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Plagued with Engine Starting and Tuning Issues (Seems never ending)

pfrederi1

Well-Known Member
Messages
116
Ok so Ive been plagued with 5th scale engine issues ever since 4-5yrs. Ive never claimed to know the tuning of the carbs but just when i think ive got it figured out another issue comes up so there no consistency for me to form a basis. The problems range from failure to start to sometimes running erratic. I have 3 diff 5th scale RC vehicles (FG Porsche, Redcat Ramp, XCR 1000) and theyve ALL been plagued with varying intermittent issues but the most common is failure to start (after running/starting fine). Ive never been able to have 3 consistent days driving outside with no issues. Something always pops up almost everytime i go out which leaves me shaking my head. Makes me miss my days of just plug-n-play RC cars. Ive posted varying items before some seemed to have been addressed the issue for a short time before going back into the same routine of some satrting issue or running issue of some sort.

So for example my last outting i took my rampage MT and my FG Porsche. I ran thru half a tank before the FG Porsche started running erratic like loss of power. I attributed it to maybe it was due to the extremely high pollen count that day and maybe the air filter was getting clogged up. The whole car was covered in a thick layer of pollen. i run all my cars with a outerwears filter and also oil my filters. After i couldnt figure out that problem i switched to running my Rampage MT which after medium driving for about 10-15min it cut out and I could not get it started again. Its getting to be a pain the a$$ having issues everytime i go out. I would like to have some level of consistency and understanding of tuning these carbs to be able to enjoy the hobby instead of trying to have to hit a moving target each time.

Im consistently changing out spark plugs just to try and rule that out which sometimes that fixes the issue and other times not. Another time I was getting no spark after putting in a new spark plug and knew i had a new coil in there so it couldnt be that. I just got fed up and put the new spark plug back in and went to drive and started right up even after showing no spark when tested outside the vehicle. Like i said these issues are all over the map with no consistent symptoms for me to lockdown the problem.

Any help will be appreciated or if anyone has had consistent intermittent issue similar to these.

Redcat Rampage MT Pro (1107 Carb)
FG Sport Porsche (990 Carb)
XCR 1000 (990 Carb)

Thanks
 

G-Man

Junior Member
Messages
958
Location
Pittsburgh,PA
What is up man. Sorry to hear these issues. I can suggest a few things to help. But not guaranteed to solve the problems. 1. Make sure each of the RC's fuel tanks are vented. The Rampage MT is a big culprit of that. Mine would start to bog at a half tank and down. Then if I shut it off. It wouldn't restart. I looked at the tank it is all sucked in. Crack the fuel cap the tank goes back to normal. Prime the bulb and it fired up. So I put a vent on the cap. Problem solved. 2. I would go back to factory needle setting for each carb. That will get them running. Then just tweek tje needles 1/16 turn at a time till it sounds nice and idles good. I see people doing like 1/4 turns on the carb. Honestly all of mine are not far from factory settings. 3. Be sure you have no vacuum leaks. The plastic carb intake is a common failure point. Otherwise. When set up correctly the engines will start wihin 4 or 5 pulls and don't need tuned there after. I do richen 1/16 turn going from summer to winter. Hope you get them going well. Cos once you do. They are super reliable.
 

Easymoneykd

Member
Messages
13
Ok so Ive been plagued with 5th scale engine issues ever since 4-5yrs. Ive never claimed to know the tuning of the carbs but just when i think ive got it figured out another issue comes up so there no consistency for me to form a basis. The problems range from failure to start to sometimes running erratic. I have 3 diff 5th scale RC vehicles (FG Porsche, Redcat Ramp, XCR 1000) and theyve ALL been plagued with varying intermittent issues but the most common is failure to start (after running/starting fine). Ive never been able to have 3 consistent days driving outside with no issues. Something always pops up almost everytime i go out which leaves me shaking my head. Makes me miss my days of just plug-n-play RC cars. Ive posted varying items before some seemed to have been addressed the issue for a short time before going back into the same routine of some satrting issue or running issue of some sort.

