Professional Documents
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Traxxas T Maxx 4910
Traxxas T Maxx 4910
Traxxas T Maxx 4910
com
Traxxas Corporation
Corporate Headquarters
1100 Klein Road
Plano, Texas 75074
Phone: 972.265.8000
Toll-free 1-888-TRAXXAS
Traxxas U.K.
P.O. Box 1128
Winterbourne, Bristol BS17-2SH
England
Phone: 44.117.956.1002
Internet
www.traxxas.com
www.T-Maxx.com
E-mail: support@traxxas.com
020802
Before running your T-Maxx, look over this entire manual, and Technical support is available Monday through Friday from 8:30
examine the truck carefully. If for some reason you decide the am to 9:00 pm central time. Technical assistance is also available
T-Maxx is not what you wanted, then do not continue any at www.Traxxas.com. You may also e-mail customer support
further. Your hobby dealer absolutely cannot accept a with your question at support@traxxas.com. Join thousands of
T-Maxx for return or exchange after it has been run. Traxxas R/C enthusiasts in our online community at
ReadyToRun.org
Warnings, helpful hints, and cross-references
Throughout this manual, you’ll notice warnings and helpful Traxxas offers a full-service, on-site repair facility to handle any
hints, identified by the icons below. Be sure to read them! of your Traxxas service needs. Maintenance and replacement
parts may be purchased directly from Traxxas, or you can save
shipping and handling costs by purchasing them from your
An important warning about personal safety or avoiding local hobby dealer.
damage to your T-Maxx and related components.
▼
Never operate your T-Maxx in crowds of people or busy All instructions
Operate your T-Maxx sensibly and with care, and it will be pedestrian areas. The T-Maxx is large and fast, and may cause and precautions
exciting, safe, and fun for you and those around you. Failure to injury to those unaware of its presence. outlined in this
operate your T-Maxx in a safe and responsible manner may manual should be strictly
followed to ensure safe
result in property damage and serious injury. The precautions ▼
Because the T-Maxx is controlled by radio, it is subject to operation of your T-Maxx.
outlined in this manual should be strictly followed to help radio interference from many sources beyond your control.
ensure safe operation. You alone must see that the instructions Since radio interference can cause momentary loss of
are followed and the precautions are adhered to. control, always allow a safety margin in all directions around
your model to prevent collisions. The T-Maxx is not
Important Points to Remember intended for use
by those under 16
▼
R/C fuel is dangerous and highly poisonous. Always follow all The engine can be loud. If the noise makes you years of age without the
directions and precautions printed on the fuel container. uncomfortable, wear ear protection. Be considerate of your supervision of a
neighbors by not running your model early in the morning responsible and
▼
R/C fuel, especially when in a fuel dispensing bottle, may or late in the evening. knowledgeable adult.
look like a cool drink to a child. Keep all fuel out of the reach
▼
of children at all times. Do not place fuel containers on the Most importantly, use good common sense at all times.
ground where children can get to them while you are
driving.
▼
Fuel
Traxxas Top Fuel
10% quart - #5010 • 20% quart - #5020
10% gallon - #5060 • 20% gallon- #5070
Fuel Steering
Tank Servo
Slipper Shift
Clutch Chassis
Rod
Spur On/Off
Gear Switch Suspension
Pressure Line Battery Arm (upper)
Box
Bumper
EZ-Start (Front)
Motor
Shock
Fuel Line Tower
Cross-brace
Bumper
Mount
Differential
Body
Mount
Pipe
Hanger Bulkhead
Half Shaft
Shock
Antenna (Oil Damper)
Mount
Air
Filter
Transmission
Receiver
Pipe Box
Access Plug
Header Engine for Two Speed Access Plug Throttle/Brake Turnbuckle
see pg. 20 for details Adjustment for Receiver Crystal Servo 7
6. Install batteries in the transmitter • See page 13 16. Tune your engine • See page 34
The T-Maxx requires 8 AA alkaline or rechargeable Learn how to set the fuel mixture needles for optimum
batteries for the transmitter. engine performance.
7. Install batteries in the model • See page 14 17. Drive your T-Maxx • See page 37
The T-Maxx requires 4 AA alkaline or rechargeable Learn how to use the two-speed and reverse functions
batteries for the receiver. on your T-Maxx
8. Install the EZ-Start battery • See page 30 18. Maintaining your T-Maxx • See page 44
Install and connect the 7.2-volt battery pack in Follow these critical steps to maintain the performance
the EZ-Start controller. of your T-Maxx and keep it in excellent running
condition.
3. Repeat step two at four or five points around the rim, until the
tire is completely secured to the rim. Turn the rim over and
repeat the process for the inside of the rim/tire. Repeat for the
other 3 wheels.
10
Steering Trim
Channel 1
Channel 3 Steering Servo
Reverse Shift Channel 2
Channel 1
Battery
Forward Shift
Servo
CH.1
CH.3
CH.2
Reversing
Switches
Power Indicator
Power Switch Battery Compartment
11
12
4. Turn on the transmitter and check the power indicator for If you use rechargeable
a solid red light. batteries in your transmitter, be
aware that when they begin to
If the power indicator light flashes, then the transmitter lose their charge, they lose
power much more quickly than
batteries are weak, discharged or possibly installed incorrectly.
regular alkaline batteries.
Replace with new or freshly charged batteries. The power Caution: Discontinue
indicator light does not indicate the charge level of the running your T-Maxx at the
receiver batteries in the model. first sign of weak batteries
(flashing red light) to avoid
losing control.
1. Remove the battery compartment door by pressing the
tab and lifting the door up.
If the power indicator
2. Install the batteries in the correct orientation as indicated doesn’t light red, check
the polarity of the
in the battery compartment.
batteries. Check rechargeable
batteries for a full charge.
3. Reinstall the battery door and snap it closed.
13
14
1. Locate the black antenna wire that exits the receiver cover.
The T-Maxx receiver cover is mounted on the top of the
chassis, near the front. Don’t shorten the
length of the
2. Pull the wire straight with your fingers and then insert the antenna wire. Its
end of the wire into one end of the antenna tube. Push the length is tuned to the
frequency band; cutting it
wire all the way through the antenna tube.
could severely shorten the
Antenna Tube radio system’s range.
3. Pull the remaining wire through the antenna tube, and then
insert the base of the antenna tube into the molded post on
top of the receiver cover.
Don’t push the
4. Fold the remaining antenna wire over the top of the tube transmitter antenna
and secure it with the antenna tip. down from the top.
Pull it down from the
bottom, one segment at a
5. On the transmitter, always fully extend the telescoping
time, to prevent binding and
antenna when running your T-Maxx. Make a habit of holding kinking the antenna mast.
the transmitter so that the antenna points straight up.
