NITRO RUSTLER OPER INST 2000 3 - R/C Zone

INSTALLING RECEIVER BATTERIESThe receiver battery holder is located underneath the battery cover. Remove the battery cover by removing the twobody clips from the posts on both sides of the battery holder.RADIO SYSTEM OPERATIONInstall 4 “AA” batteries into the battery holder. Alkaline batteriesshould be used. Place the battery holder into the battery coverwith the cushioning foam. Secure the battery cover to the chassisusing the two body clips as shown.ANTENNA SETUPLocate the plastic tube and the antenna tip (supplied in the bag withyour instructions). Insert the black antenna wire, extending from thereceiver housing, into one end of the tube and push it all the waythrough. Spray the wire with glass cleaner to make it easier to insert.Your radio system was pre-adjusted before it left the factory, however,the adjustment should be checked prior to running the truck.1) Before you ever turn your radio system on, you must “clear”your frequency. There are six different channels numbered 1through 6. Each of the six channels is represented by a color.Look at the crystal in the back of the transmitter to determinewhich of the channels your truck is operating on. Clearing yourfrequency means checking to be sure that no one else in thearea is operating on the same channel.2) TIP: Always turn the transmitter on first and off last. Thiswill prevent the model from receiving stray signals and running out of control. Slide the transmitter switch to the “on”position. A steady red lightshould illuminate. A flashingred light indicates weak batteries. Weak batteries will limitthe range of the radio signalbetween your transmitter andreceiver. Loss of the radio signalcan cause you to lose control ofthe truck.3) Turn the truck on. The switch is located on the chassis. The servos should jump and move to their idle (neutral) positions.Insert the tube into the antenna mount in the side of the chassis.Fold the remaining antenna wire over the top of the antenna tubeand secure it with the vinyl antenna tip.Under no circumstances should you ever cut your antenna wire.Its length is specially tuned to the frequency band, and cutting itcould severely shorten the radio’s range. On the transmitter, fullyextend the chrome telescopic antenna.RADIO SYSTEM ADJUSTMENTS THROTTLE NEUTRAL ADJUST SERVO REVERSING SWITCHESThe throttle neutral adjustment is located on the transmitterface and controls the forward and reverse travel of the throttletrigger. There are two settings, 50/50 which allows equal travelfor both forward and brake, and 70/30 which allows more travelfor throttle and less for brake. Change the adjustment by pressing the button and sliding it to the desired position. 70/30 is therecommended setting while running the Nitro Rustler.On the front of the transmitter there are two switches. Onefor throttle and one for steering. Moving the switches reversesthe direction of the corresponding servos. For example, if youturn your steering wheel right and the model moves left, thenswitch the steering servo reversing switch to correct the servodirection. You may need to adjust the corresponding trim controlafter moving the servo-reversing switch.50%FORWARD50% SEERREVGERL TRIGTOTA VEMENTMO4Contact Traxxas for assistance: 1-888-TRAXXAS. 972-265-8000 (outside USA). E-Mail us at support@Traxxas.com

NEVER TURN THE TRANSMITTER OR RECEIVER OFFWHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE MODEL COULDRUN OUT OF CONTROL. (The on/off switch only turnsthe receiver on and off. It does not turn off the engine.)4) With the front wheels off the ground, operate the steering controlon the transmitter (channel 1). Check for rapid operation of thesteering servo and that the steering mechanism is not loose orbinding. If the servo operates slowly, check for weak batteries.Turn the “steering trim” control on the transmitter to adjust theservo so that the front wheels are pointing straight ahead. Checkto be sure that the wheels do not turn more in one direction thanin the other.FRONTSTARTING THE ENGINESTEP 1: INSTALL THE AIR FILTERRemove the protective cap from the carburetor air intake. Installthe rubber air filter base and pre-lubed foam element onto the carburetor intake. The foam air filter element may be cleaned andreused. Always be sure the filter element is oiled properlybefore running the engine. For the bestfiltration, use the type of oil made for foamair filters. It should be available locally frommotorcycle shops and small engine repairshops. Lightweight motor oil or after-runoil may also be substituted. When the element gets dirty, clean it with dish soap andrinse. Next, saturate it with oil and thensqueeze out the excess oil. For extremelydusty conditions, special two or threestage, pre-lubed filters are available fromTraxxas (Part #4062 and #4063).STEP 2: FILL THE FUEL TANK0 TOE-INWheels pointing straight ahead5) Operate the throttle trigger on the transmitter to ensure thatthe throttle servo is operating properly. When the servo is inthe neutral position, the carburetor should be in its idle position(you will adjust the engine idle speed later). When the throttletrigger is pulled all of the way, the carburetor should