[Sherlock]

Any tricks or secrets in getting my old Tmaxx 3.3 and Revo 3.3 going after sitting for 2+ years.... They aren't seized... but definitely are gummed up as the easy start can barely turn them over.

Worse case is I take them apart and clean them... but if I had that kind of time they wouldn't have sat for 2years! Just curious if any one has some easier tips, suggestions to get them running.

[davidmc36]

Soak them in fuel or just alcohol. But I would take them apart as there is good possibility there is corrosion on bearings after sitting that long.

If you don't mind taking a crap shoot, I have always got them freed up after soaking.

[RMLS6]

You can't go wrong with letting them soak in WD40. If you have a good idea there is corrosion inside there really isn't a fast way to remove it. Take apart the engine and clean it properly, it will pay off in the long run!

[kip51035]

WD40 leaves a gummy deposit when it dries up. Us automatic transmission oil as an after run oil. It will also clear out the gummy deposits from old fuel

[flytoit]

An old timer at the club in Texas boils them in automotive antifreeze with what appears to be good results . I have not personally tried it but just passing on his method .

[Sukhoi 68]

I've used the boiling antifreeze method with great success! Make sure you use a pot that will only be used again for this purpose......

Scott

[floyd]

I haven't had much success trying to clean gummed up bearings, for the amount of time I've spent trying to clean them its quicker to change them. I did get one bearing real clean but when I spun it I could still feel some thing on the balls. I'm sure the first run and the bearing would be finished. They must be smooth when you spin them. I've used the antifreeze boil for stained mufflers and headers and it works great, but I've read not to put any O rings or rubber seals in the boil. Cheers Floyd

[FaceDeAce]

Originally Posted by flytoit

An old timer at the club in Texas boils them in automotive antifreeze with what appears to be good results . I have not personally tried it but just passing on his method .

This is exactly what I do with an old gummed engine. Pull the back plate off, take the glow plug out, put in a small pot just big enough for the engine. Submerge it in antifreeze. Add 10% water. Put it on a stove OUTSIDE or a garage with the door OPEN. The "steam" coming from the pot is poisonous folks. When it starts to boil, turn the heat to a steady boil just above simmer. Set your watch timer for 15 minutes. You can go longer if you want BUT ... the water will be boiled off and the engine is there cooking in 100% AF. The temperature will go up by quite a bit once the water is gone! Bee extreemely careful at this point has you have hot glycol (AF) which can burn your skin and can burn flame.

Put some heat gloves on and have an old tooth brush at the ready. Pull the engine out with pliers. Go over it with toothbrush. This will make the exterior nice and shiny. It is amazing how easily all that varnish just wipes off. Dunk it back in a few more times as you clean it up.

Next turn the engine over gently indexing. 90 deg foward, 45 deg back. Keep doing that until it is nice and loose and turns freely.

Next take it all apart, carb off, head off, piston and liner out etc etc. Put back in the bath and cook for another 15 minutes.

Take the pieces out and hit them with the toothbrush. Clean them all up. Drop them in a bucket of warm water and swish around to rinse away the AF.

Finally, dry it all as best you can with paper towels. Put all the parts in a pie pan and put in the oven at 220 F for about half out .... to dry them all out completely.

Get that after run out, I use marine gear oil, and oil up all the parts. Put the engine back together and go have fun.


If your bearings are gummed or carb is gummed or seized, this will work and give you an as new engine again. If your bearings are more than gummed and rusted, you have a 50:50 chance that it is only surface rust in which case the AF cooking treatment will break it up and you have good bearings to go.


If I have an engine that has been neglected a long time, this is the treatment it gets as step one. From there, it will be obvious what is salvageable and what needs to be replaced.

Hope that helps! Each to their own.
.

[Helidar]

alittle engine clean and then after run let it sit turn it by hand with the glow out