AquaCraft Air Force - Manual (Page 12)

Glow Plug
The glow plug is an item that will wear out and need
replacement from time to time. It is a good idea to remove the
glow plug before your first run, heat it and see how well it
glows. You should see a bright orange glow from the filament.
If a coil or two will not glow or the plug will not glow at all,
replace the plug. If the engine quits when you remove the
glow starter, the plug might need to be changed, although this
may be because you are running too rich and need to screw
in your high-speed needle some. Look at the glow plug when
you are running the engine. If you see some bubbles coming
from around the plug, replace the glow plug (copper) gasket,
or both the plug and the gasket. The only real way to test a
glow plug is to replace it. Make sure you have a spare plug or
two on hand every time that you run the Air Force.
Fuel
Fuel can go bad. The main ingredient in model fuel is methanol,
which is basically a form of alcohol. Alcohols can absorb water
out of the air, so keep your fuel jug capped at all times. Store
your fuel out of the sunlight and in a cool place. Bad fuel is one
of the most difficult problems to diagnose in engines. If you have
tried everything you can think of to remedy an engine that is not
running correctly, try using some fresh fuel.
Fuel line is susceptible to pinhole leaks. You cannot see the
hole in the fuel line, but if you see bubbles in the line going
to the carburetor, replace the fuel line. Another symptom of a
leak in the fuel line is a surging engine. The properly tuned
engine will surge when the air bubbles enter the carburetor.
It is basically leaning out the mixture.
Overheating
One of the worst things you can do to your engine is overheat
it. The oils that lubricate the engine are carried in the fuel. If
your engine is set too lean, there will not be enough oil in the
engine to lubricate the internal parts. This will cause
premature wear in the engine and cause damage.
• Before running your Air Force, it is a good idea to check
over all screws to make sure they are securely fastened.
• Place the boat in water that is at least 8" deep and free of
obstacles (weeds, sticks, ducks, muskrats, etc.).
• CAUTION: Airboats are top-heavy by nature. It is common
practice to slow down a little for sharp turns. If you don’t,
there will be an increased chance of flipping over.
• Slowly advance the throttle to full speed and note if the
boat has a tendency to turn right or left. Adjust the
steering trim knob on your transmitter until the boat runs
in a straight line when the steering wheel is at neutral.
• CAUTION: Running in windy conditions will affect the
performance of your Air Force and increase the chances
of capsizing.
• Total run time of the Air Force is approximately 6 minutes
(assuming you begin with a full tank of fuel). When you
notice an increase in power, it means the fuel tank is
nearly empty and it’s time to head for shore. As soon as
the boat reaches shore, stop the engine, turn off the
receiver, and finally the transmitter (in that order).
• CAUTION: The engine will be hot! Allow it to cool for a
few minutes before restarting.
• Your Air Force will often take on small amounts of water,
especially when running in rough water and when
making tight turns. Keep a roll of paper towels handy and
dry out the hull interior after every run. If you notice
excessive amounts of water in the hull, check for leaks,
especially around the hull/deck joint. You may reseal the
joint using medium cyanoacrylate (CA) Glue.
• Always store your Air Force with the canopy /hatch cover
removed to allow the interior to dry out completely. If
you neglect to do this, it may result in corrosion of the
electronic components.
• IMPORTANT: If, for whatever reason, your boat takes on
a large amount of water, swamps or sinks, causing the
radio equipment to get wet, you must do the following
immediately: Remove the battery pack and radio
equipment from the boat. Open the receiver and servo
cases. Allow the components to air dry completely before
reassembling. Reinstall the components and check for
proper operation before running the boat in water.
The Waiting Game
If your Air Force airboat should happen to stall or capsize,
water currents will slowly carry it to shore. The bad news is
that the boat could be carried to the opposite shore. When
surveying areas to run your Air Force, keep in mind things like
wind direction, size of the lake, strength of river currents, etc.
Helpful Tip
Use a fishing rod with at least 12lb. line and a tennis ball tied
to the end to retrieve a stalled or capsized model boat.
GOOD LUCK AND GREAT BOATING!
RUNNING THE AIR FORCE
12