AoD
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Alright, this is a controversial subject that has ridden many arguments in hobby shops, racetracks, emails, and forums alike. So, let's keep it civilized here please. 
Now, this guide will help you find those settings you need to keep your truck running strong for the haul. Everyone has their own ways of setting the fuel flow up, so I'm going to be broad in this topic. I'm gonna give two detailed paths to chose though, as some say lean, some say rich. So, we'll go with lean and rich, and you can decide where you want to go with it.
What all you will need :
Long and Thin tipped flat head screwdriver
Right angle SMALL flat head screwdriver
Optional : Temperature gun
First, we'll look into the major components of the motor, and how the process works in general. First off, if you're not sure how the motor really works, then you NEED to read this link.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/two-stroke.htm
Now, since these motors run on a mixture of fuel and oil, we have to ask ourselves, how much oil is enough? Well, truthfully, the best is to have as much oil passing through the motor as possible without it stalling. But we're looking for performance, not running the motor for 25 years. So, let's figure out about the fuel first.
Fuels are an important decision for your truck. Some fuels have good additives and oil mixes, and some really lack in the lubrication department. So, picking a good quality fuel is an important factor when running your truck. I suggest such brands as O'Donnell's, Blue Thunder, or Trinity Monster. Make sure to pick a good fuel, with good lube inside!
Now, if you haven't broke the motor in yet, go read this thread first and check out my reply. Reply #40!. Then we can tune her up, and get to playing!
https://www.hpisavageforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4605
So, now that we have a broke in engine, getting that tune can be difficult. So, we'll take it one step at a time. Now, tuning in general can be done almost anywhere, as long as the conditions aren't too extreme. The biggest factor lies in you, and your ability to pay attention to the truck.
Three setting screws (some motors only have two, or one in some cases)
For a the best description of where to find the tuning screws, please refer to your manual. Every motor can be different, so check the manual for the best possible information on their locations!
First, the most important, the High Speed needle! This is where we'll be doing most of our work. This is the main needle for adjustment, since it controls the main amount of fuel being allowed into the carb. So, we'll get more into this setting further into the guide.
Second, the Low Speed needle. Now, this is the idle process at it's best. It's hard to understand how this needle effects the motor, but we'll learn a little about it, and how to set it through this guide!
Third, the Idle screw! It pretty much explains itself! We'll set this after we get the motor where we want it!
Most important thing to remember when tuning, and I'll stress this again and again. Pay attention to the motor! It'll show you all the signs you need to tell if it's running to rich or to lean! PAY ATTENTION!!! lol
A lot of people like adjusting the low speed needle first, I however don't, since it seems to have little impact on performance tuning before you set the high speed needle. So we'll start with the high speed, then hit the low speed.
This is the part where you can make it or break it. Improper tuning can cause serious damage to the motor, so make sure you pay attention. First thing, grab a new glow plug from your local hobby shop. Nothing can bork a good tune better than a fouled glow plug. You may thing your plug is fine, when indeed it could be causing more tuning trouble than you can imagine.
Things you'll need for the high speed needle... Just one.. LONG and thin flat head screwdriver! You'll be tuning with the body on, since the body can effect the airflow going to the motor. So, get one that can reach that needle!
Now, get the motor running, and warm it up. Do a couple lower speed laps,or runs. Just make sure to get her warmed up. After she's nice and warmed up give he some throttle, run a few full throttle passes and bring her to full speed! Then, quickly get a temperature shot of the glowplug. (You can also do the "spit test" where you actually spit into the head). The temps you are looking for are different, and you can refer to the list near the bottom of the guide to help you find the correct temperatures. I'll also list ideas on how the "spit" test will work.
Now, go by your manual here. Make sure you know which direction to tune the motor to lean and richen! Most needles are counterclockwise to richen then, and clockwise to lean them out. So, make sure you go by what your manual says. If you don't have the manual, find out using the resources you have, such as this forum, or other internet resources! Just make sure you know.