15
RIGHT
LEFT
SHIFT
REVERSE
ACCELERATE BRAKE
NEUTRAL SHIFT
FORWARD
CH.1 CH.1
CH.2 CH.2
CH.3 CH.3
16
Other TQ-3 Radio System Adjustments will roll freely). Do not use the throttle trim to raise or lower the
In addition to the electronic throttle and steering trim controls, engine idle speed. Make the idle speed adjustment on the
your radio system features throttle neutral adjustment and carburetor.
servo reversing switches.
Electronic Steering Trim
Throttle Neutral Adjustment The electronic steering trim located on the face of the
The throttle neutral adjustment is located on the transmitter transmitter adjusts the neutral (center) point of the steering
face and controls the forward/reverse travel of the throttle servo when the servo is at rest. Adjust this control to make the
trigger. Change the adjustment by pressing the button and model drive straight with no steering input at the wheel.
sliding it to the desired position. There are two settings
available: Servo Reversing Switches
The servo reversing switches are located on the front of the
▼ ▼
50/50: Allows equal travel for both acceleration and braking. transmitter, next to the on/off switch. Moving a switch reverses
70/30: Allows more throttle travel (70%) and less the direction of the corresponding servo.
brake travel (30%).
50/50 is the required setting for the T-Maxx with Each switch corresponds to a channel, as shown below. For
the TRX 2.5 racing engine. example, if you turn the steering wheel to the right and your
front wheels turn left, you would move the channel 1 switch to
correct the servo direction. It may be necessary to adjust the
corresponding trim control after moving a switch.
Channel Servo
1 Steering
2 Throttle and braking
3 Shifting
CH.1
CH.2
CH.3
▼
turn the TQ-3 Always use new or freshly charged batteries for the radio
▼
transmitter on first
Each time you prepare to run your Channel 1
T-Maxx, you must clear your frequency Brown system. Weak batteries will limit the range of the radio signal
and off last to avoid between the receiver and the transmitter. Loss of the radio
damage to your T-Maxx. to be sure no one else in the area is Channel 2
using the same channel as you. Red signal can cause you to lose control of your T-Maxx.
Channel 3
Orange
There are six possible channels, Channel 4
numbered 1 through 6. Each is Yellow
represented by a color. Look at the Channel 5
crystal plugged into the back of your Green
transmitter to determine which channel Channel 6
Blue
your truck is assigned to.
▼
Always turn your TQ-3 transmitter on first and off last. This
procedure will help to prevent your T-Maxx from receiving
stray signals from another transmitter, or other source, and
running out of control.
▼
1 2 3
CH.1
CH.2
CH.3
18
Using the TQ-3 Radio System 6. Operate the throttle trigger on the transmitter and check for When the engine
The TQ-3 Radio System was pre-adjusted at the factory. The rapid operation of the throttle servo. When the throttle is running, don’t
trigger is pulled back, the carburetor should open. When the use the throttle
adjustment should be checked, before running the model, in trim on the transmitter to
case of movement during shipping. Here’s how: throttle trigger is pushed all the way forward, the brake
should lock. adjust the engine idle
speed. Instead, use the
1. Fully extend the chrome antenna mast on the transmitter idle speed adjustment on
and turn the switch on. The red indicator light on the 7. Operate the shift button on the transmitter and check for the carburetor.
transmitter should be solid red (not flashing). rapid operation of the shifting servo. Push the shift button
down for forward. The servo will push the transmission shift
2. Turn on the receiver switch in the model. The switch is rod into the transmission. Push the shift button up for reverse
located on the battery cover. and the servo will pull the shift rod out of the transmission. Because your
T-Maxx features
8. Once adjustments are made, turn off the receiver on your zero-scrub-radius
3. Position the T-Maxx so that its front wheels are off the suspension and wide tires,
ground. T-Maxx, followed by the handheld transmitter.
the steering servo will not
fully turn the front wheels
Throttle
4. Turn the steering wheel on the transmitter back and forth when the vehicle is not
and check for rapid operation of the steering servo. Also, moving.
check that the steering mechanism is not loose or binding. If
the steering operates slowly, check for weak receiver
batteries.
Brake
5. When looking down at model, the front wheels should be
pointing straight ahead. If the wheels are turned slightly to Throttle/Brake
Servo
the left or right, slowly adjust the steering trim control on the
transmitter until they are pointing straight ahead.
Shifting
0° 0° Servo
Steering
Servo
T-Maxx Servo
Operation
19
20
21
High-Speed Needle
Fuel Intake
Air Intake
Carburetor
Flywheel
EZ-Start
Clutch Motor
Bell
Crankshaft Engine
Throttle Low-Speed Mount
Arm Needle
Crankcase
Ground
Wire EZ-Start EZ-Start
Glow Plug Plug Controller
Wire
Negative
Wire
Positive
Wire
Pressure
Line
Fuel Line
Exhaust
Tip
Pipe
Fuel Tank
22
Terms to Know plug ignites the fuel. The shape of the combustion chamber is Learn terms related
You’ll find these Nitro R/C engine terms throughout this designed to promote more efficient burning of the fuel. to the TQ-3 Radio
Connecting rod - The connecting rod transfers the piston System on page 12.
section of the manual.
motion to the crankshaft. The TRX 2.5 racing engine uses a
.15 - .15 or “15” refers to the size of the engine. The TRX 2.5 is .15 “knife-edged” connecting rod. The aerodynamic, sharpened
cubic inches or 2.5 cubic centimeters (cc). The name “TRX 2.5” edges allow it to “slice” through the pressurized air/fuel
is derived from the cc measurement. mixture inside the crankcase.
ABC - Abbreviation for aluminum, brass, and chrome. Refers to Cooling fins - The cooling fins are molded into the cylinder
engine construction that consists of an aluminum piston that head and crankcase and cause heat to be drawn away from
slides in a chrome-plated brass sleeve. The TRX 2.5 uses ABC the engine. Heat is removed when it dissipates into the air
construction. passing across the cooling fins. It is important to keep the fins
Air filter - The air filter sits atop the carburetor and prevents clean of dirt and debris for maximum cooling efficiency.
harmful dust and dirt from entering the engine. Dirt ingestion Crankcase - The engine “body” that contains all of the running
is the number one cause of premature engine failure so the mechanical components.
engine should never be run without the air filter in place. Crankshaft - The main shaft of the engine that contains the
Big Block .15 - A .15 (2.5) engine that uses a larger crankcase rotating assembly.
size and longer stroke than typical .15 engines. Generally only Cylinder head (head) - The finned aluminum part on top of the
used for specific racing classes. engine that is responsible for dissipating most of the engine’s
Break-in - Break-in is the procedure for running a brand new heat. The combustion chamber is machined into the bottom of
engine according to specific instructions. This correctly the head.
prepares the engine for normal running. The break-in Dyno - Abbreviation for dynamometer. A precise piece of
procedure can be different for different makes of engines. testing equipment that accurately measures engine power
Follow the Traxxas directions for break-in exactly. and torque output over the engines entire RPM range.
