Ways of Boosting the Speed of Your RC Engine

Make RC Engine Go Faster

If you love to make small machines in your spare time, then you are probably familiar with RC engines. These craft or hobby engines are used for all kinds of remote-controlled machines, such as model airplanes and jets, as well as racing cars and other mobile toys. Model RC engines first appeared over 40 years ago in model jets, and they are well-known as the fastest model engine available. While you may love RC engines the way they are, there are ways of making the engine faster. Here are some suggestions for modifying an RC to obtain maximum speed.

How to Make Your RC Engine Faster

One way to make your RC engine go faster is by using a poppet valve. These valves can be made of a polymer that is resistant to heat, nylon, or metal. The poppet valve acts as a way to control the amount of fuel that gets into your RC engine. You can allow more fuel into your hobby engine by opening the valve all the way, which would make your engine faster. Be sure to check the material you are using for the valve, and make sure it is appropriate for the temperatures you’ll be operating under.

Another possibility for making your RC engine speed faster is by turning the model jet engine into a turbine engine. The advantage of a turbine engine is that it gives your jet engine more lift and thrust, which will increase your speed. Usually, model jet enthusiasts hand to build a turbine out of aluminum, because it is light and will not weigh the plane down. When you are talking about speed, the less weight you have in your plane, the faster it may go.

This turbine will combine fuel and air for the maximum amount of speed possible for your engine. If you are not sure you can build the turbine, or you do not have the proper equipment–welding is required for this modification–you can always hire someone to put a turbine on for you.

You may want to think about using a rotary valve model engine attachment for greater speed with less friction. Elementary physics indicates that when there is more friction involved, your RC engine will not be as fuel-efficient or as fast.

You can build a rotary engine for a model jet yourself, or you may want to see if you can modify your existing RC engine to provide less friction through the use of rotors and opposite-end fronts. This design has worked for decades in modern race car engines, so there’s no reason to think it won’t work on your RC engine as well.

Modification for RC engine

Finally, you may want to make a modification for your RC engine that has nothing to do with changing the way the engine operates and instead is a discussion of your fuel options. With RC model engines, there are three types of power or fuel you could use. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

First, you can choose to run your RC engine with gasoline. If you choose the gasoline option, your engine will run quickly and smoothly. There is no breaking-in period involved with a gas model engine. They have been operating reliably for over 100 years.

One major sticking point with the gas model RC engine is that you need to really have control over the throttle. The linkage between the throttle and the carburetor must be exact, or the engine will act erratically and you could lose your plane or car.

Electric Engines

Another option you should think about for your RC model engine is electricity. Depending on the size and weight of your car or plane, the electric engine is a great adaptation for today’s models. Electric engines can be extremely fast, but not as fast as gas or glow engine. However, it won’t be long before electric engines will be able to compete directly with both engine types.

The key to an electric RC model is to make sure you consider your entire model set up–it must be ready to generate the maximum amount of power so that you can go as fast as you want.

If you are really serious about going fast, you may want to opt for a glow engine. These engines are not for the faint of heart, because you must break them in slowly so that all of the engine parts mesh together well. Also, you have to pay close attention to your fuel mixture, so that you can get the most out of the mixture you choose. With a few adaptations, your RC engine should be able to reach the speeds you want.