Now, the High Speed needle is used to set the carb's max allowed fuel intake. This setting basically sets the fuel to air ratio that the carb will push into the motor. The more fuel, the richer the mix. The more air, the leaner. Engines thrive on air, and fuel alike. So, any combo can actually "work", but finding the right one for the performance value is tricky on occasion.
Now, if the motor is running above 260F, you're probably running too lean. This can be harmful to the motor, and you certainly need to richen the high speed needle up! Now, below 180F, you might have a serious problem. Please refere to the Ambient temperature section to see if you could be running into a temperature problem due to certain outside temperatures!
Running from 200F to 240F is the area you're looking for! Use about 1/8th of a turn to either richen or lean out the needle some. Then repeat the full speed runs for a minute or two. Get your motor into the range above! In that range is having a good start to your successful tune! If the motor is running too hot, richen it up an 1/8th turn or so. If it's running cold, but you want a little more, then lean it out about an 1/8th turn. Once you find a spot after full speed runs back and fourth, then proceed to the next section.
Fine tuning that needle! Now, since we're sitting somewhere the motor will be happy, you have a job to do! You need to pick reliability over performance. The leaner you go with the needle, the more the lifetime of your motor decreases. So, running it leaner may mean higher power, but will certainly shorten the life of the motor! Now, once you pick where you'll be happy, use very small turns on the needle to get it where you're wanting it. Remember, richening the motor will cool it down, and leaning out the motor will produce higher temperatures! Every time you turn the needle at all, you need to run some full speed runs, to get that motor stressing. This is where the heat is going to be the biggest factor. So, remember, get it to full speed a few times, then as quickly as you can, check that temperature!
Note : If you ever notice your engine doesn't produce exaust smoke under acceleration, shut it down immediately! This is a sign of running way to lean, or possibly out of fuel. This will cause serious damage to the motor, so here it is again.. Pay Attention! The motor will give you signs!
Now, getting the setting will be difficult, but you must choose where you want to be, and get that setting down! It may take a few tanks, but it will be worth the time after you're finished. Remember to make sure you use small increments when fine tuning, as drastic changes can have serious side effects! So, be patient, and tune with precision, not a need for speed.
So, you finally got that high speed set? You think she's running like a champ? She flying now? Well, let's make her do some more tricks!
Now, this guide will help you find those settings you need to keep your truck running strong for the haul. Everyone has their own ways of setting the fuel flow up, so I'm going to be broad in this topic. I'm gonna give two detailed paths to chose though, as some say lean, some say rich. So, we'll go with lean and rich, and you can decide where you want to go with it.
What all you will need :
Long and Thin tipped flat head screwdriver
Right angle SMALL flat head screwdriver
Optional : Temperature gun
First, we'll look into the major components of the motor, and how the process works in general. First off, if you're not sure how the motor really works, then you NEED to read this link.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/two-stroke.htm
Now, since these motors run on a mixture of fuel and oil, we have to ask ourselves, how much oil is enough? Well, truthfully, the best is to have as much oil passing through the motor as possible without it stalling. But we're looking for performance, not running the motor for 25 years. So, let's figure out about the fuel first.
Fuels are an important decision for your truck. Some fuels have good additives and oil mixes, and some really lack in the lubrication department. So, picking a good quality fuel is an important factor when running your truck. I suggest such brands as O'Donnell's, Blue Thunder, or Trinity Monster. Make sure to pick a good fuel, with good lube inside!
Now, if you haven't broke the motor in yet, go read this thread first and check out my reply. Reply #40!. Then we can tune her up, and get to playing!
https://www.hpisavageforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4605
So, now that we have a broke in engine, getting that tune can be difficult. So, we'll take it one step at a time. Now, tuning in general can be done almost anywhere, as long as the conditions aren't too extreme. The biggest factor lies in you, and your ability to pay attention to the truck.
Three setting screws (some motors only have two, or one in some cases)
For a the best description of where to find the tuning screws, please refer to your manual. Every motor can be different, so check the manual for the best possible information on their locations!
First, the most important, the High Speed needle! This is where we'll be doing most of our work. This is the main needle for adjustment, since it controls the main amount of fuel being allowed into the carb. So, we'll get more into this setting further into the guide.
