Break in stand....... opinions??

[ajolsen1]

I just bought a new TRX 3.3 for my t-maxx. A buddy of mine has a break in stand that I'm thinking of using. Now having never broken in an engine before I would definatly follow the break-in instructions in the manual as if they were gospel, BUT, I'm the kind of guy that wants to just get on it and go. I know that the stand would be a little faster, but I want to know if anyone has ever used one and if they would recommend it. What are the pros and cons???

[JustynKace]

I would maybe do the first tank on the stand. Just set the motor at idle. Then after the first tank, install the motor and drive around like the second tank break-in that Traxxas recommends. And don't try to rush the break-in or you may end up with a bad running motor. Good luck and if you have any more question just let me know.

[3_rolls]

We recommend following the break in exactly as it appears in the manual. One of the most important parts of the break-in is having a load on the motor. This is done by having the engine in the car, and the car driving on the ground. If you do not follow the directions, you may have a shortened motor life.

[Kyleb]

Also if you use the break in stand and you run into troubles Traxxas might not warranty the engine because it was not broken in properly

[zdragon71]

Just use the fact of you will be buying another engine before you can enjoy this one if you don't break it in correctly. I can almost assure you a broken con rod on the 3.3 without proper on ground breakin.

[Double G]

I'm with 3_rolls here. Break in the engine the proper way; I'm pretty sure that Traxxas spent a lot of money developing the break-in method rather than having a quick meeting around a small table and pulling the procedure out of the air.
Just a word of the wise, if you are the kind to get on it and go, then there will be a rude awakening when the engine fails prematurely and blame is placed on Traxxas.

[fallonguy]

If you look at what is called the new school method it's almost exactly the same as the traxxas method the only different is you do figure 8's instead of driving a straight line but even that is really the same you give it throttle and then brake to make the turn.

[Nitronaught]

The Traxxas method is a very good way to break in an engine... It uses heat cycling. Gettiing it hot to expand the block and sleeve, then letting it cool. Reapeating the process while under the load of your RC. Also this method of break in is good for a fully new RC. It too allows moving parts in the tranny, brakes, driveshaft, linkages, all to get a nice workout and to find their homes as the drive get's acquainted with the new engine as well....

So it works well... Why bother buying/building a stand to break in your engine when you can do it right in the vehicle anyways? It doesn't increase performance or durability....

[Monte_1977]

If you really wanted to fork out a bunch of money.... you can break in an engine with this engine break in stand by HUDY. Heres a link to the engine break in stand...

http://www.hudy.net/xhudy/products/p...07b933194ce368

Or... I was also looking around on eBay and found one. Needless to say I was shocked to see the price was actually pretty decent. Still its a little pointless when its just as easy to break in an engine already mounted in the vehicle but here's the link to the one I found on eBay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/hudy-engine-...#ht_500wt_1064

[NitroMethaneRunninThruMyVeins]

i highly recommend breaking it in correctly. nitronaught said it perfectly, the whole car needs to be broken in. and rushing the break in on an engine is just plain dumb. do it right and you will be highly rewarded. do it wrong and you will have the slowest 3.3 on the block lol

[Nitronaught]

If you really wanted to fork out a bunch of money.... you can break in an engine with this engine break in stand by HUDY. Heres a link to the engine break in stand...

http://www.hudy.net/xhudy/products/p...07b933194ce368

Or... I was also looking around on eBay and found one. Needless to say I was shocked to see the price was actually pretty decent. Still its a little pointless when its just as easy to break in an engine already mounted in the vehicle but here's the link to the one I found on eBay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/hudy-engine-...#ht_500wt_1064

Have you used them yourself? What did you see as being an advantage to this?

[Monte_1977]

Have you used them yourself? What did you see as being an advantage to this?

Nope.. haven't used one. It was just something I know existed and was just basically looking for feedback.. I didn't really see an advantage per say but only maybe if you had a spare engine and wanted to break it in for future use. I was just simply throwing ideas out there.

[ajolsen1]

A very be-lated thanks or all the replies everyone...... just to clarify, it's just the engine that's new, the truck itself is about 5 years old........ I've pretty much decided to break it in on the truck. I was just looking to see what everyone's opinion was. A friend of mine owns the stand and seems to have money to burn, I don't, if I'm going to have an engine I'm going to have the warranty still valid meaning that the break-in would be by the book.

Thanks again guys!

[Kyleb]

Good choice. But I do believe Adam from AB mods DOES use a break in bench. I'm sure he knows a a lot about engines and must know that there is no harm to then engine if he charges people to break in there engines, then why do so many people say break in benches will ruin a engine?

[1979chevy.]

I'm with 3_rolls here. Break in the engine the proper way; I'm pretty sure that Traxxas spent a lot of money developing the break-in method rather than having a quick meeting around a small table and pulling the procedure out of the air.
Just a word of the wise, if you are the kind to get on it and go, then there will be a rude awakening when the engine fails prematurely and blame is placed on Traxxas.

+10

[Nitronaught]

Good choice. But I do believe Adam from AB mods DOES use a break in bench. I'm sure he knows a a lot about engines and must know that there is no harm to then engine if he charges people to break in there engines, then why do so many people say break in benches will ruin a engine?

When you have multiple engines you are breaking in consistently then yeah, an engine break in stand would be handy in that case. But for an individual who may have 3-4 RC's or less it's not worth the trouble....

I've used the Hudy stand at the LHS that sponsored me, I'd come in every now and then and help them get caught up on their shop work....

[Wildman4910]

But I do believe Adam from AB mods DOES use a break in bench. I'm sure he knows a a lot about engines and must know that there is no harm to then engine if he charges people to break in there engines, then why do so many people say break in benches will ruin a engine?

Because usually those people don't have a clue as to what they are doing, which results in a toasted engine.
That & people parrot what they read without ever having used/done what they are parroting.

Kinda like the people that pull the brand new maxx out of the box, & don't bother with break in, lean it right out then run the snot out of it till the con rod or P/S fails, then complain the engine is junk & that's why it blew.

An engine broken in on a stand/bench by someone who knows how to use it properly gets you good results, on done by a Noob that has no clue & you get poor results.

[Nitronaught]

Because usually those people don't have a clue as to what they are doing, which results in a toasted engine.
That & people parrot what they read without ever having used/done what they are parroting.

Kinda like the people that pull the brand new maxx out of the box, & don't bother with break in, lean it right out then run the snot out of it till the con rod or P/S fails, then complain the engine is junk & that's why it blew.

An engine broken in on a stand/bench by someone who knows how to use it properly gets you good results, on done by a Noob that has no clue & you get poor results.

+1 Heat cycling is heat cycling,,, the engine doesn't know if it's on a break in stand or on an RC.. It does no better or worse... But like I said if you are running a business or have a racing team, and have to maintain many motors at once then I see a reason for having 1 or 2 of them.... Otherwise I'd rather just get it on my RC and break it in....

[TraxxasTuesdays]

Do they make mini dynos? That would be pretty sweet to break one in on a mini dyno

[StixXxJaTo88]

The new tQi telemetry from traxxas is sorta like a mini dyno.

[jmcrane77]

Dont see any problems breaking an engine in on a break in stand, all forms of auto racing does it, a dyno is a form of a break in stand, but the key is to have proper load on it. A stand is more consistent with throttle position, easier to make carb adjustments, and can monitor temps. Dont care for the hudy version though, unless its for a prop plane.