Home >> Toys >> Other Toys

How to Balance a Glow-Single Car Engine

New remote control engine users often have a hard time in balancing the engine. They experience starting, idling or acceleration problems. These issues can be reduced by balancing the glow plug single-car RC engine. These small engines only have a single piston and no valves, which makes them hard to start. Even when they do start, they are often unbalanced and may seem to cough, spurt and choke. By priming the engine and using a fully charged glow plug lighter, you can start and balance the engine so it starts and runs smoothly every time you start it.

Things You'll Need

Nitro fuel
Fresh glow plug
Glow plug igniter
Flat-head screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Inspect the RC model and look for the primer. This is a button the pumps fuel into the engine, and it is located near the engine area. Prime airplanes by placing your finger over the air intake and turning the propeller a few times.
- 2
  Connect the fully charged glow plug lighter to the RC engine glow plug and let it heat for about 15 seconds. The glow plug heat is what makes the engine start. If the glow plug lighter is not fully charged, the engine may not get enough power to start.
- 3
  Break in a new RC engine with three full tanks of fuel. Allow the RC engine to use the fuel in idle. It is normal for a new engine to sputter, run inconsistently and stall until it is broken in with its third tank. Turn off the engine between each tank and allow it to cool before starting again.
- 4
  Locate the engine needle valves. There should be three tuning valves near the carburetor. The high-speed needle valve adjusts the air and fuel mixture of the starting engine. The low-speed needle valve adjusts the air and fuel mixture when the engine is idling and accelerating, and the idle-speed screw adjusts the idle speed.
- 5
  Adjust the high-speed needle valve first by turning it one-half turn counter-clockwise to allow the engine to get a slightly rich air-fuel mixture. Use a flat-head screwdriver to make this adjustment. The turn may differ according to the temperature and humidity in the area you live.
- 6
  Listen to the way the engine sounds if it starts, and accelerate the engine slightly. If it sounds like the RPMs are off, balance the engine by adjusting the low-speed needle valve. Turn this screw one-half turn to adjust the air and fuel mix. Turn it clockwise or counter-clockwise according to the way the engine sounds.
- 7
  Turn the needle valves clockwise to reduce the air-fuel mixture and counter-clockwise to enrich the mixture.
- 8
  Put the engine in its idle position. Listen to the idle speed. Turn the idle-speed screw clockwise to raise the revolutions per minute and counter-clockwise to reduce them.
- 9
  Adjust the carburetor by making small turns of each valve with the screwdriver. Test the RC engine after each adjustment to inspect the new performance. This may take several adjustments.

Other Toys