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ANSWER: General information on starting an engine Do not force the pullstart or Rotostart and remember that the Rotostart should only be used for a maximum of 5 seconds for each button press and a pullstart should only be pulled a maximum of around 30CM or damage may occur. The engine will get hydraulically locked if it becomes flooded, if this is the case stop using the pull starter or Rotostart immediately or damage may occur. Remove the glow plug and it’s copper washer from the engine taking care not to loose this copper washer as it sits underneath the glow plug. Put a rag over the top of the engine and either pull the pullstart or turn the Rotostart several times to clear the flood. Replace the glow plug and copper washer, the engine should now turn over easily and start. If it becomes flooded again then please follow this procedure again. Starting a new engine If your engine is new it will be very tight and difficult to turn over. If the engine is too tight but has been checked that it is not flooded, try loosening the glow plug slightly to lower the compression; this should make the pullstart or Rotostart easier to operate. Once the engine has started re-tighten the glow plug. If your engine still will not start please refer to the below starting a previously used engine section as it is relevant to new and used engines. Starting a previously used engine Turn the engine over via the pull start or Rotostart and check that the engine flywheel turns accordingly. Please refer to the engine manual for disassembly and inspection of individual parts if this is not the case. Does the engine have compression? It should feel tight to a point as it reaches TDC (top dead centre, where the piston is at the very top of it’s movement) as this is where the compression is highest, then become loose as the piston moves back down. The engine may make a popping noise, this is quite normal. If the compression is OK then please ignore the next paragraph. If the compression does not seem correct then inspect the engine. The head or the glow plug may be loose, is the copper washer fitted under the glow plug? If these are correct, then the P&L (piston and liner) may be excessively worn and need replacing as a set. Remove these parts following your engine manual. Test your glow plug and glow starter. To do this, remove the glow plug and copper washer from the engine taking care not to loose the copper washer as it sits underneath it. Holding the glow plug with pliers as it gets very hot, place your glow starter on it as in the case of starting the engine. The glow plug coil should glow bright red, if it is slightly dull try a new glow plug to see if this glows bright red. If this is still dull or did not light at all then the glow starter is suspect. Re-charge the glow starter following the manufacturers instructions and re-test the glow plug. Once you know that the glow plug glows brightly replace into the engine making sure that the copper washer is also replaced underneath it. If the engine will still not start check the fuel system i.e. the tank and pipes, for splits, cracks or holes. Check that you can see the fuel going into the engines carburettor, if not investigate why, it could be damage to the fuel system or an airlock, which you should be able to see. To remove an airlock remove the fuel pipe from the carburettor and cover with a rag, then prime your fuel system as normal. The air should be forced out, then replace the fuel line and try to start as normal. If you still cannot get the car started then try putting all of the carburettor needles to the factory defaults; please refer to your engine manual for these settings. Now try starting the engine as normal. General information relating to engine running problems Before making any engine adjustments please make sure that your radio is operating correctly. To do this, remove the air filter without the engine running and turn on the transmitter and car radio equipment. Observe the carburettor aperture opening and closing when the throttle is applied on the transmitter. Make sure that the aperture opens fully when full throttle is applied and closes to the specified amount in your engine manual (not all of the way) when released or the brakes are applied. If this operation is not correct then please refer to your manual and make the necessary adjustments. Also please remember to replace your air filter before starting the engine. Once you engine has started then correct tuning is essential to ensure reliability and a long life for your engine. If at any point you are unsure, then please contact the original store your car was purchased from for assistance. The HPI Europe DVD is included with all kits supplied from HPI Europe and should be watched and followed before using your HPI car for the first time. The below information is in addition to the information already shown in the DVD and no

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There are one of two possible problems:

1) The glowplug may be faulty and require replacement. You can find details of the glowplugs that Mirage have available here.

2) Your engine may be set too rich - try returning the engine to it's base settings as shown in the instruction manual. 

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It sounds like your idle speed is set too low. Try turning the idle screw 1/2 turn clockwise and start the engine of your car with the wheels off the ground.

Next, apply the brakes and start turning the idle screw slowly anti-clockwise until the engine stall. Once you have reached this point, turn the idle screw 1/8 turn clockwise again.

When set correctly the car should sit at a standstill when the engine is idling. You may find that on a brand new car the idle has to be set slightly higher so that the car does not stall. This is acceptable provided the car is not moving quicker than walking pace. You should be able to reduce the idle speed after a few more tanks of fuel.

 

ANSWER: The best way of stopping the engine is to let it run out of fuel. The best way to stop the engine is to simply pinch the fuel line between the tank and the engine, until the engine stops. Or simply wait until the fuel tank is empty. Do not push the air filter as there is a danger of forcing dirt into the engine Do not block the exhaust pipe as this increases the pressure in the fuel tank and floods the engine.

