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Do Nitro RC Trucks Have Reverse?

If you are looking to buy a nitro RC truck or have recently purchased one and you can’t find the reverse option on it then you may have headed to the internet to find the answer and came across this article. 

Knowing whether nitro RC trucks have reverse or not is important to know before deciding on which vehicle to buy so we will try to answer that question as well as give some other important information about nitro RC trucks. 

Finding an nitro RC truck that includes a reverse option is quite a rare thing. Almost all nitro RC trucks are made without reverse. One of the biggest reasons RC trucks come without reverse is the fact of the durability issues that can occur with a transmission that is geared for forward and reverse. 

Virtually every nitro RC truck will not have reverse on it and at first that might seem like a huge flaw, afterall everyone needs to reverse! However once you have used the car for a while you will discover that you will rarely need or use the reverse (if it has it) so the poor durability caused by having reverse is not worth it for most RC owners. 

On a general note, on-road RC trucks are not designed with reverse, but off-road trucks such as Savage are designed with optional reverse options. However, due to the fact that including a reverse may have a negative impact on durability, nitro RC trucks are generally not made with reverse options. 

There are only a few TC trucks on the market that actually come with reverse options. Regardless, despite the absence of reverse options in most RC trucks, you can still have a lot of fun with your nitro RC truck and easily so. 

There are a number of steps that you can follow to make sure that you have the very best time with your nitro RC truck. There’s no denying that none of these steps will actually make up for the absence of a reverse option on your nitro RC, but with these steps, you can be sure to have an experience that is much better. A lot of racers may not be enthusiastic about using a nitro RC truck because they do not come with reverse options, but the truth is, nitro RC trucks are a lot more than just a reverse option.

Let’s look at some of the things you can do to improve your nitro RC experience. To see the most popular nitro powered RC vehicles just click here.

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Getting the Best Out of your Nitro RC Truck

If the engine is flooded, don’t pull the starter 

The nitro engine is made with a pull cord, and to swirl the flywheel and start the engine, you have to pull the T-handle attached to the starter cord. But, if this cord gets difficult to pull, it’s a sign that the engine is flooded and you shouldn’t force the cord. Rather, remove the glow plug, turn the truck upside down and pull the starter twice to get out any excess fuel. Also, in order not to snap the cord, don’t pull out the start cord more than 20 cm.

Don’t restrict the wheels

Let the wheels freely spin and also make sure that you take off the brake to prevent overheating, which will melt the nylon drive gears.

Take off the brake before you start the truck
If you try pushing the truck forward and it resists, there’s a chance the brake is on. Make sure you turn it off before starting the truck so as to prevent the clutch from overheating. 

Tips for new nitro RC trucks

Charge the glow igniter: This is what you should first do once you open your starter kit. The truck can’t be started without it.

Put the batteries in: Respectively put 8 and 4 batteries into your truck’s transmitter and receiver. If its batteries are rechargeable, make sure you charge them before you install them (if they don’t come charged). After that, turn on the transmitter followed by the receiver. Ensure that the transmitter comes on before the receiver or the transmitter may not produce any signal, and this could cause the two not to connect properly. 

Fill the tank: Put some fuel into the starter kit’s fuel bottle. Put nitro into the fuel tank till it’s full and attach all fuel lines to their ports. Make sure you are using the correct hobby fuel with 20 – 30% nitro unless the manual says to mix it differently. Also, don’t ever bend back the fuel lid to prevent a bent spring in the lid.

Install your air filter: If your nitro engine does not come with an air filter, install one onto the carburetor. It may come with a zip tie that you can use to connect the air filter to the engine.

Set your antenna up: This is vital to set up your nitro RC truck. For starters, insert the wire through the truck’s antenna mount, through the tube, and into the tube mount. If your wire is too long, let it hang freely instead of cutting it off. 

Turn on your transmitter first: Remember that your transmitter should always go on first, and go off last.

Check for proper servo-operation: When the engine is not active, check to see if the throttle, steering, and brake servos are functioning correctly with the use of the transmitter and receiver. RC servos ensure actuation for some mechanical systems in the truck like the steering. If you want to test the performance of the servos, ensure that your truck’s wheels are off the ground to let them spin with ease. The carburetor should be opened up when you apply the throttle almost totally closed when you apply the brakes. Then, the brakes are engaged.

Check the radio range: Always test your range before getting the truck into action. Additionally, make sure you eliminate radio interference, particularly with the 27Mhz frequency, which power lines or 2-way radios transmitting on similar frequencies can cause. If you want to do a range check, walk 10-15 yards from the truck with the aerial of the model totally extended and the aerial of the transmitter totally down. Then, turn on the radio system to make sure all the servos are working as normal. If you notice any radio faults, don’t race the truck. Also, don’t race the truck if you notice any radio interference. 

Plus,you should also make sure the batteries are strong and well charged.

Prime the engine with fuel: This is simple. Just put a finger over the exhaust port and draw the cord a few times till the fuel goes into the carburetor via the line. Once the fuel gets to the carburetor, discontinue the process to save the engine from flooding. A cold engine requires more priming than a hot engine does.

Conclusion

Even in the absence of a reverse option, the above steps will make your nitro RC ride much easier. Once you have used a nitro RC truck for a while you will quickly realize that you don’t actually need to use a reverse that often and having the extra durability is better than having the option to go backwards for most people.