be in thefully open position. When the throttle lever is pushed forward,the brake should be locked and the throttle should not closeany further than when at idle.Use a small fuel bottle or bulb to put fuel into the tank. Only fillthe tank to the bottom of the fill neck. The Nitro Rustler can becarefully refueled while the engine is running.STEP 3: HIGH-SPEED MIXTURE SETTINGHIGH SPEEDNEEDLEAIRFILTERRANGE TEST THE RADIOThere are many things such as buildings, power lines, radiotransmitters, etc. which can adversely affect the performance ofyour radio system. To make sure you do not have a “runaway”model, range test the radio system. With the radio system on andworking, hold the truck and have a friend carry the transmitteraway from you the distance you plan to run the truck. Have thefriend operate the controls on the transmitter to be sure thateverything is working at full range.PREPARING TO RUN INSTALLING THE EZ-START BATTERYUse tie wraps to secure afully-charged 7.2 voltbattery back to the EZStart control box. Plugthe battery connectorinto the face of thecontrol box. The plugwill only go in one way.Note: Your carburetor has been factory presetfor break-in. Do not readjust your carburetorsettings unless you suspect a problem. Thefollowing steps are for reference only.The high-speed mixture screw controls how much fuel entersthe engine during mid and high-speed operation. Turn the highspeed mixture screw clockwise, by hand, until it stops (Do nottighten or the needle may be damaged). Now, turn the mixturescrew counter-clockwise 2 1/2 complete turns.Contact Traxxas for assistance: 1-888-TRAXXAS. 972-265-8000 (outside USA). E-Mail us at support@Traxxas.com5

STEP 4: SETTING THE IDLE SPEEDThe idle screw regulates the throttle opening to control the idlespeed. The throttle opening at idle should be set as shown in thedrawing. The opening should be 1 to 1 1/2 millimeters at the widestpoint in the opening. The engine may not idle well until it iswarmed.Watch closelyfor the fuel tostop at the inletSTEP 7: SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINEBefore starting the engine it is important to know how to shut itoff. The correct method is to pinch and hold the carburetor’s fuelline at idle speed, until the engine dies.STEP 8: START THE ENGINEBefore starting your engine, review the safety and drivingprecautions in this manual.1) Turn the radio system on (transmitter then receiver). Place thetruck against a curb or some other immovable object to preventit from moving forward.STEP 5: LOW SPEED MIXTURE SETTINGThis screw meters the fuel at low speeds. The low-speed mixture screw is located in the end of the carburetor, inside the throttlearm. This screw controls how much fuel enters the engine at idleand low throttle. This adjustment will smooth the idle and improveacceleration to mid-speed. Make this adjustment with the throttleclosed, after setting the idle. To get the low speed mixture into thecorrect range of adjustment, turn it in or out until the head of thescrew is flush (even) with the end of the throttle arm assembly. Thiswill be the starting point for future adjustments. Fine tuning thelow speed mixture is described on page 7.STEP 6: PRIME THE ENGINEConnect the plug from the EZ-Start control box into the connectormounted at the rear of the truck. The plug is keyed so it will onlyinsert one way.2) Press the start button on the EZ-Start to turn over the engine.Do not hold for more than 5-10 seconds to start the engine.Once the engine has started, it may be necessary to continueto hold the start button to keep the plug lit until the enginehas warmed up.Note: The red LED on the EZ-Start will light when the start button is pressed. This indicates that the glow plug is hot (ignited). If the LED does not light, make sure that the glow plugconnector (blue wire) is firmly attached to the glow plug. If theconnection is secure, and the LED still does not light, replacethe glow plug with a Traxxas, standard plug #3230.3) If the engine did not start in step 2, prime it again and retry.Continue this sequence until the engine starts.BREAKING-IN THE ENGINE (VERY IMPORTANT!)CAUTION:TRX ENGINES MUST BE BROKEN-IN FOR MAXIMUM LIFEAND HIGHEST LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE. THIS PROCESSMUST NOT BE SKIPPED. A SHORTCUT HERE COULDSHORTEN THE ENGINE LIFE.Closely watch the fuel line going into the carburetor. Hold yourfinger over the exhaust outlet and press the button on the EZStart until the fuel moves through the fuel line towards the carburetor. Once fuel reaches the carburetor, STOP. If you press theEZ start button too long, you will flood the engine and the EZStart will not be able spin it over (see page 10). With a full tankof fuel, it will only take a second to move the fuel up to the carburetor.Once your engine is running, it must be broken-in. The key tobreaking in your engine is patience. The break in time will takeabout 1 to 11/2 hours. During the break-in period, your enginemay appear to malfunction with symptoms such as stalling,inconsistent performance, and fouled glow plugs. Don’t give upon it! These are just “break-in pains” that every new engine hasto go through. They will disappear once you