northwarks

My son has this engine in his Virus it's been a git from out of the box, it's really difficult to start and find the sweet spot it's either running way rich and bogging down or lean and over heating ... only thing I've found that works: 1 - Have the car on a brick 2 - Both needles flush 3 - If its below 10c get the hair dryer out to warm it up 4 - Get her started and warmed up and make very small (less than the 1/8 turns) on the HSN till she responds to the throttle (saves the legs going to fetch the damn thing) 5 - Put her on the ground and do a few passes wide open to clear out all the oil 6 - Make those fine adjustment but watch the temps and ensure you keep nice trails of blue smoke 7 - LSN, we use the pinch test, works for us but the LSN is ultra sensitive so very small adjustments, I marked the carb base setting with the slot as a reference. Tune will last the session but you have to watch those temps, we have had +300f on many occasion trying to get the sweet spot. KjF

Thought as much ... I've PMd Joe to see if he still has the one he offered. Many Thanks KjF

Hi - After a great day with the Firestorm it's now minus the rear wing after a rather large barrel roll ... has any one been able to source a new one I can't seem to find the part number or has anyone fitted any other 1/10 scale wing successfully ? KjF

Well I had to get a new top chassis to replace the warped one it came with, when i finished the rebuild I hammered the front part of the old chassis flat in a vice with some heat .. then re-painted and fitted it so it was kinda of a free upgrade ... assuming you have an old top chassis

I got a smashed Firestorm off FleeBay for £60 brand new and boxed all but for a bent front-end. I rebuilt it from the chassis up end I agree with the comments above: Brakes (or lack of) - I upgraded to an Ali brake arm and sorted out the linkage and all is fine now, investigating a 2 disc mod Front end - I had to buy a new top chassis plate as it was twisted, so I used the old one to make a strengthened top chassis plate, much improved. Bumper - Stock plastic effort is very poor so I got a T-Bonz one from the US to protect the front end more and seems to work well, comes as a pair so you get one to protect the rear battery box. Exhaust - I did read on various sites the manifold came loose, so I fitted a gasket (didn't have one from new it seems?) and got longer bolts and fitted nuts to keep it all tight and I've never had a problem. Since then it gets bashed a lot by my son and it strong, reliable and above all great fun and a great addition to his 4wd buggy. Was asked via a pm what the chassis mod looked like:

Found this as well Linky all looks very similar to me ....

I thought the HPI brake disc center shape thingie was unique until I saw this, not sure about the bolts into the gearbox would have to look at that but the disc looks very similar .. one thing that I can't tell from the images is scale KjF

Hi all Rebuilding a Nitro Firestorm and looking to improve the brakes after reading they are not brilliant, I've got an aluminum brake arm but having seen the Traxxas Jato dual brake conversion linky and they look very similar, do any of you have both the Firestorm and the Jato or know if the disc interchanges at all? Thanks KjF

Yeah I can confirm the diff is sealed with a rubber gasket part #86872, so silicon diff oil is fine .. the gearbox I just added grease. KjF

Hi Chris I've got a smashed Firestorm from flee-bay and have rebuilt it from the chassis up over the last couple of weeks, I decided to strip out the diff/gearbox, clean it and use diff oil. The original had grease, I washed it out with 'Gunk', blew out with my airline and re assembled topping up to the top with 10k weight dif oil. The gear box had the same TLC but greased with a quality wheel bearing grease and re assembled. Not had it out yet waiting for one last part to be delivered KjF

I'm rebuilding a broken Firestorm I got on eBay and trying to do all the best mods I can with a budget .. where can I get the brake arm from in the UK ? Thanks KjF

I use spray 'Gunk' works a treat I just use a cut down plastic mug to swill it around then blow out (away from the face ) with an airline .... KjF

Agree the Stealth is a great buggy As for changes I've got 5-10-3 in the diffs, changed the steering to the Hitec 645mg and fitted These not so sure about the 'space age material' but they work a real treat. Not looked at the shocks or anything do you guys recommend anything ? KjF

Well after trying another servo in a quick and dirty way .... it looks like damp servo(s), after taking the base off there is condensation on the inside of the base lid so not a great sign so followed 'fraggs' advice and had some WD40 (is there nothing it can't do ....) in there and now drying close to the boiler .. Thanks guys ...

Thanks both - will try that today ... you have given me another idea ... strip a servo off my lads car and give that a go Thanks again .... KjF