So for example my last outting i took my rampage MT and my FG Porsche. I ran thru half a tank before the FG Porsche started running erratic like loss of power. I attributed it to maybe it was due to the extremely high pollen count that day and maybe the air filter was getting clogged up. The whole car was covered in a thick layer of pollen. i run all my cars with a outerwears filter and also oil my filters. After i couldnt figure out that problem i switched to running my Rampage MT which after medium driving for about 10-15min it cut out and I could not get it started again. Its getting to be a pain the a$$ having issues everytime i go out. I would like to have some level of consistency and understanding of tuning these carbs to be able to enjoy the hobby instead of trying to have to hit a moving target each time.

Im consistently changing out spark plugs just to try and rule that out which sometimes that fixes the issue and other times not. Another time I was getting no spark after putting in a new spark plug and knew i had a new coil in there so it couldnt be that. I just got fed up and put the new spark plug back in and went to drive and started right up even after showing no spark when tested outside the vehicle. Like i said these issues are all over the map with no consistent symptoms for me to lockdown the problem.

Any help will be appreciated or if anyone has had consistent intermittent issue similar to these.

Redcat Rampage MT Pro (1107 Carb)
FG Sport Porsche (990 Carb)
XCR 1000 (990 Carb)

Thanks
 

Easymoneykd

Member
Messages
13
Ok so Ive been plagued with 5th scale engine issues ever since 4-5yrs. Ive never claimed to know the tuning of the carbs but just when i think ive got it figured out another issue comes up so there no consistency for me to form a basis. The problems range from failure to start to sometimes running erratic. I have 3 diff 5th scale RC vehicles (FG Porsche, Redcat Ramp, XCR 1000) and theyve ALL been plagued with varying intermittent issues but the most common is failure to start (after running/starting fine). Ive never been able to have 3 consistent days driving outside with no issues. Something always pops up almost everytime i go out which leaves me shaking my head. Makes me miss my days of just plug-n-play RC cars. Ive posted varying items before some seemed to have been addressed the issue for a short time before going back into the same routine of some satrting issue or running issue of some sort.

So for example my last outting i took my rampage MT and my FG Porsche. I ran thru half a tank before the FG Porsche started running erratic like loss of power. I attributed it to maybe it was due to the extremely high pollen count that day and maybe the air filter was getting clogged up. The whole car was covered in a thick layer of pollen. i run all my cars with a outerwears filter and also oil my filters. After i couldnt figure out that problem i switched to running my Rampage MT which after medium driving for about 10-15min it cut out and I could not get it started again. Its getting to be a pain the a$$ having issues everytime i go out. I would like to have some level of consistency and understanding of tuning these carbs to be able to enjoy the hobby instead of trying to have to hit a moving target each time.

Im consistently changing out spark plugs just to try and rule that out which sometimes that fixes the issue and other times not. Another time I was getting no spark after putting in a new spark plug and knew i had a new coil in there so it couldnt be that. I just got fed up and put the new spark plug back in and went to drive and started right up even after showing no spark when tested outside the vehicle. Like i said these issues are all over the map with no consistent symptoms for me to lockdown the problem.

Any help will be appreciated or if anyone has had consistent intermittent issue similar to these.

Redcat Rampage MT Pro (1107 Carb)
FG Sport Porsche (990 Carb)
XCR 1000 (990 Carb)

Thanks
I totally feel your pain brother. My best has been 2 days and ive had mine since last april, have drove it tops 10 times maybe. Had my running really good a couple months back and I thought myabe I finally got the perfect tuning and then bam my car takes off full speed into a backo bucket lol yeahh not fun but got all that fixed and got me a nice killswitch thinking thatd finally solve all my issues and now I cant start the dang truck, so frustrating too when your getting that Initial pop sound when your priming it and then it still won't start. Last 2 days have been me trying start it and now I just broke my pull starter yesterday...
 

pfrederi1

Well-Known Member
Messages
116

I feel ur pain brother. This hobby will definitely test your metal. Just when you THINK you have one thing fixed another issue pops up. Seems never ending sometimes but i do enjoy the hell out of the times when they are running.

Speaking of which I did get my Rampage MT running again.

