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View Full Version : Nitro Hammer-- the good , bad and ugly, beginers guide


yellow-hydro
03-22-2005, 09:46 PM
I've decided to make this post to give people (who is looking to buy this boat) some idea what is this boat is about.
My intentions are not to give this boat a bad name, just show people about some thing which will happen' shortly after the purchse and will need fixin' right away. my be I just had bad luck :(

I am new to RC boating and the nitro hammer was/is my second boat. it is less than a month old right now.

this boat goes for $210 dollar at the local hobby store,
for that you get a RTR - ready to run boat with a radio(transmitter/ receiver, servos)
.15 nitro engine (made by aquacraft. ) with direct straight propulsion system.

the GOOD
it is easy to break in, easy to start, pretty predictable, and ride smooth on the water , turns fairly well. fun to play with it.
the radio works good , while it is cheap looking with the most basic features.

The BAD,
leak water throught prop shaft at a steady but good pace, have to scoop some ater each run.
plastic rudder very flexie ?, and it is mounted too low in the transom , it sems that it the mounting hardware is draging in the water throwing a rooster tail.
it is not too hard to move it up a notch.
has a very small fuel tank.
has a jam packed radio box , and yes it will allow plenty of water in once the boat is flipped.
the hull is paper thin.
the engine seems to run hot all the time, regardless of adjusments on carb needles. may be not enough water flow? not sure

THE UGLY !! :(
as I stated my boat is less than a month old, check out he pictures below:
the stringer, where the engine is mounted, is cracked. (look at the picture) all engine mounting bolts rathled loose. they should have put rubber mounting
the exhaust(header to muffler) coupler split open. (picture)
the mufler/pipe ratled loose from the hull at the rear.
it blew the gasket between the engine and headerpipe , I tink it is because this header pipe is not made for this engine, the ports are completely different,
not only the header has a much smaller opening (which can be cut larger witha dremmel tool ) but the engine has a very narrow and long port , the pipe has small rectangle taller post which makes it very hard to seal with paper gasket.

every single gasket is leaking on this boat, Hobbyco must have use some china import cork gasket. let me list it.
all fuel fittings at the fuel tank bottom and top where the exhaust is routed back in. leaks where it gets to the carb, leaks at the primer plunger.
gasket leaks at where the fitting is fitted to the exhaust pipe( see picture.)
it eats a glow plug at about every 3rd fuel tank, these are the glowplugs reccomended by the factory.
let me see what elseI am forgetting, I will ad more as things come up.

as you can see I have degutted everything except the engine,
will install a larger gastank , and fit new radiobox in it.

yellow-hydro
03-22-2005, 09:52 PM
here is an other pic
shows the engine , got oil at the base, where does it coming from?

Micho523
03-22-2005, 10:35 PM
Thats just stuff that is bound to happen, now the stringer cracking isn't but your is the first case i have heard of that happening. I agree the gaskets are crap, $2-5 to replace them tho. Oil is going to collect on the engine, thats just how nitro's run. Very few headers are port matched to the engine, thats something you have to do yourself! The connecting tube between the header and the pipe breaks every now and then, its just silicon, and inexpensive to replace. The rudder setup DEFINETLY needs to be changed though, move it up a half inch and you will do better. Fuel tank woes, get a new one, they are cheap. If you burn up glow plugs that fast, the engine needs to be tuned better. I think I got them all lol. ;)

yellow-hydro
03-23-2005, 09:08 AM
that may be, (as far as some oil deposit on the engine over time, )
the reason I was mentioneing it in the post because my other nitro boat the proboat - lumar with dyamite .15 - has the same amount of running time and no oil (leak ) visable anywhere.

CFRACR
03-23-2005, 10:13 AM
These above mentioned problems are almost all normal. For a RTR is just that, ready to run, not perfect, not modded just to get you off in running.
Yes some of the factory parts are cheap, but in a good way it gives the NEWBIE a chance to see what wears out & gives them the experience in fixing things. To be successful in this or any power models you need to know how to fix! If not your model will sit forever.

The Hammer is a good reliable boat for a beginner, gets you in the water fast & is a good all around runner. There will always be problems with any model, nitro is also high to maintain.

The manufactures get you started, then its up to you to keep things running. Basically for the newbies its much easier to get a boat that is already assembled & easier to learn to fix things since they can see how it is supposed to be. If a newbie got everything in parts & had to put it together, they may get lost not knowing if its right or not.

Nitro engines are not made to run forever. They are high rpm performance engines that require to be maintained to run right. Adding a large fuel tank to a small engine is just going to wear out the engine faster. A model of this sort is not made to be ran all the time for long runs. If you do you will be fixing and replacing stuff all the time. If you want long run times, you need to get a gasser!

Now the stock header/pipe coupler is a cheap one, yes it can be replaced with a better longer lasting one when it wears out. The header gasket is cheap as well, will wear out quick, HPI has a pack of 4 or six for just a few bucks that will last much longer. Putting some 2.5mm hex nuts on the back of the header screws will not only make your gasket last longer , but will give a better seal for performance & will keep the leaks to a minimum.


All in all this is a hobby, meaning that you must be a hobbyist to enjoy and be successful in it. Some say that tinkering and fixing is half the fun. Some like to get away to the shop/basement and tinker just as much as they like to run there models. If you want a model that requires no fixing & one that nothing will go wrong on it, you will be looking for a long time.

yellow-hydro
03-23-2005, 02:24 PM
CFRACR wrote :
Yes some of the factory parts are cheap, but in a good way it gives the NEWBIE a chance to see what wears out & gives them the experience in fixing things.

LOL.....that is funny you say that, reminds me of the days when I use to own a Polaris ATV. some one on that ATv BB said polaris is made to break down , so that you can sharpen your mechanics skill so you become a more talented person. LOL...and they charge you for it upfront when you buy tyhe ATV.

Look....I was not saying it needs to made to last forever for $200 radio and all, but was not expecting to have so many issues wihtin a month....say 3-4 times out on the lake.
yes... I did get a gasser, but still like to run the nitros.

CFRACR
03-26-2005, 06:07 AM
Yes, I have heard a few stories regarding what seems to be a Hammer lemon. :( Not many, but a few that just had a few minor problems. The thing is that can be really difficult for someone that got one for their first boat & can't reconize it right off. So the trial & error process starts.

But for as many Hammers that are sold it seems to be a really reliable rtr, many, many folks are very happy with the purchase.

Micho523
03-26-2005, 12:15 PM
Don't forget about the 90 day warranty! That gives you about 3 months to run it enough to get all the bugs in the open, and have Aquacraft foot the bill. :D

yellow-hydro
03-26-2005, 11:53 PM
Yes, I have heard a few stories regarding what seems to be a Hammer lemon. :( Not many, but a few that just had a few minor problems. The thing is that can be really difficult for someone that got one for their first boat & can't reconize it right off. So the trial & error process starts.

But for as many Hammers that are sold it seems to be a really reliable rtr, many, many folks are very happy with the purchase.

oh.. I am happy and will be even happier once I am done rebuilding it.
it will get a a 4 or 6 oz.aircraft style gastank,relocate the servos, receiver and battery pack, it will get additional flotation foam , a larger water coolinglines , rework the water -pickup , matching the exhaust port a bit better
let me see what am I forgetting..... will shoot some pics when it is done.