My first nitro car is becoming a nightmare!

[2Dover3D 589]

Since I have been collecting cars, I've had my eyes on the Tamiya TR-15T nitro RC. I think it is one of the coolest looking stadium trucks but was always on the fence on pulling the trigger on one because of A the price and B the fact that there are absolutely no tutorials on these builds. Well, I came across a new in box for a great price to pass up, and I have been sitting on it for a while. I told myself I would build it one day, and I have started on it, but I have to be honest. it's the most challenging build I have come across. I have tried to get as much information on the web, and I constantly read the instructions, but I still come out confused. I tried to ask for help in groups, but I get different mixed information. Some will scare me with all the horror stories of their cars running off and crashing into walls then I get the ones who help but just give me the basic information,  then I get the ones who says why the badword do I even want one of those loud and slow cars anyway. If im going to be a collector, especially a Tamiya collector, I must have their first nitro car in my collection. I believe if someone did a tutorial video for dummies, it will get a lot of views as I know there are a lot of people out there who feel the same way. Does anyone else have this problem? 

[Raman36 1802]

Share the questions you have so we can assist you here. I picked up a Mugen nitro myself recently and have been putting it back together 

[2Dover3D 589]

1 hour ago, Raman36 said:

Share the questions you have so we can assist you here. I picked up a Mugen nitro myself recently and have been putting it back together 

Well my first question is what kind or % fuel is good for this type of car? Also a lot of people tell me to install a kill switch is this necessary? What is the best starter kit to use? How can you tell if you put everything together right as far as leaks ect before I try to start it and what are the correct steps to start it. I mean I know what the manual says but I know 80% of the time the tamiya manual leave things out. Thanks for responding!

[Grumpy pants 5565]

There are quite a few skilled nitro fans on here - one of them being @acprc. 
 

Well worth checking out the nitro section as well.

I’m pretty sure @KEV THE REV will have some top tips too. 

[Raman36 1802]

23 hours ago, 2Dover3D said:

Well my first question is what kind or % fuel is good for this type of car? Also a lot of people tell me to install a kill switch is this necessary? What is the best starter kit to use? How can you tell if you put everything together right as far as leaks ect before I try to start it and what are the correct steps to start it. I mean I know what the manual says but I know 80% of the time the tamiya manual leave things out. Thanks for responding!

Fuel: 15-20% nitro. Don’t use anything higher than 20%.. not necessary for your usage.  Fuel brand depends on your location, I recommend something with 7-10% oil, preferably some castor in the blend. For after run oil, there are plenty out there but for value, you can pick up marvels mystery oil from an automotive shop.. that’s what the experts at my track use. 

Make sure to cut fuel tubing even and you won’t have to worry about leaks. 
 

Ive never had a kill switch, instead have always made sure that batteries are charged. Some radios also have a fail sale function which is good to use if your radio has it. 
 

Starter kit: starter box makes life a lot easier than pull start. Glow igniter, any are really good. 

[2Dover3D 589]

16 hours ago, Raman36 said:

Fuel: 15-20% nitro. Don’t use anything higher than 20%.. not necessary for your usage.  Fuel brand depends on your location, I recommend something with 7-10% oil, preferably some castor in the blend. For after run oil, there are plenty out there but for value, you can pick up marvels mystery oil from an automotive shop.. that’s what the experts at my track use. 

Make sure to cut fuel tubing even and you won’t have to worry about leaks. 
 

Ive never had a kill switch, instead have always made sure that batteries are charged. Some radios also have a fail sale function which is good to use if your radio has it. 
 

Starter kit: starter box makes life a lot easier than pull start. Glow igniter, any are really good. 

Man Thanks for these tips I really appreciate it! 

[Pylon80 4287]

On 4/30/2023 at 6:16 PM, Raman36 said:

I recommend something with 7-10% oi

I didn't know you could use (or even buy) fuel with less than 20% oil. In my RC plane days fuel was 20% oil.

[Juggular 5238]

While I do not have TR-15t, I have 2 other Tamiya nitro trucks (Mad Bison and Terra Crusher).  They are fine. I'd look up "needle adjustment."  That's where most people have a hard time.  If the fuel is too rich or too lean, any nitro engine would have a hard time starting.  It's not really a rocket science. You just give less fuel or more fuel and it will start.  

1) When you start it for the first time, you would want to keep it idling for a tank or two. Also keep it rich (so the engine would get lubricant--even though it'd be smoky).  After that, less fuel (lean) tends to be easier to start. But lean fuel runs hot, so you'd want a temp gun.    

2) I'd get an after-run oil, and develop a habit of using it after every single run.  It lubricates and neutralizes alcohol in the fuel. Alcohol trapped in the engine attracts moisture. Alcohol evaporates eventually. But water trapped in the engine does bad things to it.  

3) Glow plugs are disposable items. So you might want a few at hand.  

4) Most nitro trucks can't back out. Making a bit of a room to turn around would be a good habit. (Terra Crusher is rare in that it could reverse, I wish Tamiya kept the reversible nitro trucks.)

5) It would be best if you keep the fuel bottle closed. As mentioned, alcohol attracts water, and water in fuel isn't good. (If you keep the bottle open for an hour on a rainy day, it might go "bad." On the other hand, if you use it on dry days and keep the bottle closed as soon as you fueled the truck, it should last months.)

 

[acprc 1602]

On 4/30/2023 at 1:42 AM, 2Dover3D said:

Since I have been collecting cars, I've had my eyes on the Tamiya TR-15T nitro RC. I think it is one of the coolest looking stadium trucks but was always on the fence on pulling the trigger on one because of A the price and B the fact that there are absolutely no tutorials on these builds. Well, I came across a new in box for a great price to pass up, and I have been sitting on it for a while. I told myself I would build it one day, and I have started on it, but I have to be honest. it's the most challenging build I have come across. I have tried to get as much information on the web, and I constantly read the instructions, but I still come out confused. I tried to ask for help in groups, but I get different mixed information. Some will scare me with all the horror stories of their cars running off and crashing into walls then I get the ones who help but just give me the basic information,  then I get the ones who says why the badword do I even want one of those loud and slow cars anyway. If im going to be a collector, especially a Tamiya collector, I must have their first nitro car in my collection. I believe if someone did a tutorial video for dummies, it will get a lot of views as I know there are a lot of people out there who feel the same way. Does anyone else have this problem? 

Hi and welcome to the smelly old world of nitro cars. I think the comments about fuel have been answered further up however to address some other comments:

1. Everyone will have an opinion be it right or wrong. My suggestion would be to seek out the specialist groups where the members have a common interest. I moderate a group on Facebook and we cover the TR-15t. Look for the TGx Mk1 & TR-15t group and say hello.

2. If you build the TR-15t to the manual it will work with no issues. No need to check or test for leaks etc. You will get leaks in the future as fuel lines come off etc but by then you will know whats what and recognize the issues.

3. The issues around failsafe's tended to be with the older radio sets where interference was an issue making cars run off uncontrolled. No matter what anyone says if you are running a 7kg Terra Crusher at full throttle and you cant control it there is a risk to anyone it hits. My advice would be to fit a modern 2.4ghz radio set, make sure its fully charged or with good fresh batteries and you are fine. None of my 10 or so nitro runners have a failsafe added however all of my runners use modern RC gear not vintage.

4. Anything else just ask here or in the Facebook group.