Second, the Low Speed needle. Now, this is the idle process at it's best. It's hard to understand how this needle effects the motor, but we'll learn a little about it, and how to set it through this guide!
Third, the Idle screw! It pretty much explains itself! We'll set this after we get the motor where we want it!
Most important thing to remember when tuning, and I'll stress this again and again. Pay attention to the motor! It'll show you all the signs you need to tell if it's running to rich or to lean! PAY ATTENTION!!! lol
A lot of people like adjusting the low speed needle first, I however don't, since it seems to have little impact on performance tuning before you set the high speed needle. So we'll start with the high speed, then hit the low speed.
This is the part where you can make it or break it. Improper tuning can cause serious damage to the motor, so make sure you pay attention. First thing, grab a new glow plug from your local hobby shop. Nothing can bork a good tune better than a fouled glow plug. You may thing your plug is fine, when indeed it could be causing more tuning trouble than you can imagine.
Things you'll need for the high speed needle... Just one.. LONG and thin flat head screwdriver! You'll be tuning with the body on, since the body can effect the airflow going to the motor. So, get one that can reach that needle!
Now, get the motor running, and warm it up. Do a couple lower speed laps,or runs. Just make sure to get her warmed up. After she's nice and warmed up give he some throttle, run a few full throttle passes and bring her to full speed! Then, quickly get a temperature shot of the glowplug. (You can also do the "spit test" where you actually spit into the head). The temps you are looking for are different, and you can refer to the list near the bottom of the guide to help you find the correct temperatures. I'll also list ideas on how the "spit" test will work.
Now, go by your manual here. Make sure you know which direction to tune the motor to lean and richen! Most needles are counterclockwise to richen then, and clockwise to lean them out. So, make sure you go by what your manual says. If you don't have the manual, find out using the resources you have, such as this forum, or other internet resources! Just make sure you know.
Now, the High Speed needle is used to set the carb's max allowed fuel intake. This setting basically sets the fuel to air ratio that the carb will push into the motor. The more fuel, the richer the mix. The more air, the leaner. Engines thrive on air, and fuel alike. So, any combo can actually "work", but finding the right one for the performance value is tricky on occasion.
Now, if the motor is running above 260F, you're probably running too lean. This can be harmful to the motor, and you certainly need to richen the high speed needle up! Now, below 180F, you might have a serious problem. Please refere to the Ambient temperature section to see if you could be running into a temperature problem due to certain outside temperatures!
Running from 200F to 240F is the area you're looking for! Use about 1/8th of a turn to either richen or lean out the needle some. Then repeat the full speed runs for a minute or two. Get your motor into the range above! In that range is having a good start to your successful tune! If the motor is running too hot, richen it up an 1/8th turn or so. If it's running cold, but you want a little more, then lean it out about an 1/8th turn. Once you find a spot after full speed runs back and fourth, then proceed to the next section.
Fine tuning that needle! Now, since we're sitting somewhere the motor will be happy, you have a job to do! You need to pick reliability over performance. The leaner you go with the needle, the more the lifetime of your motor decreases. So, running it leaner may mean higher power, but will certainly shorten the life of the motor! Now, once you pick where you'll be happy, use very small turns on the needle to get it where you're wanting it. Remember, richening the motor will cool it down, and leaning out the motor will produce higher temperatures! Every time you turn the needle at all, you need to run some full speed runs, to get that motor stressing. This is where the heat is going to be the biggest factor. So, remember, get it to full speed a few times, then as quickly as you can, check that temperature!
Note : If you ever notice your engine doesn't produce exaust smoke under acceleration, shut it down immediately! This is a sign of running way to lean, or possibly out of fuel. This will cause serious damage to the motor, so here it is again.. Pay Attention! The motor will give you signs!
Now, getting the setting will be difficult, but you must choose where you want to be, and get that setting down! It may take a few tanks, but it will be worth the time after you're finished. Remember to make sure you use small increments when fine tuning, as drastic changes can have serious side effects! So, be patient, and tune with precision, not a need for speed.
So, you finally got that high speed set? You think she's running like a champ? She flying now? Well, let's make her do some more tricks!
