KM Engine Reliabilty

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Vertiviper

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I've heard many mixed reviews about the reliability and risk of recieving a factory lemon.

How have you guys made out so far with your KM engines? Anyone get a lemon?

Thanks
 
There are alot a lemons out there sometimes you may get a good one depends on if there awake at the QC station..... i personel got a lemon but it was nothing to do with the motor i sold it before i broke the motor in, didnt want to take a chance with it and will never buy a clone baja or clone part again...! Not saying all clones are bad but there not for me


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mine was a lemon lasted 2 tanks of gas. but the new hpi cy 26cc that i put in it afterwards let go at 5 tanks i guess im just a lemon magnet lol
 
mickey said:
mine was a lemon lasted 2 tanks of gas. but the new hpi cy 26cc that i put in it afterwards let go at 5 tanks i guess im just a lemon magnet lol
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Hpi motors are abit better but i prefer the zenoah 4bolt much more reliable
 
lemons

can get a lemon with anything you buy! i work for a bmw dealer, they have a whole orchard! 23cc vy motor in my car. no problems. same brand in hpi and so o n. maybe even the new 5ive t. facts, they all come from the someplace, probably made by the same company regardless of the name on it. except zenoah. as of toady, i am not aware that they are made in china.
 
Thanks guys. It's true what everyone says about lemons, but my concern was when the vast majority of people I've spoken to all say that theirs crapped out in 1-3 tanks.
 
I just finished my first tank of fuel in my 23cc Baja. Dang, I am used to 15 minutes tops with my Revo 3.3, but 42 minutes to empty (I killed it as soon as the fuel got low enough to lean out the engine)? I know it was my break in tank and I was taking it easy but good lord!!!

So far my engine is running like a dream. I think the main reason people have engine issues with the KM or any Baja engine for that matter is lack of tuning experience. I have been creeping Baja boards for the last week waiting for mine to show up and have learned a couple things.

First and Foremost, CHECK THE NEEDLE SETTINGS!!!!!!!!! Mine were way off, the HS needle was out 2 3/4 turns and the LS needle was set to 1/2 turn out. This would have almost ensured a dead motor after the first tank.

Use a high quality 2-cycle oil. I picked up a new 1 gallon fuel can and a quart of Lucas Semi Synthetic low smoke 2-Cycle oil for 17 bucks at my local Napa store. I mixed it a tad rich, 24:1 rather than 25:1, cant hurt having a little extra oil on break in. I would rather smoke a plug than a piston!!!

Go easy on your first tank, no more than 1/2 throttle and don't hold a constant speed, vary it from idle through mid rpm, feather the throttle. You need to break the ring in and have it seat a pattern to the cylinder wall.

If anyone thinks I am wrong or has something to add, please chime in.
 
Baja_Matt said:
I just finished my first tank of fuel in my 23cc Baja. Dang, I am used to 15 minutes tops with my Revo 3.3, but 42 minutes to empty (I killed it as soon as the fuel got low enough to lean out the engine)? I know it was my break in tank and I was taking it easy but good lord!!!

So far my engine is running like a dream. I think the main reason people have engine issues with the KM or any Baja engine for that matter is lack of tuning experience. I have been creeping Baja boards for the last week waiting for mine to show up and have learned a couple things.

First and Foremost, CHECK THE NEEDLE SETTINGS!!!!!!!!! Mine were way off, the HS needle was out 2 3/4 turns and the LS needle was set to 1/2 turn out. This would have almost ensured a dead motor after the first tank.

Use a high quality 2-cycle oil. I picked up a new 1 gallon fuel can and a quart of Lucas Semi Synthetic low smoke 2-Cycle oil for 17 bucks at my local Napa store. I mixed it a tad rich, 24:1 rather than 25:1, cant hurt having a little extra oil on break in. I would rather smoke a plug than a piston!!!

Go easy on your first tank, no more than 1/2 throttle and don't hold a constant speed, vary it from idle through mid rpm, feather the throttle. You need to break the ring in and have it seat a pattern to the cylinder wall.

If anyone thinks I am wrong or has something to add, please chime in.
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Everything you have wrote is true it does come down to user experience ! but break in is 2 tanks 20min run times letting the engine fully cool between runs vary the revs and run it rich ...
 
OuttaLuck said:
Everything you have wrote is true it does come down to user experience ! but break in is 2 tanks 20min run times letting the engine fully cool between runs vary the revs and run it rich ...
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Ok I admit I didnt read the owners manual. But its cool out now, high in the upper 40's yesterday and I was easy on her. I will give it another tank today, 20 minute runs letting it cool. I am by no means an expert engine tuner, but on the average my nitro engines get 10-12 gallons through them before they are smoked.
 
I agree with whoever said get a zenoah. I mean you cant go wrong with a four bolt. most two bolts just blow head gaskets after a few tanks and make popping noise if you keep running it it will ruin it. as far as break in I ussualy do what we call a heat soak maybee 2 to 3 times just start it up and let it idle up to temp kill motor repeat then set the end point on you trottle to half of wot and runn two tanks threw it then open her up and get a tune. These motors don't really require alot of tunning. allways check the needles first
 
jamesfouquet said:
I ussualy do what we call a heat soak maybee 2 to 3 times just start it up and let it idle up to temp kill motor repeat then set the end point on you trottle to half of wot and runn two tanks threw it then open her up and get a tune.
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I don't see why you would need to do this, the piston has a ring that needs to be seated, unlike a nitro engine that needs to have the chrome to aluminum piston worn in.

My thoughts are mix your premix a little rich on the oil side and let her eat, don't beat on it, just drive it around varying the throttle for the first tank and don't get it to WFO til the middle of the second tank.

But to each is own, this is how I did mine and it is running good so far. Long term test to follow once the new servos get here next week.
 
Baja_Matt said:
I don't see why you would need to do this, the piston has a ring that needs to be seated, unlike a nitro engine that needs to have the chrome to aluminum piston worn in.

My thoughts are mix your premix a little rich on the oil side and let her eat, don't beat on it, just drive it around varying the throttle for the first tank and don't get it to WFO til the middle of the second tank.

But to each is own, this is how I did mine and it is running good so far. Long term test to follow once the new servos get here next week.
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I don't knoow why I do it that way just haow I startred doing it and haven't had anty motor problems. I also ussaully break mine down evry 3-4 gallons and check my ring gap and if need be re ring it.
 
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