get through thebreak in period. Just keep it running, and throttle on and offas smoothly as you can. Sudden bursts or releases of thethrottle can stall your engine. Resist the temptation to tune theengine for performance and/or run for extended times at wideopen throttle. Soon, after about the fourth tank of fuel, yourpatience will pay off with solid, consistent, performance.DRIVING PRECAUTIONS The radio system is not waterproof. Avoid driving through puddles,wet grass, or mud. Water could damage the electronics. Do not continue to operate the Nitro Rustler with low batteries.After the battery power drops below a certain point, the modelwill continue with the last command it had from the transmitter.Indications of low battery power include slow operation andsluggish servos. On the transmitter, a flashing red light indicateslow transmitter batteries. Do not drive the Nitro Rustler at night, on public streets, or inlarge crowds of people.6 If the truck becomes stuck, do not continue to run the engine.Remove the obstruction before continuing to drive. Do not attempt to push or tow objects with the Nitro Rustler. The model is controlled by radio. It is subject to radio interference from many sources beyond your control. Since radiointerference can cause momentary losses of control, allow asafety margin around the truck in order to prevent collisions. Use common sense whenever you are driving your model.Intentionally driving in an abusive and rough manner willonly result in poor performance and broken parts.Contact Traxxas for assistance: 1-888-TRAXXAS. 972-265-8000 (outside USA). E-Mail us at support@Traxxas.com

DURING BREAK IN. Special break-in fuels are not required. Drive the model on a smooth hard surface. If possible, avoid running on very hot, humid days. Run with the body off for extra engine cooling. Do not allow the fuel tank to run completely empty, possiblyleading to a burned plug. An extremely low fuel level causesthe fuel mixture to be too lean. Keep extra glow plugs handy. The break-in process, becauseof the engine running rich, can cause deposits to form on theglow plug, leading to failure. Turn the mixture screw (needle) clockwise (in) to lean the mixture and counter-clockwise (out) to richen the mixture.THE FIRST TANK OF FUEL Drive the Nitro Rustler on a flat paved surface in an oval configuration. This will cause you to naturally vary your speed over theentire RPM range. During this break in time, ease in and out of thethrottle slowly to avoid stalling the engine. The goal is to simplykeep the engine running.TANK FIVE AND BEYOND All final tuning adjustments must be made to the engine at itsnormal operating temperature. The engine’s performance depends on the fuel mixture. Leaningthe fuel mixture with the high-speed needle (turning clockwise) willincrease engine power up to engine’s mechanical limits. Leaningthe fuel mixture beyond the safe allowable limits will result in poorperformance and engine damage. After the fourth tank of fuel, the break in process should be complete. Now its time to tune the engine for maximum power. Turn the mixture screw in (clockwise) 1/16 of a turn and continuedriving. Note any increase in speed and performance. Continue to lean the fuel mixture in 1/16 turn increments until :1) There is no longer any performance increase or2) The engine begins to cut out at high speed or3) The engine begins to overheat. Symptoms include: Steam or smoke coming from the engine surfaces Hesitation during acceleration (as if running out of fuel) Popping or clattering sound when decelerating (detonation) The idle speed will fluctuate Any of the above symptoms indicate that the fuel mixture is pastthe maximum safe lean setting. Turn the mixture screw back out(counterclockwise) the previous 1/16 of a turn to reach the optimumfuel mixture setting. Turn the mixture screw out another 1/16 of a turn for non-raceapplications. This will extend engine component life. This settingwill vary slightly with each engine depending upon fuel brand,temperature, humidity, etc.High-Speed Power LossOverheatingLEAN The fuel mixture setting may require slight adjustment to correctfor different altitudes and temperatures. To tell if the engine is runningrich (high volume of fuel flowing through the engine) look for thefollowing conditions:1) The engine should accelerate sluggishly2) There should be a thick trail of blue smoke comingfrom the exhaust. If you do not observe the conditions above, then turn the highspeed needle out 15 (counterclockwise) and retest. Do not run at full speed during the first tank of fuel. Do not rev the engine with the wheels off the ground. High,no-load RPMs can damage the engine, usually resulting in abroken connecting rod. At the end of the first tank of fuel, stopthe engine and allow it to cool for 5-10 minutes before proceeding.DANGERRACINGOptimumfor High-SpeedPerformanceEVERYDAYRUNNINGOptimumfor Climbing& Low SpeedOperationSAFE RANGETANKS TWO-FOURRICHSluggish PerformanceBreak-In Settings2 1/2 turns outFINE TUNING THE LOW-SPEED MIXTUREThe low-speed mixture screw is located in the end of the throttle shaft (see the drawing on page 5). The low speed mixtureaffects the idle quality and the