RC Car - My Engine Stalls When I Brake.

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My Engine Stalls When I Brake

Comments: Hi, I have a Kyosho Inferno 10 Nitro car with a .12 CV-X engine. My question is whether or not it is normal for the engine to cut out when the brake has been engaged and held on (with the remote) for a couple of seconds? The engine seems will in tune and conforms to the standards I have read in various articles regarding heat, idle, smoke, etc. and overall performs well. If the engine shouldn't cut out, any suggestions you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Response: It is fairly normal for a 2 stroke engine to cut out after many seconds of idling. The reason that this occurs is because as the engine idles, the pressure from the muffler is still pressurizing the fuel tank. This means that fuel is still being sent to the carburetor. Fuel is being sent to the engine faster than it can burn the fuel because it is only idling. This causes the unburned fuel to build up at the bottom of the crankcase and eventually stall the engine. The engine stalls because the engine has become flooded which is similar to an extremely rich setting on the needle valve.

As I mentioned earlier, this is fairly common. Your engine should however, be able to idle for several seconds (I'd say at least 10 to 15 seconds) before it cuts out (I have been in a race before where I broke a part and my car was placed at the side of the track, 10 minutes later when I picked it up after the race, the engine was sill idling). Check that your idle screw is set correctly. Your carburetor should not close when you apply the brakes from idle. If it does, that is probably your problem. Also check the low end settings on your carb, it may be set too rich causing even more fuel to be forced into the engine at low speeds. Remember that if you lean out the bottom end that you must richen the top end a little to keep the engine temperature the same. Check out "Should I Port My Nitro Engine" for a few more setup tips.

Let's take off a few tenths per lap,

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