I have recently taken interest in R/C boats. One thing that really interest me is I can't get the things to run. My boats have Zenoah gas engines and I need some tips on geting these things to run. Can anyone help?

I used to have a lot of Gas-powered R/C cars....

Those engines were much smaller, they were 3,5 cc engines...

I think yours are larger, probably around 22 - 25 cc

Anyways, you should check just like you would with a regular engine,

First, see if you have a spark...

Then, see if there's gas arriving to the engine...

If you have gas and a spark, the engine should run, be it just for a couple of seconds, you should be able to get some sort of reaction out of it...If it doesn't, it's either seized or drowned (sp?)

If you can describe the engines a bit better and what the symptoms are exactly I could try to give you better information...

I'm guessing your engines have the little starter pulleys? And do you use a separate power supply to heat up the spark plugs?

The main problem I am having with one of them is it starts and idles fine but once you put it under a load or give it throttle it dies. I think I am gaining on the other it runs fine for about 10 minutes and then suddenly stops usually at full throttle.

sounds like the OVP

...sorry - monday humor

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joE
1993 300e-2.8 - gone now <sigh>
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I think both problem are due to your carbs settings...Sounds like both engines are running too lean...Try adjusting the mixture, making it richer until you can see the smoke coming out of the exhausts, then make it leaner progressively until the engine withstands a 30 second maximum revs run without stalling...Be very careful when you lean the mixture, if you do it too much you'll seize the engine....been there, done that

Those little engines are marvellous to use, but getting the carbs set up properly is definitely a pain...

I used to fly RC planes a lot and getting those engines dialed in is a test of patience. The instructons are usually pretty good on how to tune them. I never ran Zenoah I only ever had OS and one Super Tiger. They all had two adjustments for fuel mixture -high and low end. idle was adjusted with the neddle valve.

If the engine runs well and quits after 1o minutes and ther is still fuel in the tank then fuel delivery is suspect as is overheating. fuel tank venting and or pressure lines. another cause can be the fuel is foaming due to vibration or the fuel tank may incorrectly located (to high /low).


thebern

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