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NITRO RUSTLER
Your Nitro Rustler requires timely maintenance in order to stay in top
running condition. Neglecting the maintenance could allow dirt,
deposits, and moisture to build up inside the engine, leading to
internal engine failure. The following procedures should be taken
very seriously.
After each hour of running:
•
Clean and re-oil the air filter. The instructions for this procedure are
on page 19. We cannot stress enough the value of cleaning your
air filter at the scheduled intervals. Do not neglect your air filter
maintenance!
• Clean the outside of the engine of accumulated dirt, oil, and grime.
Accumulated grime will decrease the engine’s ability to cool itself.
After each running session:
• Perform after-run maintenance on the engine. This clears the
engine of destructive moisture and other corrosive deposits. This is
extremely important for the life of the engine. See following page
for after-run maintenance procedures.
• Inspect the vehicle for obvious damage or wear. Look for:
1. Loose or missing screws
2. Cracked, bent, or damaged parts
3. Cut or loose wiring
4. Cut or kinked fuel lines
5. Signs of fuel leakage
• Inspect the gears for wear, broken teeth, or debris lodged between
the teeth.
Other periodic maintenance:
• Slipper clutch pegs (friction
material): The slipper clutch pegs
will wear over time and require
replacement. The life of the pegs
depends on how the slipper clutch
was adjusted and how the Nitro
Rustler was used. If the slipper will
not tighten or you are seeing signs of wear on the face of the gear,
then the pegs should be replaced
• Piston/sleeve:
The life of the piston and sleeve will vary greatly
with how the engine was used and maintained. The piston and
sleeve should be replaced when they no longer seal effectively
(loss of compression). Symptoms include the
engine being difficult to start when warm, stalling
when warm, and stalling when throttle is suddenly
closed to idle. Replace the wrist pin and G-clip
whenever the piston and sleeve are replaced.
• Connecting rod:
The connecting rod should be
replaced when the piston and sleeve are replaced
or after three gallons of fuel, whichever comes
first. Also replace the piston wrist pin and G-clip
whenever the connecting rod is replaced. As with
other internal engine components, connecting
rod life depends on engine usage and the quality
and frequency of engine maintenance.
• EZ-Start:
The cush drive elements in the EZ-Start
drive unit should be inspected after 3-gallons of
fuel. If the cush drive elements appear deformed
or hardened, they should be replaced. Inspect the
EZ-Start gears for any signs of wear. Damaged
gears should be replaced. Coat the gears with a
thin layer of white lithium grease.
MAINTAINING AND STORING YOUR MODEL
If the engine is worn or
damaged enough to require
replacing the piston, sleeve,
or connecting rod, consider
exchanging your old engine
for a brand new engine with
Traxxas Power-Up. It could
save you time and effort.
Details are in your model’s
documentation package.
The TRX 2.5 Racing Engine
is designed to be easy to
rebuild. Critical engine
components, such as the
crankcase, crankshaft, and
engine bearings, are made
to extremely high quality
standards and should under
normal circumstances outlast
multiple sets of pistons,
sleeves, connecting rods,
and wrist pins (reciprocating
assemblies). It could be
more economical for you to
continue to use your good
bearings and crankshafts,
and simply replace the
reciprocating assembly as
needed. Engine assembly is
not difficult and replacing the
reciprocating assembly does
not require any special tools
or skills.
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