68 replies to this topic

[Wattser]

It it advisable to purchase a 12v hair dryer or engine heater? I want to break my Losi in but I do not posses a hair dryer or heater. Can i break it in without heating?

Thanks

[norcoforever]

it'll be a lot harder without as the engine are very tight i would advise picking up a hairdryer =]

[Ziggy122]

Any hairdrier will do i use a mini travel one, takes longer but it was free so why not

a 12v car one suck some serious amps, i think it was like 15amps i worked one out at, if thats what your going to use, ensure your 1:1 cig lighter is capable

As for engine heaters - they just a gloryfied tyre warmer, but still will help

the hotter you can get the Engine the easier it becomes
Heat makes liner expand = lowers the overtight pinch = lowers compression = turns over faster = better change of getting the dam thing started....

ziggy

[Baja 5b]

I never use them..... the whole point of a brake in is to allow the piston and sleve to warm up and cool down together. Of cource they do make starting a tad bit easier, but if a nitro engine is tuned correctly then it'll start quickly anyway....


Some dont some do.... there mainly used my racers so there engine are kept hot untill the race starts.

[anton]

I wouldn't bother with a 12v hair drier.  I would recommend an engine heater though - they make starting an engine much easier.  If you have some diy skills and a pound-shop nearby, you can pick up the parts to make a 12v heater for around £10.  All you need for a basic heater is a stainless steel flask, a 55w car headlight bulb, some high current cable, and some croc-clips (or similar) to attach it to the 12v supply.  You can make a fancier one by adding a 12v fan to push the hot air through the heater and onto the engine (costs about £5 from Maplins).

[Wattser]

Thanks guys and Anton I will take your advice I think and make myself a heater. They are at least £80 online and I am not prepared to spend that much. I will speak to the engineers where I work to see if they can advise me on wiring etc.

[thevmister]

Wattser, on 28 January 2012 - 06:20 PM, said:

Thanks guys and Anton I will take your advice I think and make myself a heater. They are at least £80 online and I am not prepared to spend that much. I will speak to the engineers where I work to see if they can advise me on wiring etc.

i bought the heater for 80 not justified in my opinion so the bulb is a good idea

[Slimeon]

I built my own engine warmer out of a can of peas and a 55w headlight bulb. Takes about 10 mins to get my engine up to 185f.

[bowie_no7]

Or if your out and about I've seen similar selfade heaters that use a lipo instead of a cig plug

[Slimeon]

bowie_no7, on 30 January 2012 - 09:30 PM, said:

Or if your out and about I've seen similar selfade heaters that use a lipo instead of a cig plug

Yeah i'm gonna patch in some different connections later on. But for round about £6 it works a treat.

[GSGA]

Slimeon, on 30 January 2012 - 08:59 PM, said:

I built my own engine warmer out of a can of peas and a 55w headlight bulb. Takes about 10 mins to get my engine up to 185f.

Nice one.

I need something like that since my bash spot is now a fair way from my van which has an inverter and heat gun in it...

[jimmytheone]

Done the same but used a 12v halogen bulb, a can of beans and a 3S lipo, works a treat.
And as I only had to buy the bulb is cost me £1.50 for 3 bulbs and about an hour with a dremel and a soldering iron.

As above I leave it for around 10 mins, temps around 160f and it starts straight away.

[lazkopat]

Those halogens bulbs are good to startup the car in the winter. But if you are breaking in your engine then get a heat gun from homebase. I bought one while ago for £17, it has two temperate outputs; 300c & 550c. Warm up the engine to about 170F that's when the expand occurs.

I'm planning to construct one lIke Jim's after seeing it

Output-
Heatgun good for breakin
Bulb good for warmup engine.

Edited by lazkopat, 31 January 2012 - 10:55 AM.

[notfast]

Slimeon, on 30 January 2012 - 08:59 PM, said:

I built my own engine warmer out of a can of peas and a 55w headlight bulb. Takes about 10 mins to get my engine up to 185f.

Good skills!

Does the bulb sit directly on the engine?

[kkppww91]

That's a good bit of kit. Wouldn't like to get a burn off that tin though.