I would recommend like G-Man said above ALL good points. I set my carb back to factory, changed out the coil and spark plug (not saying thats your problem but thats what i did) and last 3 times i took her out shes been starting like a champ SO FAR. Good Luck Man. i think the carbs are the things that throw me and i probably adjust too far out of specs when trouble starts.
 

pfrederi1

Well-Known Member
Messages
116
What is up man. Sorry to hear these issues. I can suggest a few things to help. But not guaranteed to solve the problems. 1. Make sure each of the RC's fuel tanks are vented. The Rampage MT is a big culprit of that. Mine would start to bog at a half tank and down. Then if I shut it off. It wouldn't restart. I looked at the tank it is all sucked in. Crack the fuel cap the tank goes back to normal. Prime the bulb and it fired up. So I put a vent on the cap. Problem solved. 2. I would go back to factory needle setting for each carb. That will get them running. Then just tweek tje needles 1/16 turn at a time till it sounds nice and idles good. I see people doing like 1/4 turns on the carb. Honestly all of mine are not far from factory settings. 3. Be sure you have no vacuum leaks. The plastic carb intake is a common failure point. Otherwise. When set up correctly the engines will start wihin 4 or 5 pulls and don't need tuned there after. I do richen 1/16 turn going from summer to winter. Hope you get them going well. Cos once you do. They are super reliable.

Very good points Sir. Im gonna snapshot your input there because i think my problem lies within everything you recommended. I did finally get my MT Pro running again (1107 Carb). I think part pf my problem is I still have a hard time ubnderstanding exactky whats happening with the carb and how fuel is fed and at what times its happening and believe me Ive spent a LOT of time on youtube looking at a ton of videos expalining the carbs. I have the general idea but diff carbs vary. For instance my 1107 carb only requires 1-2 pulls to start wheareas my engine with 990 Carb reauires like 5 pulls. Added to that Im still not sure why we have to choke exactly because the 990 does not require it as far as i understand.

Anyways all in all I got my MT Pro running again. I set the 1107 Carb back to factory, changed out the coild because i tested it with a coil tester and it looked like it was bad and also changed out the spark plug. Shes running like a champ so far. Fingers crossed.

Also can you explain why you richen during the winter?? Im trying to grasp whats going on.

Thanks Again
 

G-Man

Junior Member
Messages
958
Location
Pittsburgh,PA
Very good points Sir. Im gonna snapshot your input there because i think my problem lies within everything you recommended. I did finally get my MT Pro running again (1107 Carb). I think part pf my problem is I still have a hard time ubnderstanding exactky whats happening with the carb and how fuel is fed and at what times its happening and believe me Ive spent a LOT of time on youtube looking at a ton of videos expalining the carbs. I have the general idea but diff carbs vary. For instance my 1107 carb only requires 1-2 pulls to start wheareas my engine with 990 Carb reauires like 5 pulls. Added to that Im still not sure why we have to choke exactly because the 990 does not require it as far as i understand.

Anyways all in all I got my MT Pro running again. I set the 1107 Carb back to factory, changed out the coild because i tested it with a coil tester and it looked like it was bad and also changed out the spark plug. Shes running like a champ so far. Fingers crossed.

Also can you explain why you richen during the winter?? Im trying to grasp whats going on.

Thanks Again
I live in the Northeast USA. So we have four actual seasons. The change from warm fall weather to sub zero winter weather is the only real time I notice that I need an adjustment. Cold air is denser than warm air. Which means even a properly tuned carb may struggle with a too lean mixture in cold winter weather. As it pulls in the same volume of air that is more tightly packed, increasing the air to fuel ratio. So I can actually hear it becoming slightly lean. 1/16-1/8 turn CCW usually solved it. Then return the setting back in the spring.
 

Robert lanyon

New Member
Messages
2
Ok so Ive been plagued with 5th scale engine issues ever since 4-5yrs. Ive never claimed to know the tuning of the carbs but just when i think ive got it figured out another issue comes up so there no consistency for me to form a basis. The problems range from failure to start to sometimes running erratic. I have 3 diff 5th scale RC vehicles (FG Porsche, Redcat Ramp, XCR 1000) and theyve ALL been plagued with varying intermittent issues but the most common is failure to start (after running/starting fine). Ive never been able to have 3 consistent days driving outside with no issues. Something always pops up almost everytime i go out which leaves me shaking my head. Makes me miss my days of just plug-n-play RC cars. Ive posted varying items before some seemed to have been addressed the issue for a short time before going back into the same routine of some satrting issue or running issue of some sort.