Carb - Abbreviation for carburetor. EZ-Start - Second generation Traxxas on-board electric starting
Carburetor - The carburetor atomizes (mixes) the fuel with the system. The system consists of a hand held starter control unit
air so that the engine can burn it. There are two types of and an on-board gearbox with an electric motor to spin the
carburetors, slide carbs and barrel carbs. The TRX 2.5 uses the engine. The new EZ-Start contains many performance and
superior slide carburetor design. reliability improvements over the first generation EZ-Start.
Clean-out - Cleaning-out is a condition that occurs when the Filter foam - The oiled foam element inside the air filter
engine is accelerating and the fuel mixture becomes housing. The filter foam in the TRX 2.5 must be thoroughly
sufficiently lean to allow the engine to continue into its upper cleaned and re-oiled after every hour of run time.
RPM power band. Usually characterized by a noticeable Fit - Usually refers to the fit of the piston and sleeve. If the fit is
decrease in blue exhaust smoke and a dramatic increase in tight, then the piston will feel very tight at top of the sleeve
engine speed. and the engine will have good sealing and compression. If the
Combustion chamber - The combustion chamber is machined fit is loose, then compression will be low and the piston and
into the bottom of the cylinder head. This is where the glow sleeve should be replaced.
23
Flame-out - Occurs when the engine stops running at high stalls, particularly at high speed. This is a dangerous
RPM. Usually the fault of an excessively lean fuel mixture or condition that should be corrected immediately or it can
glow plug failure. ruin your engine.
Fuel - (10% 20%) The TRX 2.5 must have model engine fuel to Leaning the mixture - Turning either the high speed and/or
run. Traxxas Top Fuel is recommended. Fuel is sold in quarts low-speed needle(s) clockwise to decrease the amount of fuel
and gallons from hobby dealers. The 10 and 20% labeling the engine receives.
refers to the percentage amount of nitromethane contained in Low-speed needle - Needle valve that controls the low-speed
the fuel (see “nitro percentage” definition). fuel mixture.
Fuel mixture - The ratio of fuel to air as determined by the Needle valve - Valve consisting of a tapered needle that closes
needle settings of the carburetor. against a corresponding seat to regulate fuel flow.
Fuel tubing (fuel line) - The thick silicone tubing that carries Nitro - Abbreviation for nitro methane, a component of model
fuel from the fuel tank to the carburetor. engine fuel that improves fuel combustion and power output.
Glow plug - The glow plug is located in the cylinder head at the Nitro also refers to a class of RC powered by model engines
top of the combustion chamber. It contains a platinum instead of electric.
element that glows red hot when voltage is applied. When the Nitro content - The amount of nitro methane used in the fuel.
engine is being started, the heat from the glow plug ignites Usually measured as a percentage of the total fuel volume.
the fuel mixture and starts the combustion process. Traxxas engines are optimized to use 10-20% nitro. 30% nitro
Glow plug driver - This tool clips onto the glow plug and may be used for racing.
supplies the required voltage to light the glow plug element. It Nitromethane - Nitro methane is a component in the fuel that
is also called an igniter. EZ-Start equipped engines do not increases power from the combustion process up to a point.
require this separate tool. Engines are generally optimized to use a range of nitro
Header - The aluminum tube that connects the exhaust system content for the best power.
to the engine exhaust port. The length and diameter of the O-ring - Rubber “O”-shaped ring used as a sealing gasket.
header must be carefully selected to extract the most power Pipe - Abbreviation for the tuned exhaust pipe on a nitro
from the engine. engine. See “Tuned Pipe” definition.
High-speed needle - Adjusts the carburetors fuel/air mixture at Piston - The piston is the internal engine part that is attached to
high RPM. the upper end of the connecting rod and moves up and down
Idle speed - The speed (RPMs) the engine runs at when the in the cylinder sleeve. The precise fit between the piston and
transmitter’s throttle trigger is at neutral. the sleeve creates a seal that allows engine to have the
Idle speed screw - Located on the carburetor body. This screw required compression for combustion.
adjusts the idle RPM of the engine. Port - Ports are openings in the sleeve that allow atomized fuel
Lean - A running condition where the engine is not getting to enter the combustion chamber and burned exhaust gasses
enough fuel (for the available air). Symptoms include engine to exit. The shape and location of the ports are a large factor in
overheating, or the engine runs for a short time and then controlling the engine timing and power output.
24
25
▼▼
nitro percentages Use the Right Fuel Follow all directions and warnings on the fuel can.
than 20% in certain Keep the fuel tightly capped at all times. Some components
It’s imperative that you use the correct fuel in
circumstances. Call 1-888- in the fuel can evaporate very quickly and upset the balance
TRAXXAS for more
your TRX 2.5 for maximum performance and
engine life. Traxxas Top Fuel should be used of the fuel.
information.
▼
to ensure correct engine lubrication, Do not store unused fuel in the fuel dispenser. Immediately
performance, and ease of tuning. Traxxas Top return fresh unused fuel back into the fuel can.
▼
Fuel has been proven in thousands of engines, Do not mix old and new fuel. Never mix different brands of
so you can count on it every day for great fuel together.
▼
performance. Store the fuel in a cool dry location, away from any source of
heat, ignition, or combustion.
▼
Read and follow the safety precautions on page 5
▼
Top Fuel is the only fuel which is 100% certified for use in
in this manual.
Traxxas engines.
▼
Traxxas Top Fuel is made with just the right balance of the
Filling the Fuel Tank
highest grade natural and synthetic lubricants to allow
Use a fuel dispensing bottle (Traxxas Top
excellent throttle response and the best top-end Fueler, part# 5001) to put fuel into the
performance, without sacrificing long-term durability. T-Maxx’s fuel tank. To fill the fuel bottle,
▼
All of the components in the fuel are carefully selected from squeeze the air out, insert the dispenser
the best materials available and then custom blended to tip into the fuel can, and release your grip
match the metallurgy and temperature characteristics of on the bottle. As the bottle
Traxxas engines. expands, fuel will be
drawn into it.
You may use 10% or 20% nitro-content fuel. Use the same
percentage all the time; don’t switch back and forth between To fill your model flip up
10% and 20% fuel. If you break-in your engine on 20% fuel, then the spring-loaded cap on
always use 20% fuel. the fuel tank, insert the tip
of the fuel bottle, and
What about Other Fuels? squeeze to dispense the
Can other brands of fuel be used besides Top Fuel? There are fuel. Fill the tank until the
other fuels that can provide satisfactory performance; however fuel level reaches the base of the filler neck. Close the fuel tank
there could be long-term costs in the form of decreased engine lid, making sure it closes tightly.
performance, loss of tuning ease, and shorter engine life.
