when my last engine throw a rod it was up to temp had been driving it for about 20 min
i am only following the instruction in the manual so if it does go pear shaped there is a good chance i could claim on the warranty
Alhpa manual
RUNNING-IN The carburetor is set at the factory. Please follow the below steps to complete the running-in of engine.
After this procedure, you can get the best carburetion via adjustments of the full and base speed needles.
1. Mount the engine on the car correctly.
2. Unscrew the factory preset full(high) speed needle (on the top of carburetor) for 1-2 turns.
3. Fill the tank full with fuel. (High quality fuel of nitro content below 16% is recommended.) Put the car on the starting box. Open the throttle half and start engine.
4. Set full throttle and rich condition. Run the engine for 2 tanks in order to clean the inside of the engine.
5. Static running-in. From the 3rd tank, adjust the idle adj. screw to close the throttle till the clutch is just driven and the engine is just running but not idling. The inlet port of throttle is about 1-2mm. Set the full speed needle as rich as possible to run the engine for about 1 hour. Make sure the vibration of engine calmly and the pipe resonating as quietly as possible. Otherwise, the parts will wear. In this stage, a lot of smoke will be blown out. So please run in engine in an open space.
6. Motion running-in. Also called loading running-in or hot running-in. Use high quality fuel of above 20% nitro for this stage. Run the model at a medium and low speed in a pattern of 8 on a flat ground for about 10 tanks continuously. Do not accelerate the throttle quickly and excessively. The needle is still set as rich at this moment. Pay attention that the temperature is between 90- 110