Engine idle help

[WhotEva]

Hi,
I have just bought a cheapy FHM tunnel hull with an outboard and am having trouble getting it to start and idel. Does anyone have any thoughts. If i put a couple of drops of fuel into the carbie it will start but then dies.

Thanks :eek:

[engineman351]

It might help if you could tell us the Brand and Size of the OB. Here are some basic setting ideas that work for most of our RC engines:

Set the mechanical idle screw or throttle servo (if there isn't a mechanical idle screw) so that the throttle barrel is open about a sixteenth to an eighth of an inch.

Turn the main needle in (clockwise) until it stops (do not force). Then, turn it out (counter-clockwise) three to four full turns.

To set the low speed mixture screw (ususally located in the end of the barrel on the carb), put a 4-6 inch piece of fuel line on the carb fuel inlet. With the barrel closed as noted above, blow thru the fuel line while turning the low speed mixture scew in (clockwise) until air will no longer pass thru the inlet. Then open the low speed mixture screw one full turn. If you have a K&B carb with a low speed mixture 'disk', just set it to the 'rich' direction and leave it.

Now, if the engine has compression, a good glo-plug and ignitor, and fresh fuel it should run!!

If you still can't get it going make sure the carb is clean (inlet & needle), the fuel lines and tank are good (no pressure leaks) and that you have a pressure line running from the pipe/muffler to the tank. On a tunnel, you have to position the tank so that it is not too low or far away from the carb. (Check out the use of a 'hopper' tank on some of the other sites)
Also, if it is not a pull start...make sure you are spinning the motor in the right direction (the prop should be turning counter clockwise looking from behind).

Beyond this, you are looking at checking inside the engine. Good luck. RC