Nikasil Plating In a nitro engine?

[dell30rb]

One of my other hobbies is nitro powered R/C cars. Our engines are the simpliest form of 2smoke engines. They are glow powered, which means they are basically like diesel engines, except they run on 10-20 % nitro fuel and are very small(.15 cu. in.), and rev to about 26,000 Rpm's. The engine construction is usually "ABC" Meaning an Aluminum piston, Brass sleeve, and chrome plating
(on the inside of the sleeve).

Now here is my question. The chrome plating dosent really last too long on these motors, only about 3-4 gallons of fuel (this equals about 10 hours of running time) before the sleeve needs to be replaced, because the plating wears out and the compression is lost. Is nikasil plating any better for this task? Anyone willing to give it a try? I guess I could call up US chrome or something and ask if their willing to try it on one of my used sleeves.

Eric, can I get your opinion on this?

Mod's, I wasant really sure where to post this, but I think It will get the best response here because this is where I most frequently see threads on nikasil plating...

 

[bclapham]

dell, after you run the engines, run some straight (non-nitro) fuel through them. the nitromethane in the fuel can turn into nitric acis which rots the insides....i used to fly planes and we did this to get more time out of the engines....just a thought!

 

[dell30rb]

I use some after run oil after every run.

 

[TransAm77]

You might be runing to lean on the low and high speed needles. I usualy get about 7-8 gallons through mine before I have to rebuild the motor. What motor are you using? It should rev to more than 26,000. I had one of mine dynoed by my hobby shop, and it ran to 43,000.

 

[dell30rb]

Hpi Nitro Star .15ss

WHat kind do you have? O.S. ?

I run it pretty rich... And run a motorsavers airfilter

7 gallons? Thats ALOT! :0

 

[TransAm77]

I'm running a Fantom Fr15. I use it in my 4-tec Pro at the local track. Have you gone to the Hpi boards? Here is there web site, Link.

 

[dell30rb]

Yep

I've been a member for over a year now. And no one has ever gotten 7 gallons out of their motor! Although, I have heard that those fantom's are reliable and quick

 

[Brian]

Nikasil sounds like a good idea to me. That's the reason I like electric. All you have to do as far as motor maintainance is cut the comm and buy new brushes every now and then, and this only costs around $3. How much is a new sleeve in a nitro? What kind of car/truck do you have? I've been thinking about going nitro because of the runtime( with a high performance electric I only get 3-4 minutes, and only 1 minute is max performance), but I didn't know that that much maintainance was involved :scream:

 

[dell30rb]

I have an HPI nitro rush... With an upgraded engine (with their engine exchange program, I sent my blown up stock motor in for a 200 dollar motor for only 99$$$)

For this engine a new sleeve/piston is 30 dollars.

I love the nitro engines... sooooo much power!!