Table of Contents
Advertisement
SETTING THE IDLE SPEED
Now that the engine mixture is tuned, the idle speed may be
set too high. Only set the idle speed when the engine is at its nor-
mal operating temperature. Adjust the throttle trim on the transmit-
ter so that the brake on the truck is applied. Next, reset the idle
speed by removing the air filter and adjusting the idle speed screw
on the side of the carburetor (see drawing on page 5). Turn the
screw out (counter-clockwise) to reduce the idle. Re-adjust the
throttle trim on the transmitter as necessary (so that the brake is
no longer applied). The idle should be set slow enough that the
truck does not try to move at idle.
ADJUSTMENTS
• TOE IN
Geometry and alignment specs play an important roll in your
truck's handling, so take the time to set them correctly. Set the
steering trim on your transmitter to neutral. Now, adjust your tie
rods so that both wheels are pointing straight ahead and are par-
allel to each other (0 degrees toe in). This will ensure the same
amount of steering in both directions. If you run out of adjust-
ment, then the steering servo will have to be re-centered (see
"centering your servos on page 9). For increased stability add
1-2 degrees of toe in to each front wheel. Use the turnbuck-
les to adjust the alignment.
• CAMBER
The camber angle of both the front and rear wheels can be
adjusted with the camber rods (upper turnbuckles). Use a square
or right-angle triangle to set the camber accurately. Adjust the
front wheels to 0 degrees of camber (wheel perpendicular to the
ground). In the rear, adjust the wheels to 1 to 2 degrees of nega-
tive camber. These adjustments should be set with the truck
positioned at its normal ride height.
Positive camber
1) Check the wheels and steering for binding. Check the operation
of the shock absorbers.
2) Check the wiring for any frayed wires or loose connections,
including the wires on the EZ-Start quick connector. Fraying
or melting of the blue wire on your EZ Start system can
cause your glow plugs to immediately short out.
3) Check the tightness of the grub screws in the collars on the
throttle and steering linkages.
4) Check the air filter for proper mounting and filtration.
5) Check the mounting of the receiver and servos.
6) Check the tightness of the wheel nuts with a wrench.
Contact Traxxas for assistance: 1-888-TRAXXAS. 972-265-8000 (outside USA). E-Mail us at support@Traxxas.com
8
TOE IN
Negative camber
• SHOCKS
The four shocks on Nitro Rustler
have the most influence on its han-
dling. Whenever you rebuild your
shocks, or make any changes to the
pistons, springs or oil, always do it
carefully and in pairs (front or rear).
Piston head selection depends on the
range of oil viscosities that you have
available. For example, using a two-
hole piston with a lightweight oil will, at
one point, give you the same dampen-
ing as a three-hole piston with heavier
oil. We recommend using the two-hole
pistons with a range of oil viscosities
from 10W to 50W (available from your
hobby shop). The thinner viscosity oils
(30W or less) flow more smoothly and
are more consistent, while thicker oils
provide more dampening. Use only
100% pure silicone shock oil to pro-
long seal life.
The ride height for Nitro Rustler can be adjusted by adding or
removing the clip-on spring pre-load spacers. Instead of adding
spacers to increase stiffness, use stiffer springs. Adjust the ride
height so that the suspension arms are slightly above being parallel
to the ground. Observe how the Nitro Rustler handles in turns. If
it is picking up the inside rear wheel in hard turns, then stiffen the
front suspension. If it picking up the inside front wheel in hard
turns, then stiffen the rear suspension. Proper set-up will add sta-
bility and help prevent roll-overs.
• GEAR RATIOS
A unique Nitro Rustler feature is the ability to change the gear
ratios. The final drive ratio of the gearbox is 2.81 to 1. Use the
following formula to calculate the overall ratio:
Number of Spur gear teeth
Number of Clutch bell gear teeth
Nitro Rustler comes with a 70-tooth spur gear and an 20-tooth
pinion (clutch bell) gear. This combination will provide the best
overall acceleration and top speed. If you want more acceleration
and less top speed, then use a smaller clutch bell gear (fewer
teeth). For more top speed, use a larger clutch bell gear.
PINION
22 ..................................66................................8.43:1
22 ..................................70................................8.94:1
22 ..................................72................................9.19:1
20 ..................................70................................9.83:1
20 ..................................72..............................10.11:1
18 ..................................70..............................10.92:1
18 ..................................72..............................11.24:1
16 ..................................70..............................12.27:1
16 ..................................72..............................12.64:1
MAINTENANCE
7) Check the fuel tank and all hoses for signs of leaks.
8) Check the operation of the radio system, especially the
condition of the batteries.
9) Check the exhaust system for leaks, cracks, or tears. Do not
run the model if there are any exhaust leaks.
10) Use Traxxas Nitro Wash spray cleaner to keep the model
clean of accumulated dirt and oil. Do not spray any radio
components with Nitro Wash. Do not spray Nitro Wash into
a dirty air filter while it is installed on the engine.
11) The steering servo saver will wear out over time. If the
steering becomes loose, the servo saver should be replaced.
x 2.81 Final drive ratio
SPUR GEAR
FINAL DRIVE
PRE-LOAD
SPACERS
TOP SPEED
ACCELERATION
Hide quick links:
Advertisement
Table of Contents