Fuel Tank Seal Adjustment
Everyone has an opinion or a claim to make about fuel. The The rubber seal on the fuel tank is important to the function of
engineering team at Traxxas spent over 2-years developing the the engine. The fuel tank is pressurized by the exhaust system to
TRX 2.5 engine. No one knows more about the specific fuel provide reliable fuel flow. If the tank lid does not seal properly,
requirements of Traxxas engines, than Traxxas engineers. We an air leak will be created that can cause your engine to run
strongly urge you not to take chances with your engine erratically and be difficult to start. If necessary, the rubber O-ring
investment and use the Traxxas fuel made for the TRX 2.5. tank seal can be adjusted for improved sealing by tightening
26 the screw on the underside of the tank lid.
Air Filter Cleaning Instructions 6. Reassemble the filter and install it on the engine, making sure
1. Remove the air filter from the the rubber base fits securely on the carburetor with no gaps or
carburetor bore by pulling air leaks.
the entire filter firmly to the
side to release it.
Do not pull straight up
27
See page 35 for The Carburetor the correct air/fuel ratio. Warmer air is less dense (fewer air
more information Understanding the Carburetor adjustments molecules) and therefore needs less fuel to maintain the correct
on how air density air/fuel ratio. The tuning needles are there to adjust how much
The carburetor performs several functions. It controls the
affects engine tuning. fuel is made available for the carburetor to mix with the
engine’s speed by restricting the intake of air and fuel into the
engine. It atomizes the fuel (suspends the fuel droplets in the available air (atomization).
air) and also controls the air/fuel ratio of the mixture entering Dense Air Less Dense Air
the engine (how much air for a given amount of fuel).
Air
Fuel
▼
Slightly lean fuel mixtures deliver stronger, more efficient See Tuning Your
Water Valve combustion and more power, but with less lubrication. TRX 2.5 engine for
(Controls Overall Flow) Best Performance
High Speed Needle on page 34 for complete
▼
Slightly rich fuel mixtures deliver cooler running and more
information on adjusting
lubrication but with slightly less power.
the air/fuel mixture and
idle speed.
Tuning the engine means finding the perfect balance between
the two; excellent power to meet your needs while maintaining
good lubrication for long engine life. The optimal fuel mixture If your factory
setting is rich to provide a safety margin against having a lean preset carburetor
Water Nozzle condition if some variable changes (such as the temperature adjustments have
(Controls Fine Flow) from one day to the next). been tampered with, use
Low Speed Needle the following settings: set
General fuel mixture settings are measured by the number of the low-speed needle so
pulled completely away from the needle seat leaving it fully that the screw head is flush
turns the needles are turned out from fully closed. The fuel
open. At that point, fuel metering is entirely controlled by the with the end of the slide.
mixture settings have been pre-set from the factory to typical
high-speed needle. Again, using our water hose example, when Set the high-speed needle
break-in settings. Do not readjust your carburetor from the to 4 turns out from closed.
the spray nozzle at the end of our garden hose is fully open, factory settings until after the engine is started and running, Always use the factory
then the main water valve can be used to adjust how fast the and you have been able to observe the engine running to settings for initial starting.
water flows. assess what minor adjustments may be required to compensate Only use these settings
for fuel, temperature, and altitude. Adjustments are usually when the factory settings
The engine’s performance is directly linked to the fuel made in 1/8 or 1/16-turn increments. have been lost.
mixture. Richening the fuel mixture increases the amount of
fuel in the air/fuel mixture ratio and leaning the fuel mixture The Idle Speed Adjustment
decreases the amount of fuel in the air/fuel mixture ratio. The idle speed screw controls the closed position of the throttle
slide. When the throttle servo is in its neutral position, the
Lean Rich throttle slide should be stopped against the idle adjustment
screw. Always use the idle speed adjusting screw to control
engine idle. Do not use the throttle trim on the transmitter to
adjust idle speed. The idle speed should be set as low as
possible and still maintain reliable running.
29
Use the The Traxxas EZ-Start Electric Starting System Installing the EZ-Start Battery
Right Charger The Traxxas EZ-Start brings the convenience of push-button The EZ-Start system requires a fully charged 7.2-volt NiCad
The most convenient electric engine starting to your T-Maxx. The EZ-Start consists of a battery pack (not included). Use a charger (not included)
type of charger is an AC peak- handheld control unit and an on-board motorized starter. designed for 7.2-volt battery packs. Charge the battery
detecting charger that plugs
according to the charger manufacturer’s directions.
directly into an AC wall
▼
outlet. It contains special Power for the EZ-Start system comes from a 7.2-volt
peak-detection circuitry that rechargeable NiCad battery pack installed in the handheld 1. Press the tab in the end of the battery compartment door
automatically shuts the control unit (battery not included). to open
charger off when the battery 2. Plug a fully charged 7.2-volt NiCad battery pack into the
▼
timed charger, always fully The voltage to the glow plug is kept constant, regardless of
discharge the battery pack the load placed on the starter by the starter motor. battery is placed in the compartment
before each charge. Some 4. Place the battery into the compartment and press the wires
▼
more than the standard 15 The “Motor” LED indicates the status of the EZ-Start electric
minutes of charge time. If the starter motor. end tab.
battery pack is cold after 15
▼
time. Closely monitor the Smart Start™ protection circuitry prevents damage to the
battery pack and stop motor by cutting power if the load on the motor or other
charging it when it begins to electronics exceeds safe limits.
feel warm to the touch. Never
leave a battery charging
unattended. Always follow
charger manufacturer’s
instructions.
30
Motor
Motor
Glow
Glow
Glow
Plug
Plug
Plug
the Motor LED and the Glow Plug protection circuit to shut off the power to the motor. Allow at to become warm
LED, should light green while least 3 minutes for the starter motor to cool and the circuit to after repeated use.
starting. If either LED fails to light automatically reset before continuing. Use the time to find and
while starting, there is a fault eliminate the condition that caused the excessive load on the
indicated with that function: starter motor. See page 43
for information
Motor
Motor
Glow
Glow
Plug
Plug
▼
Motor
Motor
Motor
Glow
Glow
Plug
Plug
Plug
31
▼
See Important Breaking in Your TRX 2.5 Racing Engine Pay careful attention to the fuel level. Do not allow the fuel tank
Points to Remember The TRX 2.5 uses a ringless, aluminum-brass-chrome (ABC) to run completely empty. An extremely low fuel level causes
on page 5 for other piston/sleeve construction.This type of engine design relies on a the mixture to run too lean.This could result in a burned glow
precautions. very precise running fit between the piston and sleeve for cylinder plug or extremely high engine temperatures.
