connecting rod touching the bottom of nitro engine

Hi my connecting rod touching the bottom of nitro engine and every time I turn the flywheel to move piston It is very hard when it comes close the the bottom dead centre I could send pics if needed

there should be a groove in the case where the rod travels, make sure the rod in all the way on the crank pin..... possibly a couple pictures would help see whats going on....

Jam Racing 1 said:

there should be a groove in the case where the rod travels, make sure the rod in all the way on the crank pin..... possibly a couple pictures would help see whats going on....

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Thank u for ur help I figured it out but now every time I spin the flywheel around when it comes to the top dead center the Paton sleeve moves up is that normal

Prabhjot said:

Thank u for ur help I figured it out but now every time I spin the flywheel around when it comes to the top dead center the Paton sleeve moves up is that normal

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it is common for the sleeve to move up when the head is off the due to the head actually being what holds the sleeve down in the case....

Jam Racing 1 said:

it is common for the sleeve to move up when the head is off the due to the head actually being what holds the sleeve down in the case....

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When I put the head on it makes a popping sound is that normal to

Prabhjot said:

When I put the head on it makes a popping sound is that normal to

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yes that is compression when piston reaches top of the stroke

Jam Racing 1 said:

yes that is compression when piston reaches top of the stroke

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Sorry I am asking so many quetions but I just don't want to wreck my engine
last quetion is that every time I turn the flywheel I full turn I hear the click is that the starting pin clicking back into its place and I should have mentions that my engine is a f4.6

It is possible that's what the click is. also possible it is just a bit of noise by the piston going thru its travel, how old is your engine ? about how much fuel thru the engine also, they do wear and develop noises is why I am asking

I;m very new to this--the HPI Savage X is my first rc vehicle in 20 years but may I ask how old the engine is? Logically thinking about this, it would seem your bearings. When you pull/push the flywheel, how much play is there? Can we assume you are stating the connecting rod is hitting the crankcase because you've 'seen' it, or just your suspicion? I just started with the gasoline trucks last week but it seems very easy to learn. I'm glad I selected the HPI Savage as my first gas vehicle.

The engine

Newbie Savage Owner said:

I;m very new to this--the HPI Savage X is my first rc vehicle in 20 years but may I ask how old the engine is? Logically thinking about this, it would seem your bearings. When you pull/push the flywheel, how much play is there? Can we assume you are stating the connecting rod is hitting the crankcase because you've 'seen' it, or just your suspicion? I just started with the gasoline trucks last week but it seems very easy to learn. I'm glad I selected the HPI Savage as my first gas vehicle.

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It has about 5 tanks through and basically new

You didn't answer the most important questions:
1. How do you know the con rod is hitting. Have you removed the backplate and seen this?
2. What about the play in the crankshaft. Think through it:
I'm still a rookie here (as in days) but in my limited knowledge it would seem either the the crankshaft it moving (with the connecting rod attached), or the connecting rod is moving on the pin. I imagine there is a bearing or bushing helping the connecting rod to spin. If it's the crankshaft would that not be bearing failure since the bearings hold the crank shaft?

Here is the test:
1. Pull/push the crankshaft. If there is play remove the backplate, and rotate with the shaft pushed in and pulled out. Check the shaft shim (collet?) to make sure it's not split and correctly holding the shaft outward.
2. If there is no play: consider the starting pin. I looked at it in the exploded view and maybe too much oil got near the starter shaft plate and the starting pin is slipping in/out of the plated groove (I noticed it;s held in with a spring). Seems that would create a snapping sound, no? Forgive me I don't know the motors from Adam just thinking through practical scenarios. Good luck let us know what you find

After re-reading your posts please forgive me as I noted you said where you figured it out. Simply so I can follow along, can we level set to understand the issue?
1. You stated rod was hitting the 'bottom of the nitro engine." As the gentleman noted there is a groove that allows for travel when bearing properly seated. Was the rod outside of that groove (where it would naturally hit the botom of the crank) or was it in i, somehow hitting the bottom of the groove?
2. Great job figuring it out. What was it and what was the fix?
3. You then noticed the cylinder was coming up when the piston completed it's first stroke. Was it going back down during the second stroke? I assume the cylinder is tapered which is why...but curious how normal it is.
.4 You put the head back on and then heard the snapping sound? To rule out the starting pin I guess you could old the one-way-bearing??
If you take take the head off (but everything else installed) do you still hear it? Just wondering if by chance you applied equal pressure on the head when you screwed it on the case? Kind of see where I'm going? Regardless, I'd like to learn what happened as if this is common I want to stay ahead of it.

Newbie Savage Owner said:

After re-reading your posts please forgive me as I noted you said where you figured it out. Simply so I can follow along, can we level set to understand the issue?
1. You stated rod was hitting the 'bottom of the nitro engine." As the gentleman noted there is a groove that allows for travel when bearing properly seated. Was the rod outside of that groove (where it would naturally hit the botom of the crank) or was it in i, somehow hitting the bottom of the groove?
2. Great job figuring it out. What was it and what was the fix?
3. You then noticed the cylinder was coming up when the piston completed it's first stroke. Was it going back down during the second stroke? I assume the cylinder is tapered which is why...but curious how normal it is.
.4 You put the head back on and then heard the snapping sound? To rule out the starting pin I guess you could old the one-way-bearing??
If you take take the head off (but everything else installed) do you still hear it? Just wondering if by chance you applied equal pressure on the head when you screwed it on the case? Kind of see where I'm going? Regardless, I'd like to learn what happened as if this is common I want to stay ahead of it.

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The rod was in backwards that's why I had that problem and the sound didn't continue when I took the head off it I think it is compression so that was normal

Hopefully the connecting rod is okay. If the pinging is only present when the cooling head is attached, I would think that is a potential problem (as if the cylinder is hitting the head. How are the head gaskets?) I imagine the cooling head is one item that needs to be perfectly flush so assume you are applying equal torque around? Perhaps I'm being overly cautious, but my engine does not make that sound. I hope you get it worked out.