Losi LOSA0887 Mach .15RE Manual - Manual

Congratulations on your purchase of a Mach 15RE
engine! Precision manufactured and assembled, your
Mach 15RE will provide you with trouble-free
performance if you read and follow these instructions.
Using the Proper Fuel and Glow Plug
Using the proper fuel and glow plug is critical in order to
achieve maximum performance and reliability. You must
use fuel, glow plugs and air filters that are specifically
designed for model car/truck/buggy applications. Never
use any type of model airplane glow fuel. Use
of model airplane fuel will damage your engine and
immediately void any warranty.
We recommend using Blue Thunder or Blue Thunder
Race Formula blend fuels with 20% nitro, providing the
best combination of power and fuel economy. Dynamite ®
Blue Thunder Fuels are vigorously tested, researched
and formulated to deliver excellent power as well as
engine protection.
A glow plug has been included and is ideal for breaking-in
your new engine. In fact during the break-in procedure, it is
not uncommon to go through one or two glow plugs, as
microscopic bits of metal (from the cylinder/piston wearing
in) bond themselves to the plug element causing glow plug
failure. We recommend the Dynamite MC-59 McCoy
Power Plug (DYN2508) as the absolute best glow plug for
this engine. Delivering an ideal balance of performance and
longevity, this is the same glow plug that continues to win
races at every level of competition, from local events to
World Championships.
All car engines must use a properly oiled air filter to keep
dirt out of the engine. Any dirt that enters the carburetor
can immediately destroy your engine! We recommend
DYN2503 or DYN2504 as excellent choices for quality
air cleaners.
Carburetor Adjustments
Your Mach 15 RE engine comes equipped with a
precision rotary-type carburetor. Take a moment to review
the pictures below to familiarize yourself with the various
functions of the carb. Loosening the nut located on the
side of the crankcase under the carburetor body will allow
you to rotate the carburetor. Make certain to mount the
throttle arm to the side required by your particular vehicle.
Although preset at the factory, some changes in the
needle setting can occur during shipping and handling.
We suggest the following settings for breaking-in
your engine:
High-Speed Needle: 3
1 / 4 turns out (counterclockwise)
from closed.
Low-Speed Needle: 3 turns out (counterclockwise)
from closed.
When checking the adjustment of the low-speed
needle, it is crucial that the throttle barrel is
closed completely when turning the needle
and that you do not over-tighten the needle.
We suggest using a Dynamite ® engine-tuning
screwdriver (DYN2775) to make this job easier.
When you feel resistance in the needle,
immediately stop turning and begin turning the
needles counterclockwise, counting the number
of turns from “closed.”
Starting Your Engine For The First Time
The first start of your engine is the most critical time of
the engine’s life, dictating how well it will perform. After
installing the engine in your model and inserting the glow
plug, turn on your radio system and attach a glow igniter
to the glow plug.
When using a recoil starter, never pull the rope
out to its full length, as doing so may cause
damage and recoil starter failure. Quick, short
pulls of the recoil starter are the best technique
to use. Never extend the starter rope more than
12 inches.
Should the pull-starter be extremely difficult to pull (will
not extend out of the assembly), the engine may be flood-
ed (hydro-locked). Excess fuel between the cylinder head
and piston will not allow the piston to travel through its
full range of compression, effectively “locking up” the
engine. Should this occur, immediately remove the glow
igniter from the plug. Using a quality glow plug wrench
(DYN2510), remove the glow plug and turn the model
upside down. Give the recoil starter a few short pulls to
clear out the fuel, re-install the glow plug and start again.
We recommend using an electric starter or starter box for
the initial starts, even with a pull-start equipped engine.
You may need to “blip” the throttle on the transmitter
(applying throttle on/off) while trying to start the engine,
as new engines are more difficult to start due to the tight
piston/cylinder fit. Never start an engine above
1 ⁄
4
throttle. Immediate damage to your engine
can and will occur.
When the engine starts, the exhaust should emit
lots of blue/white smoke, indicating that the engine is
excessively rich (a good thing during break-in). During
the first tank of fuel, you may wish to set a higher than
normal idle speed and/or leave the glow plug igniter
attached in order to keep the engine from stalling. Drive
your vehicle around while “blipping” the throttle and
avoid operating the engine at full throttle for more than
2–3 seconds at a time. Consume the entire first two tanks
of fuel in this manner.
After the first two tanks of fuel, begin leaning out the
high-speed needle valve 1/8 turn at a time. It generally
takes about 5 or 6 tanks of fuel before you’d want to start
tuning for “maximum” power. Do not skip this
process of breaking-in a new or rebuilt engine.
Should you choose not to follow these procedures,
you risk damaging your engine in the first tank
of fuel.
Your patience during these procedures will be rewarded
by an engine that performs reliably and to its maximum
power potential. First run attempts can be more frustrating
than with other (less powerful) sport engines, so take
your time—it will be worth the wait.
Glow plug failure is a common occurrence when breaking
in a new engine. To test your plug, let the engine idle at
a properly adjusted low-speed needle setting with the
glow igniter attached. Then, remove the igniter. If you hear
no appreciable change in engine rpm, then the plug is
still good. If the engine loads up and the rpm’s decrease,
it’s time to replace the glow plug.
Setting the Needle Valves
When tuning the needle valves for maximum
performance, adjust them is small increments, 1 ⁄ 8 turn
at a time.
An engine should not be run too lean; doing so severely
shortens the life of the engine. When an engine is set too
lean, it will run very strong at first but will soon begin to
sag and hesitate or stall when accelerating.
The best way to tune an engine is by using an infrared
temperature gauge, but you can also use water to check
the head temperature. (Refer to “Tuning the High-Speed
Needle” below.)
Tuning the High-Speed Needle
To obtain the correct high-speed needle setting, start the
engine and drive your vehicle around for a minute or two,
applying full throttle for periods of 5 seconds or more.
Place a drop of water on the cylinder head. If the water
sizzles away (evaporates immediately) the needle setting
is too lean. A correct needle setting will result in the water
evaporating after 3-5 seconds. If the water does not
evaporate, chances are good that the needle setting is too
rich. Lean the needle 1/8 of a turn and run the engine
again, adjusting the needle setting to get the desired
evaporation time. Check the temperature each time
you change the needle mixture. Do not let the
engine overheat, as this will damage the engine.
Tuning the Low-Speed Needle
The low-speed needle (also referred to as the idle mixture
or idle needle) should be set after you’re satisfied with
the high-speed needle setting. After achieving the proper
operating temperature, reduce the engine throttle to idle
and pinch the fuel line for 3-5 seconds with your fingers
close to the carb fuel inlet nipple. If the engine dies
immediately, the low-speed needle is set too lean.
If the rpm’s increase dramatically, the setting is too rich.
The ideal setting results in the rpm’s increasing just
a slight amount after pinching the fuel line.
MACH .15RE
Owner’s Manual
Leaner
Low-Speed
Needle Valve
High-Speed Needle Valve
Idle Stop Adjustment
Fuel Inlet
(Adjustable)
Faster Idle Slower Idle
Leaner
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
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