In this lesson I would like to give information about RC car engine and remote controller. These are crucial parts and plays an important role in racing events.
Engine
It is most complex part of the car. These are tiniest engines but marvels of mechanical engineering. If you are new to these kinds of engines, then please approach experts or vendors for proper guidance about how to start, stop and fuel to be used. Following figure shows a typical structure of an engine. This is from SIN HIN known as VX-18 and different manufacturer approach different methods to manufacture engines.
This is a miniature model of actual 2 stroke engine. And 4 stroke engines are also available in the market but 2 stroke engines are most preferred for races.
Explanation about vital parts.
- Glow plug: This is a tiny spark plug and used to keep engine in running state.
- Heat sink: This is top most part of engine. Exposed to air flow and helps to cool engine.
- Carburetor: As we know in IC engines it has got a complex fuel supply system called carburetor, similarly in case of RC engines they had an air filtering assembly as shown above in figure. And its job is supply purified form of charge (mixture of air and fuel) to engine.
- Pull start: This item is used to start engine. However there are different mechanisms are available. In this mechanism we are using one way-bearing and coil spring that is used to rotate crank shaft in anti-clock wise rotation in order to start engine.
There are lots of other parts are present and you will get to know about them once you get your engine.
About engine maintenance, fuel mixture to be used, troubleshoot are available within engine manual. In general, most of engine manufactures suggest following compositions of fuel and subject to changes with respect to engine specifications. The fuel mixture contains 3 main components i.e. methanol, castor oil and nitro methane. Here methanol acts as main fuel, castor oil as lubricant and nitro methane as booster.Following are few combinations.
- Methanol (85%) + Castor oil (15%). Use this composition during practice session.
- Methanol (75%) + Castor oil (10%) + Nitro methane (15%). Use this composition during races, because over use of booster may harm your engine.
I suggest don’t experiment fuel compositions with your engines, that may damage your engine permanently. Above specified compositions worked well with my HPI racing and SIN HIN engines but I cannot assure proper working of your engines with above specified compositions. So verify thoroughly before going to use fuel.
Radio system.
We can control car remotely by means of Radio systems. Basically 2 types of models are present as shown below. I used both systems and found type2 handy. I suggest you to check both systems for your convenience before you purchase one of them. You can get further details about them in respective manuals.
INCLUDES:
1. Transmitter
2. Receiver
3. One Crystal Set
4. Two Servos w/servo horn
5. Four AA Cell Battery Box w/Switch Harness
Keep in mind that we are using 2 channel radio systems for controlling cars. If it’s other than 2 channels then it’s not for RC cars.
This concludes the topic. From next topic onwards I will show you how to design chassis, steering, suspension system and an enhancement we done to our car i.e. Anti-Lock braking system. If you need any clarification then please mail me at bpr890@gmail.com.
Thanks and Regards