▼
sealing. Engine break-in is necessary to allow the piston and Keep extra glow plugs handy (Traxxas part #3231).The break-in
sleeve to develop an extremely precise fit and optimum cylinder process can cause deposits to form on the plug leading to plug
Never run your sealing. Therefore, proper engine break-in is critical to achieving failure.
T-Maxx indoors. the fastest, most reliable engine performance.
Since the TRX 2.5 Follow the instructions exactly for each of the first 6 tanks of fuel.
engine exhaust fumes are Allow yourself about 1 to 11/2 hours to complete the break-in
harmful, always run your procedure.The engine break-in period will take 5 tanks of fuel in a Starting Your TRX 2.5 Racing Engine for the First Time
T-Maxx outdoors, in a well- T-Maxx.The break-in time is not the time to impress your friends Before you start your TRX 2.5 engine for the first time, make sure
ventilated area. with your new T-Maxx. You must wait until the engine is fully you have read all instructions and precautions in this manual. Pay
broken in before attempting sustained high speed running. close attention to the tank-by-tank break-in instructions in the
Patience and careful attention during break-in will reward you with next section, and make sure you have read and understood
Your TRX 2.5 the best-performing TRX 2.5 possible. them before you run your engine.
engine doesn’t
usually require
During break-in, your engine may appear to malfunction with Your engine must be at room temperature (70°F or 21° C) or
priming. If you do need to
symptoms like stalling, inconsistent performance, and fouled glow above the first time you start it. If it’s cooler than room
prime your engine, watch
plugs.These are simply the normal “break-in pains” engines temperature outside, keep your T-Maxx indoors until you’re ready
the fuel line carefully to
sometimes go through.They will disappear once your engine is to start it, then take it outside.
avoid flooding your engine.
fully broken in. Many owners report not experiencing any of these
See page 43 for
symptoms with the TRX 2.5. We recommend to go ahead and 1. Turn on the radio system according to the instructions on page
information on clearing a
flooded engine.
replace the glow plug with a new one after the engine break in 18.
procedure. 2. Make sure the throttle is in the idle position.
3. Connect the EZ-Start controller according to the instructions on
Your carburetor is Engine Break-in Procedure page 31.
pre-set at the The focus during break-in is to vary and limit the engine speed. 4. Press the starter button and watch for fuel moving through the
factory to give the This will be accomplished by accelerating and stopping at different fuel line up to the carburetor.Watch closely! The fuel moves very
correct air-to-fuel ratio and rates for the first 5 tanks of fuel. As the engine begins to break-in, fast. If the fuel doesn’t move through the line within 5 seconds,
idle speed for engine the duration and intensity of the acceleration will gradually prime the engine by briefly (one or two seconds) covering the
break-in. Do not adjust the increase. Sustained high-speed running is not permitted until the exhaust outlet until the fuel is just visible in the carburetor fuel
carburetor unless you 6th tank of fuel. Perform the initial break-in on a large, flat, paved line. Watch carefully! If the engine is primed too long, it will
observe a poor running surface. Apply all throttle and braking actions gently. Abrupt flood with fuel and stop turning.
condition that requires acceleration or braking could cause the engine to stall 5. Once fuel reaches the carburetor, the engine should quickly start
correction. unnecessarily. and idle.
6. Disconnect the EZ-Start controller from the model.
▼
Special break-in fuels are not recommended. Use the same fuel 7. Proceed with the engine break-in.
you plan to use everyday.
▼
If possible, avoid breaking-in the engine on extremely hot or If your engine doesn’t start, see Troubleshooting Your T-Maxx
cold days. on page 42.
32
Tank 1 3. When the fuel tank is nearly empty, shut off the engine and As you gain
1. Drive the model with the body off. refuel. From here on out, you do not need to let the engine cool experience in the
2. Driving procedure: Gently pull the throttle trigger to 1/4 between tanks. hobby, you may
throttle over a 2-second count. Then gently apply the brake to discover that many people
stop. Count the two seconds out while accelerating: one Tank 4 have differing opinions on
thousand one, one thousand two, and then stop. Operate the 1. Driving procedure: Gently pull the throttle trigger to full what is the proper
throttle trigger as smoothly as you can. Repeat this starting and throttle over a 3-second count. Then gently apply the brake to procedure to break-in a
stopping procedure until the first tank of fuel is nearly empty. stop. Count the three seconds out while accelerating: one model engine. Only use the
3. Look for thick blue smoke exiting the exhaust outlet. If there is thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, and then Traxxas break-in procedure.
no smoke, richen the high-speed needle 1/4 turn, by turning the stop. Repeat this starting and stopping procedure until the Other break-in procedures
needle counterclockwise. fourth tank of fuel is nearly empty. could result in a weak,
4. When the fuel tank is nearly empty, shut off the engine by 2. Apply the throttle gradually! Your finger should not reach full damaged, or otherwise poor
pinching the fuel line connected to the carburetor. throttle until the end of the three-second count.The T-Maxx may performing engine. The
5. Let the engine cool for 15 minutes. try to shift into second gear. If it does, reduce the throttle input. procedure outlined here
Note: If at any point the engine cuts out or stalls during gentle Do not let the T-Maxx shift out of first gear. was extensively tested and
acceleration, richen the high-speed needle 1/4 turn by turning the 3. Keep your driving smooth and consistent. proven to yield better
4. When the fuel tank is nearly empty, shut off the engine and performing engines than
needle counterclockwise.
refuel. other “common” break-in
Tank 2 methods. Even if you have
1. From tank 2 forward, the T-Maxx should be driven with the Tank 5 years of experience using
body on. 1. Driving procedure: Gently pull the throttle trigger to full model engines, please do
2. Driving procedure: Gently pull the throttle trigger to 1/2 throttle over a 3-second count, hold for 2 more seconds, and not ignore this caution!
throttle over a 2-second count. Then gently apply the brake to then gently apply the brake to stop. Count the five seconds out
stop. Count the two seconds out while accelerating: one while accelerating. Repeat this starting and stopping
thousand one, one thousand two, and then stop. Repeat this procedure until the fifth tank of fuel is nearly empty.
starting and stopping procedure until the second tank of fuel 2. The model should be shifting into second gear. If it is not, try
is nearly empty. turning the high-speed needle clockwise 1/8 turn to lean the
3. When the fuel tank is nearly empty, shut off the engine and let it fuel mixture slightly and test for shifting.
cool for 15 minutes. 3. When the fuel tank is nearly empty, shut off the engine and
refuel.
Tank 3
1. Driving procedure: Gently pull the throttle trigger to 1/2 Tank 6
throttle over a 3-second count. Then gently apply the brake During the sixth tank of fuel, the engine can be tuned for general
to stop. Count the three seconds out while accelerating: one performance use. Proceed to the next section in this manual.
thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three,
Tank Throttle Time Cool Body Notes
and then stop. Repeat this starting and stopping
1 1/4 2 Seconds 15 Minutes Off Apply throttle gradually.
procedure until the third tank of fuel is nearly empty.