ANSWER: First I would confirm that the radio is operating the carburettor correctly. To do this please follow the below directions: Without the engine running, please remove the whole air filter. Turn on the transmitter and car radio system. You can now see the carburettor aperture this should fully open up when the throttle is fully squeezed and remain open around 1mm when at the throttle is released and when the brakes are applied. If this position looks correct then it is likely that your engine idle screw needs adjusting as shown in your engine manual. If your carburettor adjustment does not look correct then it could be due to several factors described below. Is the throttle arm brass nut still tight? If not then this will need to be tightened so that the arm is in the correct position. First remove the brass nut and apply some thread lock to the thread. Place the nut back onto the thread and fully apply the transmitter throttle, making sure that the carburettor aperture is also fully open. Secure the nut into this position. Now make sure that the carburettor closes to the 1mm opening with the radio switch off and manually operating the throttle arm, do not use force. If this opening is not correct then this can be adjusted via the idle speed screw on the carburettor. Now try the operation with the radio on making sure that the throttle fully opens and closes to 1mm when the throttle is released and when the brake is applied. You may need to adjust the transmitter trim slightly to get this correct if it is not. The servo horn position may not be correct. If this is the case then the servo horn will need to be removed by taking out the one screw in the top of the servo. Re-attach the servo horn with the throttle aperture fully open and the carburettor aperture fully open. Check the operation of the throttle with the transmitter and adjust the trim if necessary.

ANSWER: Nitro engine fuel can absorb moisture and of course moisture is destructive to the inside of a nitro engine. Coating the internal engine parts in after run oil keeps out moisture and keeps the engine’s components in the best possible condition. To apply after run oil first remove the glow plug. All that is needed is a few drops of after run oil into the glow plug hole in the top of the engine and a few drops into the air intake of the carburettor. Turn the engine over a few times by hand and replace the glow plug. If the engine is to be left for some time then it is worth making sure that the exhaust and air intake holes are blocked to keep out moisture and dirt.

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The runtime for a tank of fuel can vary depending on the conditions that the car is being used in, but it will typically be between 10 and 15 minutes per tank on most nitro cars. Don't forget that you can refuel with the engine still running so you can enjoy the car for longer periods without stopping!

ANSWER: Every HPI Nitro car comes with comprehensive engine tuning and running in instructions. Please use them, they were written after tens of man hours testing. We can’t give any better advice than that. If you have lost your instructions go to the link below. http://www.hpieurope.com/instructions.php?lang=en Alos check our getting started DVD.

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I'm sorry but Mirage does not offer any exchanges on this basis. Some model shops may offer a trade-in, but in practise most will not. Why not sell the car privatly to a freind to help finance your next dream R/C car?

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A failsafe is a small electronic box that plugs into the throttle channel of your receiver, then your throttle/brake servo plugs into the fail safe. They are usually mounted into the radio box of a car.

A correctly set fail safe will return the throttle/brake servo on your car to a position that you have pre-set in the event of the transmitter or receiver batteries being flat, or the car being affected by interference. We advise that this position should be approximately 50% brakes so that the car is brought to a controlled stop.

Details of the Elements failsafe can be found here

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We are a trade only distributor, so unfortunately you will not be able to purchase parts directly from us.

You can use the shop finder facility here to find a local stockist who will be able to supply you with the parts that you need. In the event that the shop does not have the part in stock then they should be able to order it for you - most items will be available to them within 2-3 days!

ANSWER: A slipper clutch is a device that fits on or near the spur gear, and helps absorb "drivetrain shock" that occurs when a car lands from a jump. A slipper clutch also helps aid traction in slippery conditions, since it acts as a mechanical way to limit the power that reaches the drivetrain. Check out HPI Option Parts Webpage for all option parts.

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The One Way Bearing is normally very reliable and will only fail in the event that it's over-loaded. This is normally caused by attempting to start the engine whilst it's flooded.

If the Rotostart jams or the Pullstart becomes difficult to pull then you can remove the glowplug and clear the engine as shown on the DVD included with HPI kits. The engine should then be easier to turn over.

If you follw the above steps then your One Way Bearing will thank you!

ANSWER: The liner that the piston moves inside is tapered at the top. A new engine is usually very hard to turn over at first. It is usual for it to become tight at TDC (top dead centre) this is when the piston is at its uppermost point. The first thing to check is that the battery in the Rotostart is fully charged. If the fully charged Rotostart still “locks up” it is almost certainly caused by the engine being flooded and being hydraulically locked. To clear the flood, remove the glow plug and place a rag over the engine then turn the engine over with the rotostart for a few seconds. This should clear the flood. Next place the glow plug back in the engine and re-try starting it. Two or three five-second bursts with the rotostart are usually all that is needed. If you continue to use the Rotostart the engine will flood once again. If the engine is still too tight for the rotostart to turn over I suggest that you loosen the glow plug slightly to lower the engine compression and re-try starting. Once the engine has started the glow plug can be retightened.

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Yes you can - Full details of the available Rotostart systems can be found here