So for example my last outting i took my rampage MT and my FG Porsche. I ran thru half a tank before the FG Porsche started running erratic like loss of power. I attributed it to maybe it was due to the extremely high pollen count that day and maybe the air filter was getting clogged up. The whole car was covered in a thick layer of pollen. i run all my cars with a outerwears filter and also oil my filters. After i couldnt figure out that problem i switched to running my Rampage MT which after medium driving for about 10-15min it cut out and I could not get it started again. Its getting to be a pain the a$$ having issues everytime i go out. I would like to have some level of consistency and understanding of tuning these carbs to be able to enjoy the hobby instead of trying to have to hit a moving target each time.

Im consistently changing out spark plugs just to try and rule that out which sometimes that fixes the issue and other times not. Another time I was getting no spark after putting in a new spark plug and knew i had a new coil in there so it couldnt be that. I just got fed up and put the new spark plug back in and went to drive and started right up even after showing no spark when tested outside the vehicle. Like i said these issues are all over the map with no consistent symptoms for me to lockdown the problem.

Any help will be appreciated or if anyone has had consistent intermittent issue similar to these.

Redcat Rampage MT Pro (1107 Carb)
FG Sport Porsche (990 Carb)
XCR 1000 (990 Carb)

Thanks
I don't claim to know everything that there is to know about this for sure
Ok so Ive been plagued with 5th scale engine issues ever since 4-5yrs. Ive never claimed to know the tuning of the carbs but just when i think ive got it figured out another issue comes up so there no consistency for me to form a basis. The problems range from failure to start to sometimes running erratic. I have 3 diff 5th scale RC vehicles (FG Porsche, Redcat Ramp, XCR 1000) and theyve ALL been plagued with varying intermittent issues but the most common is failure to start (after running/starting fine). Ive never been able to have 3 consistent days driving outside with no issues. Something always pops up almost everytime i go out which leaves me shaking my head. Makes me miss my days of just plug-n-play RC cars. Ive posted varying items before some seemed to have been addressed the issue for a short time before going back into the same routine of some satrting issue or running issue of some sort.

So for example my last outting i took my rampage MT and my FG Porsche. I ran thru half a tank before the FG Porsche started running erratic like loss of power. I attributed it to maybe it was due to the extremely high pollen count that day and maybe the air filter was getting clogged up. The whole car was covered in a thick layer of pollen. i run all my cars with a outerwears filter and also oil my filters. After i couldnt figure out that problem i switched to running my Rampage MT which after medium driving for about 10-15min it cut out and I could not get it started again. Its getting to be a pain the a$$ having issues everytime i go out. I would like to have some level of consistency and understanding of tuning these carbs to be able to enjoy the hobby instead of trying to have to hit a moving target each time.

Im consistently changing out spark plugs just to try and rule that out which sometimes that fixes the issue and other times not. Another time I was getting no spark after putting in a new spark plug and knew i had a new coil in there so it couldnt be that. I just got fed up and put the new spark plug back in and went to drive and started right up even after showing no spark when tested outside the vehicle. Like i said these issues are all over the map with no consistent symptoms for me to lockdown the problem.

Any help will be appreciated or if anyone has had consistent intermittent issue similar to these.

Redcat Rampage MT Pro (1107 Carb)
FG Sport Porsche (990 Carb)
XCR 1000 (990 Carb)

Thanks
Okay I don't claim to know everything about anything but I've been doing gas powered vehicles RC cars for probably the last 15 years I ran remote control cars for past 30 years and I had problems with my redcat rampage Mt when I first got it too and my problem was I think the motor was bad when I got it but with your issue with it not wanting to run after you after you've been running it and it doesn't want to start again that makes me think that maybe you have an air leak somewhere sucking in air and the whole no spark thing and you said that you're just replaced the coil did you put a matchbook underneath there on both sides of the coil and not sit on top of the magnet to make sure that the Gap is correct because the magneto that's on there has to have a certain Gap in between itself and the magnets on your flywheel before it can create enough energy to jump across your spark plug one way to check that is I would take a can of ether or something flammable and when it's running just spray it around your carburetor a little bit you can put a cone around your air filter like a cone that a dog gets around its head whenever it gets fixed to try to keep it from circling back around and coming into your air filter that's a good way to check to see if you're leaking air and maybe check the vent on your tank my first cap that I had I actually took the the rubber out of it and ran a drill bit through it and enlarge the hole a little bit and that helped now I run a breather tube on mine and for a motorcycle and that seems to help a lot so I hope that helps I yeah that's kind of where I would start and start looking at that and go from there have a great day man I hope it gets better I'm sure it will
 

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