scervin

I'm using a radio shack temp gun and want to know the correct way to measure the temp. I currently will make a few laps and bing it to the corner and measure it while it idles there. I stick it just above the heatsink and aim at the glow plug. Should I rev it pretty hard and measure right after that to get the temp?? If I rev it and take the readings I'll get to nearly 280 deg

crash_me_over

My Feedback: (16)

The temperature is taken at the glow plug. You must aim the probe down the cylinder head and point it directly at the glow plug (make sure it is pointing at the plug and not at the side of the heat sink head). The reason you take temperatures at the plug is because this is the only place on the engine in which the temperature is very close. Also, the glow plug is the hottest point that can be externally measured on a Nitro engine.


Good Luck!

Moonunit451

How much was the temp gun?

dhauch

I make sure I get a reading as fast as possible when you bring it screaming up to you.

reddogdan

http://www.radioshack.com/category.a...0%5F000&Page=1

this is what i use, and it serves its purpose. (course I don't look as cool shining my little red light all over the walls and track)

Moonunit451

Thanks Danny, Good enough for me. I got one on hold, pick it up tomorrow. It's a good price. Seems like about the same as the on board ones, plus I can use it on other cars and stuff!

dbow

My Feedback: (1)

I use a Raytek and have for a few years, it seems to work fairly well and its only about 1 degree off from actual temp.
I have tested it against a calibrated Exergen and all tests showed it to be consitantly off by 1 degree.
The MIP on board was another story, I found that it was very inaccurate in comparison to the Raytek.
THis may be attributed to the fact that there is some latency from the probe to the display. Temp changes would not reflect on the display until a short time later. This small amount of time in most cases is not critical as long as you give adjustments pplenty of time to hit the display.

I am unsure about the 2nd generation of those as I have not used one.


I think that making a few laps on the track is plenty enough time to get a good temp on the motor.


Dbow

Celly013

Well, answer me this..

How hot can your header get, before you should worry? I have been measuring there, and my header is like 250 - 270, but tonight some dude shot my glow plug, and it was at 170... He's like "Damn near flooding the engine"

hmmmm... anyone?

creeping death

you need to take the reading at the glow plug not header

Moonunit451

Celly013, If I recall correctly from other posts, you should be pretty good there. Seems to me like 170-180 is good. Keep it under 200.

Celly013

Aight... Well, I thought I was running it real rich.... Good deal... time to tone it down a notch or 2..

creeping death

heck, my savage just gets warmed up at 200 degrees!

elbowcreek

MY GT runs about 210 all the time with a PICCO and my T-MAXX runs about 245 cosistantly with a OS .15CVRX with a stinger pipe you don't want to see much more than about 245- 265 max on most nitro engines

tsim712

I was up around 210 till I cut a hole in the hood of my GT (looks like a air scoop on a real car) Now it's down around 195. I use the Craftsman Laser Temp Probe.

tracy

bigbadbowtie

The Radio Shack gun is actually made by Raytec. If you have one.... pull it apart ... raytec is stamped right on the circuit board.

Celly013

Since my orginal post, I purchased a raytec, and have leaned my engine out to run at about 225, Becuase I know on the track it'll be up in the 230's during the long straightaway runs..

Always assume you loose 5 degrees in the time it takes you to slow down and take the reading...

Telloman

Can I get some more reviews on this gun from Radio Shack? Is it worth the money? How off is it?

elbowcreek

One of the onboard temp units work really well also the one from MIP or TRAXXAS

crash_me_over

My Feedback: (16)

Actually the gun from Sears is equal to...or better than the Raytec. It comes with 3 year warranty.....has all of the features as the Raytec gun and more. It is of course....$79.00....so your paying a little extra for the features. Craftsman tools carry nice warranties.

http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summ...id=03482288000

bigbadbowtie

telloman... we have tested a few of these at the track on race day and they all(so far) have been with in 2 degrees of Raytecs.(same as the craftsman in the above post but 39 bucks cheaper)

I use mine for tuning both my nitro and my electric. It works great!!

Ray

Crash.... I love the craftsman gun but the 29.00 price tag for the Crap Shack won me over.

Telloman

Awesome! Thanks guys for your input. I think my wallet will appreciate the Radio Shack gun a lot better.

Moonunit451

I bought the one from Radio Shack and I like it very well. It fits nicely in your pocket or you can clip it on your shirt. I think it kind of depends on what you think you can afford.