2. As the engine loosens, the idle speed may increase 2 1/2 2 Seconds 15 Minutes On Apply throttle gradually.
and cause the model to try to creep forward when 3 1/2 3 Seconds - On Reduce idle speed if necessary.
stopped. Reduce the idle speed by turning the idle 4 Full 3 Seconds - On Do not allow shifting to high gear.
adjustment (see page 22) on the carburetor 5 Full 5 Seconds - On Accelerate over 3 second count,
counterclockwise. hold for 2 seconds.
33
When adjusting the Tuning Your TRX 2.5 Engine for Best Performance control. Continue this procedure until one of the following
low speed fuel The engine’s performance depends on the fuel mixture. Turn the conditions exist:
mixture, it is very mixture needles clockwise to lean the fuel mixture and
important to make several
1. There is no longer any performance improvement
counterclockwise to richen it. Leaning the fuel mixture will 2. The engine begins to cut out at high speed (Danger!)
high-speed runs with the
increase engine power up to the engine’s mechanical limits. 3. There is a sudden loss of power during acceleration (Danger!)
T-Maxx between
adjustments to clear out any Never run the engine too lean (not enough fuel flow). Never 4. The engine begins to overheat. Symptoms of
excess fuel. Perform the lean the engine until it begins to cut-out or stall. Leaning the overheating include:
pinch test immediately after. engine beyond the safe allowable limits will result in poor
▼▼▼
If the engine is allowed to performance and almost certain engine damage. Indications Steam or smoke coming from the engine (not exhaust)
idle for a long period of time, of an overly lean mixture include: Hesitation or stalling during acceleration
it could “load up” with fuel Popping or clattering sound when decelerating
▼▼▼
and give you an inaccurate Cutting out or sudden loss of power during acceleration. (detonation)
measurement from your Overheating (temperature beyond 270° F at the glow plug)
▼▼
Fluctuating idle speed
pinch test. Little or no blue smoke coming from the exhaust. Temperature measurement above 270° F at the glow plug
If any of these conditions are present, stop immediately and If any one of the above conditions occurs, the fuel mixture is
For your richen the high speed mixture 1/4 turn. The engine will already past the maximum safe lean setting. Richen the fuel
convenience, the probably be slightly rich at that setting and you can then retune mixture to the optimum setting by richening the high-speed
low-speed needle for performance. Always tune for performance by starting rich needle at least 1/8 turn counterclockwise and retest. This setting
has a positive stop that and moving leaner toward the ideal setting. Never try to tune
prevents it from being over will extend engine component life.
from the lean side. There should always be a light stream of blue
tightened and damaging the
needle and seat. This also smoke coming from the exhaust.
provides an easy way to Before you begin tuning, the engine should be warmed up to its
gauge how many turns out normal operating temperature and running slightly rich. All final
from closed the low-speed
tuning adjustments must be made to the engine at its normal
needle adjustment is set to.
operating temperature. You can tell the engine is running rich
by noting any of the following:
When tuning for
▼
when there is no longer any The T-Maxx may not shift into second gear
increase in speed or power There is unburned fuel spraying from the exhaust tip
when the high-speed Leaning the high-speed fuel mixture increases performance
mixture is lean. If you lean
the high-speed mixture to High-Speed Fuel Mixture Adjustment
the point that the engine With the engine warm and running at a rich setting, gradually
cuts-out, hesitates, or stalls, lean the high-speed fuel mixture in 1/16 turn increments. Make
you are well into the danger several high-speed passes with the T-Maxx after each
zone and engine damage is adjustment to clear out the engine and note any change in
likely. Richen the high-speed performance. The TRX-2.5 is extremely powerful. Remember to
needle 1/4 turn and retune. apply the throttle gradually to prevent wheelies or loss of
34
Low-Speed Fuel Mixture Adjustment 2. If necessary, remove the air filter to gain access to the idle
The low-speed mixture is always set after the high-speed needle adjustment screw.
is correctly adjusted. The low-speed mixture will be set using the 3. Turn the screw counterclockwise to reduce the idle
pinch test. speed, or clockwise to increase it. The idle speed should
1. Once the engine is warm, do several high-speed runs to be set as low as possible while still maintaining reliable
confirm that the high-speed needle is set correctly. running characteristics.
2. Bring the vehicle in and pinch closed the fuel line going into 4. Reset the throttle trim on the transmitter
the carburetor. The engine should run for 2-3 seconds, speed Note: If the idle speed is set too high it could prevent the T-Maxx
up, and then die. from shifting between forward and reverse. If you experience this,
3. If the engine runs longer than 3 seconds, then lean the simply reduce the idle speed.
low-speed needle 1/16 turn, make several more high-
speed runs, and retest. Fine-Tuning the Carburetor
4. If the engine dies immediately without speeding up, then After fine-tuning your TRX 2.5 engine at the end of the break-in
richen the low-speed needle 1/8 turn, make several more procedure, no major adjustments to the fuel mixture are usually
high-speed runs, and retest. necessary. Make note of the temperature, humidity, and
When the low-speed needle is set correctly, the engine’s throttle barometric pressure at the time you finished fine tuning your
response should be very quick, possibly even to the point of carburetor. Current weather conditions can be found online
making it difficult to keep the T-Maxx from doing a wheelie from national websites, local TV news websites, and Television.
when you accelerate! This information will be considered your baseline setting.
You may need to adjust your carburetor needles to compensate
Idle Speed Adjustment for changes in temperature and barometric pressure (air
Once the high and low-speed mixtures have been set, reduce density) from day to day. Generally, you’ll need to richen the fuel
the idle speed to the minimum reliable idle speed. Remember, mixture when the weather is colder than your baseline
this adjustment should be made while the engine is running at temperature and the air density is higher. Lean the fuel mixture
normal operating temperature. when weather is warmer than your baseline temperature and
the air density is lower. The chart below provides general
1. Turn the throttle trim on the transmitter so that the brakes guidelines on how weather conditions affect air density when
are applied. This ensures that the throttle slide is resting they move higher or lower than your baseline setting (see page
against the idle adjustment screw. 28 for detailed info on how air density affects mixture settings).
If the... is.. then the air density is... adjust (correct) the fuel mixture to be...
