Welcome to the RCV top tips page.
Every month RCV will add a new tip which hopefully is of interest to RCV owners.

If you are an RCV owner and would like to share your tip with other RCV users, please email us and we will add your name to the monthly draw to win an RCV baseball cap
 

• For a cleaner model, why don't you try connecting the breather to the exhaust nipple (with fuel tube).  If you are already using the exhaust pressure you can drill & tap another 3mm hole in the exhaust and we can supply an extra nipple [part no: R12114].  This will not invalidate your warranty.

Castor Build-up
Checking Gear Clearance - SP series only
Carburettor Adjustment
SP Starting Tips
Tips for using the 58CD engine with larger props

How can I prevent castor build-up on my exhaust?
This tip is thanks to one of our Australian users - who  recommends that using WD40 applied on a rag soon after you stop running can clean the oil off and therefore reduce build up.

How can I adjust my carburettor?
Main Needle Adjustment: The main needle should be adjusted with the engine operating at full throttle.  The engine should be leaned out until the RPM peaks, then enriched a small amount.  This will allow for the leaning out that normally occurs in flight.  If the engine is installed in a model, the nose of the model should be raised to the vertical to check that the engine will run without leaning out in this attitude.  Note that to lean the engine out the idle needle is screwed in.
Idle Needle Adjustment: If the engine does not run cleanly at low or mid throttles the usual problem is that the idle needle is incorrectly set.  Please follow the following guidelines to decide how the idle needle should be adjusted.
Fault Finder:
Idle mixture too lean: There will be a tendency for the engine not to start at low throttle settings.  Once it does start it will run cleanly at mid throttle but will tend to die at low throttle.  It will also tend to die when the throttle is opened rapidly.  In general there will be little or no increase in engine speed when the glow plug is energised.
Idle mixture too rich: The engine will start readily.  It will run roughly at mid throttle settings, and at idle will splutter and pop.  When glow is energised the engine will run more cleanly and the idle speed up considerably.
Idle mixture correctly set: The engine will start readily and run cleanly from idle to max RPM.  The idle will sound slightly rich and "poppy".   Idle speed will increase slightly when the glow is energised.  The throttle can be opened rapidly without the engine stalling.

Checking Gear Clearance
To check the gear clearance measure the free play at the prop tip i.e. gently move the prop as far as you can in either direction without moving the crankshaft. This is easiest to accomplish with the engine hot. The free play at the tip of a 16 inch prop should be around 1-2 mm.  If it is significantly more than this please let us know if the noise is objectionable, RCV could fine tune the engine to reduce it.  This is only for SP series engines, more freeplay on CD series engines is normal.

Tips for using the 58CD engine with larger props
The carb is specified to produce max horsepower at higher RPM, but if you are using a larger prop (eg. 12x6) you may find that the last 20% or so of throttle travel does not produce an increase in RPM.  If this is the case, you may improve the running of your engine by limiting the maximum opening of the throttle to the amount which just produces the maximum prop speed.  Simply set the engine to full throttle, and then gradually close the throttle until the RPM just starts to drop, then open the throttle slightly to restore maximum RPM.  Now adjust your set up to ensure the throttle cannot open beyond this point.