they say theres no such thing as a stupid question....,

[martyn71]

Until now, as a total newbie to the world of nitro and getting my son a savage x 4.6 for his birthday, ive a couple of questions.

even this sounds daft to me but, can you refuel while the engine is running ?

Glow plugs, how long do they hold a charge ? For example if I charge them and dont use them for a week, will they still be ok or need a top up.

and last one, ive lost a couple of screws from the chassis side, got some on order but wont be here till monday, can we still use the car or are we best of waiting.

many thanks martyn

[Ewan.Mackay]

Yes, you can refuel whilst running.

No your glow starter will not be dead but best giving it a quick charge anyway and they usually last around 20 minutes (in the engine) so it only take somewhere between 15-25 seconds to start your car so will last you quite a while.

And it depends where the screws are missing from and what they are holding on 

[Oh How Original]

Yes you can refuel while the engine is running, but it never hurts to let the engine have a little cool between tanks, that's what I found on my Savage x 4.6.

The glow starters will stay charged for quite a while, although if it's not been charged for a week or two and you're planning a bash the next day, it wouldn't hurt to give it a top up, although if it's a spur of the moment bash, you can always just check it by putting a glow plug into it, just be careful as they get very hot VERY fast.

And just wait for the screws, no use in bending something or breaking something for the sake of waiting the weekend

[martyn71]

Yes, you can refuel whilst running.

No your glow starter will not be dead but best giving it a quick charge anyway and they usually last around 20 minutes (in the engine) so it only take somewhere between 15-25 seconds to start your car so will last you quite a while.

And it depends where the screws are missing from and what they are holding on 

Thank you bud, I thought the refueling question was a proper dumb one, learn something new everyday. Ive got a pic but cant work out how to upload it on here.

[martyn71]

these are the 2 screws missing

cheers

[RCbutcher]

I know its bad but I watched Jeremy kyle once and it had a story of a 12yr old on it who refilled his nitro while it was running it burst into flames setting the kid ablaze too. He said he was only refueling but maybe there was something else I doubt he would have been smoking tho. Plus a cigarette thrown in petrol doesn't go hollywood anyway so im told. So just to be extra safe I cut the engine before fueling up.

I do get worried about the batteries 6v packs sometimes tho, especially on fg trucks I keep thinking a drop on the battery plug and boom but hopfully its just another silly worry I have like keeping lipos indoors lol. If anyone can please put my mind at rest could spilt fuel on the battery potentially spark and catch?

[RCbutcher]

Oh sorry that missing screw is engine mount plate it should be ok for a little run but if it worked loose and you jumped or crashed it could send the engine into the gearbox and at least damage the spur gear.

2nd screw is for the rear end bolting onto the side vert plate and again crashes or bad landings might unlikely but might rip the back end off. It's a main fixing point hence the alloy rod it bolts into. Any m4 screw from 8mm to 12mm long will fit that fine thread same with engine plate too. Im sure ther both have metal threads.

[Oh How Original]

I know its bad but I watched Jeremy kyle once and it had a story of a 12yr old on it who refilled his nitro while it was running it burst into flames setting the kid ablaze too. He said he was only refueling but maybe there was something else I doubt he would have been smoking tho. Plus a cigarette thrown in petrol doesn't go hollywood anyway so im told. So just to be extra safe I cut the engine before fueling up.

I do get worried about the batteries 6v packs sometimes tho, especially on fg trucks I keep thinking a drop on the battery plug and boom but hopfully its just another silly worry I have like keeping lipos indoors lol. If anyone can please put my mind at rest could spilt fuel on the battery potentially spark and catch?

 

A 12 year old in Britain on Jeremy Kyle? OF COURSE he will have been smoking

On another note, I'm 99.9% sure that a nitro engine wouldn't get hot enough to ignite nitro fuel, the ignition temperature is higher than a nitro engine will reach, if you consider that a nitro engine doesn't even melt nitro fuel line, I think he's been telling porkies and I would take ANYTHING said on that idiots TV show with a pinch of salt.

I've also spilled small amounts of nitro fuel on hot engines before and it's never ignited.

Get something proper on your TV as well lol, bloody Jeremy Kyle

[Gashead]

I set fire to some nitro a few months ago just to see how flamable it is. It did ignite from a naked flame but not with the force of petrol but i don't think it would ignite from a hot engine, just evaporate the nitro content and leave an oily residue

Edited August 2, 2014 by Gashead

[Shudson]

In 50 years of using nitro, including re-filling with engine running - frequently significantly overfilled with surplus fuel slopping about the model - and whilst smoking, I cant recall any fires. Even if methanol/nitro does ignite, it seems to burn rather like meths and is easily extinguished.

 

Also, never thought twice about smoking with fuel covered hands - spoils the taste, but I've never blown up!

Edited August 2, 2014 by Shudson

[Trophy]

When nitro ignites it is like the fonz of fires, laid back, chilled and as threatening as a newborn kitten, very lazy flames similar to a firelighter block. So thinking it will go "Whooosh" in your face is a tad unlikely. I love the colour it burns though.

 

I always refuel with engine running, I tend to get a few hiccups if I stop the engine then run it again.

 

when I first had mine I ran it with engine mount screws lose, it was going half throttle when it slipped and shredded the cogs. So even if you are itching, it is better to wait until everything is secured with some decent thread lock. It doesn't have to be the exact screw but it has to be the same style thread thickness or you will destroy the thread, I use a tiny drip of superglue on the edge of the screw heads to give it that extra bit of fixing if I am bashing on heavy terrain.

[martyn71]

When nitro ignites it is like the fonz of fires, laid back, chilled and as threatening as a newborn kitten, very lazy flames similar to a firelighter block. So thinking it will go "Whooosh" in your face is a tad unlikely. I love the colour it burns though.

 

I always refuel with engine running, I tend to get a few hiccups if I stop the engine then run it again.

 

when I first had mine I ran it with engine mount screws lose, it was going half throttle when it slipped and shredded the cogs. So even if you are itching, it is better to wait until everything is secured with some decent thread lock. It doesn't have to be the exact screw but it has to be the same style thread thickness or you will destroy the thread, I use a tiny drip of superglue on the edge of the screw heads to give it that extra bit of fixing if I am bashing on heavy terrain.

thats why I asked about the fuel so no need to restart, with been new to this im always a bit paranoid im not gonna get it started.

decieded to wait fornthe screws as my boy is only 7 and he drives it like it is a hire car.

next question, running cars in the rain, is this ok or not.

thank you all again, I appreciate the advice.

[Trophy]

as long as they are classed as waterproof (servo's, Receiver, battery area) then they will happily run in the rain.

 

 

(not my video but this is the HPI trophy 3.5 buggy)

 

http://youtu.be/CqC1wmLJyP4

 

 

 

 

[martyn71]

Thanks again, yes they are waterproof. I got this truck of a relative and hes put a lot of time and money into it so dont wanna ruin it yet.

on a plus side the screws come this morning, gonna threadlock them into place and hopefully get the boy out tomorrow

thanks for your time

[Trophy]

order some extra screws, I learned that lesson the hard way..lol

[martyn71]

order some extra screws, I learned that lesson the hard way..lol

ha im learning everything the hard way, first lesson learnt was take fuel with you ha

got 12 of these and 12 of the smaller screws yesterday and quite a few odds and bobs with the car, lots of shiney things too