Humidity Lower Slightly more dense Slightly richer
Higher Slightly less dense Slightly leaner
Pressure (barometer) Lower Less dense Leaner
Higher More dense Richer
Temperature Lower More dense Richer
Higher Less dense Leaner
Altitude Lower More dense Richer
Higher Less dense Leaner
Nitro % Lower Leaner
Higher Richer 35
Tuning The Engine By Temperature Even if it’s 100°F outside, you should be able to tune for
The following procedures require an maximum performance. Try to keep your engine from exceeding
optional infrared temperature probe 270°F when measured at the glow plug. If tuning for maximum
or on-board temperature gauge performance results in engine temperature exceeding 270°F, try
(Traxxas on-board digital to increase airflow to
temperature gauge, part#4090). the engine by cutting
Engine temperature can be used as out the rear of the
an effective tuning aid when you understand the relationship body, windshield, and
between engine temperature and ambient temperature. front valance. If the
engine temperature
The engine operating temperature, when tuned for maximum still cannot be kept
performance, will vary according to atmospheric conditions. The below 270°F, richen
atmospheric condition that has the most influence on engine the high-speed
temperature is air temperature. Expect the engine temperature needle slightly.
to vary almost in direct proportion to atmospheric temperature.
Assuming you tuned the engine for the same maximum
performance each day, the engine will run about twenty
degrees hotter when it’s ninety degrees outside than it would in
seventy-degree weather. For this reason, we cannot give you a
definitive temperature range that indicates the best possible
engine tuning.
36
your T-Maxx. Before you go on, here are complete stop and push
some important precautions to keep in mind. the shift button up.
Accelerate to engage the gear.
▼
the air filter and will severely damage the engine. Small The T-Maxx will not shift between forward and reverse
amounts of moisture can cause electronics to fail and loss of unless the engine is at idle. If it will not shift, then refer to the
control over your T-Maxx. troubleshooting section on page 42.
▼
Don’t hold the T-Maxx off the ground and rev the engine
excessively with no load on the engine. This practice could requires a different driving technique. To prevent rollovers,
result in internal engine damage. Avoid over revving the slow down as you approach turns and then apply strong
engine when the T-Maxx is airborne after a jump. throttle through the turns. This technique will help the
T-Maxx grab the surface and turn sharper.
▼
time or over long distances. This could cause the engine to Do not apply brakes and turn the wheel at the same time.
build up enough speed to exceed maximum safe RPM limits. You could tip the truck over.
▼
Don’t drive your T-Maxx with drive train damage of any kind.
The engine could be damaged due to overloads on the the air to keep the truck’s nose up and land level on all 4
engine caused by drivetrain friction, or over-revving caused wheels. Be careful not to over-rev the engine or land at full
by loose or missing parts. throttle. Either could seriously damage your T-Maxx. If the
nose of the truck is too high, then quickly tap the brake to
▼
the engine, and at the same time limits cooling of the engine Drive over large obstacles (such as curbs and rocks) at an
due to low vehicle speed. angle, instead of head on. This will allow the suspension to
articulate and absorb the impact much easier.
▼
vehicle and then continue driving. Even though the T-Maxx is capable of full top speed in
reverse, it is very difficult to control while driving in reverse.
Limit your reverse speed to prevent crashing or flipping
your T-Maxx.
37
Adjusting the Toe-in Unscrewing the bottom camber pivot ball with a 2.5mm hex Factory toe-in
Your T-Maxx comes from the factory with zero degrees of toe-in wrench will increase the wheel’s negative camber. You should settings can be
in the front, and one degree of toe-in in the rear.You can adjust not adjust the top pivot ball; unscrewing it will increase positive achieved by
the toe-in on the front and rear of the truck. Set the steering trim camber and will also change the wheel’s toe-in. installing the rod ends on
on your transmitter to neutral. Now, adjust your steering the turnbuckles until they
turnbuckles so that both front wheels are pointing straight ahead bottom out against the
-1° -1°
and are parallel to each other (0 degrees toe-in).This will ensure shoulder. If you desire
the same amount of steering in both directions. Adjust the rear more toe-out, the tips of
toe control links so that the rear wheels have 1˚ of toe-in. the rod ends must be
trimmed to allow them to
screw down further onto
0° 0° the turnbuckle threads.
Ride height decreases as the lower shock mounting position is Spring rate (at the wheel), increases as the upper shock
moved from position (1) to position (4). Each pair of lower shock mounting position is moved from position (A) to position (B).
mounting holes (1,2 and 3,4) has equal ride height. Use lower
ride height for high-speed cornering and flat terrain, and when Ride height is not affected by changes in the upper shock
racing on relatively smooth tracks. Increase the ride height for mounting position.
rougher terrain and tracks.
Use the chart below to see the effect of the various shock
Upper Shock Mounting Positions mounting positions. The horizontal length of the lines indicates
The upper shock mounting positions will have suspension the amount of suspension travel. The angle or slope of the lines
effects opposite from the lower shock mounting positions. indicates the spring rate (at the wheel).
1
Less Firm
0.5
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Wheel Travel (mm)
41
▼
visit our Web site at www.traxxas.com and click on the Customer Reduce the engine idle speed.The engine idle speed should
Support menu.There you will find a much more extensive and be set as low as possible and still allow reliable running. If the
detailed online troubleshooting area. In addition, you may call idle speed is too high, the T-Maxx will not shift.
▼
Traxxas Customer Service at 1-888-TRAXXAS (outside US Unload the driveline. If the T-Maxx driveline is heavily loaded,
call 972-265-8000). as it might be when stuck on an incline or against an object, it
may not shift into reverse.
Radio system does not work properly:
▼
If the power light on the transmitter does not come on, check Engine will not spin (EZ-Start will not turn the engine):
▼
for proper battery installation and that the batteries are new If neither LED on the controller lights, the EZ-Start battery
and/or fully charged. If the power light is blinking, then the could be discharged or improperly connected. Inspect and
transmitter batteries are weak and should be replaced. See recharge if necessary.
▼
page 13 for more details. If the glow plug LED lights and the motor LED does not, then
▼
If the transmitter light is on but the radio is still not the EZ-Start controller is in protection mode. Allow the
responding, check for proper installation of the receiver controller to cool for at least three minutes.The circuitry
batteries and that the batteries are new and/or fully charged. should automatically reset.
▼
Check to make sure the on/off switch on the model is in the Check to make sure the wires are connected to the EZ-Start
on position. Finally, if there is still no response check the red motor in the T-Maxx.The red wire should connect to the
and black wires that connect the battery pack to the “batt” positive motor terminal, indicated by a red dot next to the
terminal on the receiver (you will have to remove the receiver terminal.
▼
cover). Make sure the wires are not pinched or damaged and The engine could be flooded. If too much fuel accumulates in
that the plug is secure in the receiver. See page 14 for more the combustion chamber at start up, the engine will
details. hydraulically lock. Follow the procedure on page 43 for
clearing a flooded engine.