low end engine power and throttleresponse. To check your low speed mixture setting, perform thissimple test.2 turns outTurn the high-speed mixture screw clockwise 150 and runthrough the second tank of fuel. Repeat this process for the thirdand fourth tanks of fuel.Important: Do not lean the high speed mixture less than 2turns out from closed (see illustration). Also, be sure toallow the engine to cool between each run.1) Drive the truck for several minutes until the engine is in itsnormal operating temperature range.2) Pull it in, stop, and listen to the idle speed. If, after a few seconds,the idle speed begins to drop then lean the low speed mixture1/8 of a turn (clockwise) and retest.3) Continue leaning the engine in small steps until the idle speedwill stay even for at least 20-30 seconds after stopping.4) The truck should accelerate quickly from a standing start without bogging. The idle should be smooth and consistent. Leanthe mixture 1/8 of a turn (clockwise) and re-test. If you experience any stalling or hesitation when accelerating, then the lowspeed mixture is too lean. Richen it 1/8 of a turn (counterclockwise) and retest.Contact Traxxas for assistance: 1-888-TRAXXAS. 972-265-8000 (outside USA). E-Mail us at support@Traxxas.com7

SETTING THE IDLE SPEED SHOCKSNow that the engine mixture is tuned, the idle speed may beset too high. Only set the idle speed when the engine is at its normal operating temperature. Adjust the throttle trim on the transmitter so that the brake on the truck is applied. Next, reset the idlespeed by removing the air filter and adjusting the idle speed screwon the side of the carburetor (see drawing on page 5). Turn thescrew out (counter-clockwise) to reduce the idle. Re-adjust thethrottle trim on the transmitter as necessary (so that the brake isno longer applied). The idle should be set slow enough that thetruck does not try to move at idle.The four shocks on Nitro Rustlerhave the most influence on its handling. Whenever you rebuild yourshocks, or make any changes to thepistons, springs or oil, always do itcarefully and in pairs (front or rear).Piston head selection depends on therange of oil viscosities that you haveavailable. For example, using a twohole piston with a lightweight oil will, atone point, give you the same dampening as a three-hole piston with heavieroil. We recommend using the two-holepistons with a range of oil viscositiesfrom 10W to 50W (available from yourhobby shop). The thinner viscosity oils(30W or less) flow more smoothly andare more consistent, while thicker oilsprovide more dampening. Use only100% pure silicone shock oil to prolong seal life.ADJUSTMENTS TOE INGeometry and alignment specs play an important roll in yourtruck’s handling, so take the time to set them correctly. Set thesteering trim on your transmitter to neutral. Now, adjust your tierods so that both wheels are pointing straight ahead and are parallel to each other (0 degrees toe in). This will ensure the sameamount of steering in both directions. If you run out of adjustment, then the steering servo will have to be re-centered (see“centering your servos on page 9). For increased stability add1-2 degrees of toe in to each front wheel. Use the turnbuckles to adjust the alignment.PRE-LOADSPACERSThe ride height for Nitro Rustler can be adjusted by adding orremoving the clip-on spring pre-load spacers. Instead of addingspacers to increase stiffness, use stiffer springs. Adjust the rideheight so that the suspension arms are slightly above being parallelto the ground. Observe how the Nitro Rustler handles in turns. Ifit is picking up the inside rear wheel in hard turns, then stiffen thefront suspension. If it picking up the inside front wheel in hardturns, then stiffen the rear suspension. Proper set-up will add stability and help prevent roll-overs. GEAR RATIOSTOE INA unique Nitro Rustler feature is the ability to change the gearratios. The final drive ratio of the gearbox is 2.81 to 1. Use thefollowing formula to calculate the overall ratio: CAMBERThe camber angle of both the front and rear wheels can beadjusted with the camber rods (upper turnbuckles). Use a squareor right-angle triangle to set the camber accurately. Adjust thefront wheels to 0 degrees of camber (wheel perpendicular to theground). In the rear, adjust the wheels to 1 to 2 degrees of negative camber. These adjustments should be set with the truckpositioned at its normal ride height.Positive camberNumber of Spur gear teethx 2.81 Final drive ratioNumber of Clutch bell gear teethNitro Rustler comes with a 70-tooth spur gear and an 20-toothpinion (clutch bell) gear. This combination will provide the bestoverall acceleration and top speed. If you want more accelerationand less top speed, then use a smaller clutch bell gear (fewerteeth). For more top speed, use a larger clutch bell gear.PINIONSPUR GEARFINAL DRIVE22 .66.8.43:1TOP SPEED22 .

Thank you for purchasing the Traxxas Nitro Rustler. This man-ual contains the instructions you will need to operate, and main-tain your Nitro Rustler.Look over the manual and examine the Nitro Rustler carefully before running it.If for some reason you think the Nitro Rustler is not what you wanted, then do