▼
Short radio range: Check for binding at the engine flywheel. If you are not able to
▼
If the radio range appears short, then first check to make sure turn the engine by hand, the engine could be flooded, there
the transmitter antenna is fully extended and that the could be binding in the clutch system, or there could be
antenna in the T-Maxx is in place and has not been cut or internal engine damage. (Note: It is normal for the engine to
damaged. Next, make sure the batteries are all fully charged. be extremely tight and hard to turn when the piston reaches
Finally, if you are still experiencing short range, try a different the top of the compression stroke.)
location. Sometimes there can be interference from various
sources that can cause your radio to malfunction. The T-Maxx shudders or jerks during acceleration:
▼
Do not rev the engine. Revving the engine with no load can RPM before the pawls will swing out and engage. If the engine
cause serious internal damage to the engine, such as a broken is run at just below engagement RPM the truck will appear to
42
shudder when taking off. It is most apparent during the Engine performance sluggish: Clearing a Flooded Engine:
▼
break-in process when you are driving in a gentle manner. Engine performance depends mostly on the fuel mixture If the engine is primed for too
Accelerating slightly faster will virtually eliminate any settings and how they compensate for the current long during startup, then it can
visible shuddering. atmospheric conditions. Before you suspect other failures with become flooded with fuel.
the engine, richen the high-speed needle at least 1/4 turn and When the engine is flooded it
Engine spins but will not start: then retune the engine for performance (see page 35). will no longer turn due to
▼
▼
If the engine is spinning but will not start, first check to make If the fuel mixture seems to be set correctly, make sure the excess fuel in the combustion
sure that both the motor and glow plug LEDs on the EZ-Start fuel is fresh. If the fuel is old, or was left uncapped for a long chamber preventing upward
controller light when the button is depressed. If the glow period, then some of the important fuel components could movement of the piston. Use
plug LED does not light, make sure the blue glow plug wire is have evaporated. Try new, fresh, Traxxas Top Fuel the following procedure to
▼
tightly connected and is not damaged in any way. If the wire Try a new Traxxas 3231 glow plug. Sometimes a glow plug clear a flooded engine.
is good, then replace the glow plug. It is normal for glow will work well enough to start the engine but not be able to 1. Remove the blue glow
plugs to require periodic replacement. Only use Traxxas deliver the engine’s full performance potential. plug wire.
▼
heavy-duty long glow plugs (part #3231). Check to make sure there is no binding in the driveline that
▼
Check to make sure the fuel is getting to the carburetor. would cause excessive loads on the engine. 2. Remove the glow plug and
Remove the fuel line where it connects to the carburetor to gasket with the glow plug
see if there is fuel in it. If not, you may need to prime the Engine extremely sluggish, hard to start, and will not idle wrench supplied with your
engine. Reconnect the fuel line and then refer to page 32 for during tank 1 of the break in: model. A 5/16 nut driver
▼
instructions on priming the engine. It is possible that the factory adjusted break-in settings on will also work.
▼
Check your fuel mixture settings. It may be necessary to your carburetor are too rich for your geographic location, 3. Turn the model upside
adjust the fuel mixture if the outside temperature or atmospheric conditions, or fuel brand. Extremes in down and plug in the
barometric pressure has changed significantly since temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and altitude can’t EZ-Start controller.
the last time the engine was run (see Fine Tuning the always be accounted for with a single high-speed needle
Carburetor on page 36). Turn the high-speed needle out setting.The symptoms described above can occur when the 4. Push the EZ-Start button
(rich/counterclockwise) 1/4 turn, hold the throttle trigger at air density is very low such as in high mountainous elevations, for several seconds to clear
about 1/2 throttle and try again to start the engine. Once and extremely cold temperatures. Under these conditions, the engine of excess fuel
started, retune the engine for performance (see page 35). lean the fuel mixture slightly, 1/8 turn, to see if there is any 5. Turn the model over and
▼
The engine could be worn. If the fit between the piston and improvement in starting and idling. Only lean the fuel mixture reinstall the glow plug and
sleeve is loose, compression is reduced and the engine will be just until the engine will run and idle reliably and then gasket.
difficult to start when it is warm, and may tend to stall when proceed with the break in.
running and when the throttle is closed suddenly to idle. 6. Reconnect the blue glow
plug wire to the glow plug.
▼
Engine life depends on many factors including fuel type, air The contents of different brands of fuel (other than Traxxas
filter maintenance, needle settings, and how the engine was Top Fuel) in combination with extreme atmospheric 7. Reconnect the EZ-Start
used. For example, if the engine was allowed to ingest dirt conditions can also make the factory preset break-in settings controller
from lack of air filter maintenance or running through water, too rich and cause the symptoms described above. Again, try
then the internal engine components could wear out leaning the fuel mixture slightly, 1/8 turn, to see if there is any 8. Do not prime the engine.
extremely fast. improvement in starting and idling. Pull the throttle to 1/2
throttle and push the EZ-
Start button. The engine
should start immediately.
43
▼
If the engine is Piston/sleeve: The life of the piston and
worn or damaged running condition. Neglecting the maintenance could allow dirt, sleeve will vary greatly with how the
enough to require deposits, and moisture to build up inside the engine leading to engine was used and maintained.The
replacing the piston, internal engine failure. The following procedures should be piston and sleeve should be replaced
sleeve, or connecting rod, taken very seriously.
consider exchanging your when they no longer seal effectively
old engine for a brand new After each hour of running: (loss of compression). Symptoms include
the engine being difficult to start when
▼
engine under the terms of Clean and re-oil the air filter.The instructions for this
the Traxxas Lifetime Engine procedure are on page 27. We cannot stress enough the warm, stalling when warm, and stalling
Replacement Plan (ERP). It when throttle is suddenly closed to idle.
could save you time and
value of cleaning your air filter at the scheduled intervals.
Do not neglect your air filter maintenance! Replace the wrist pin and G-clip
effort. Details are in your
model’s documentation
whenever the piston and sleeve are
replaced.
▼
package. Clean the outside of the engine of accumulated dirt, oil, and
grime. Accumulated grime will decrease the engine’s ability to
▼
cool itself. Connecting rod: The connecting rod
The TRX 2.5 is should be replaced when the piston and
designed to be easy After each running session: sleeve are replaced or after three gallons
▼
to rebuild. Critical Perform after-run maintenance on the engine.This clears the of fuel, whichever comes first. Also
engine components such engine of destructive moisture and other corrosive deposits.
as the crankcase, replace the piston wrist pin and G-clip
This is extremely important for the life of the engine. See whenever the connecting rod is replaced. As with other
crankshaft, and engine
bearings are made to
page 45 for after-run maintenance procedures. internal engine components, connecting rod life depends
extremely high quality engine’s usage and the quality and frequency of the
▼
standards and should Inspect the vehicle for obvious damage or wear. Look for: engine maintenance.
under normal 1. Loose or missing screws
circumstances outlast 2. Cracked, bent, or damaged parts
▼
economical for you to Inspect the gears for wear, with a thin layer of white lithium grease.
continue to use your good broken teeth, or debris
bearings and crankshafts, lodged between the teeth.
and simply replace the
reciprocating assembly as Other periodic maintenance:
▼
45