Page 2 - Even; INTROdUcTION; Traxxas Support
2 • NITRO RUSTLER Thank you for purchasing the Traxxas Nitro Rustler ® stadium truck. The Nitro Rustler is equipped with the all-new TRX ® 2.5 Racing Engine that elevates its performance from Ready-To-Run to Ready-To-Race. ® Extremely high speed is possible once the engine has been properly broken i...
Page 3 - NITRO RUSTLER • 3; BEfORE YOU PROcEEd; Your hobby; Refers you to a page with a related topic.; SUPPORT; REGISTERING YOUR mOdEL
NITRO RUSTLER • 3 Traxxas1100 Klein RoadPlano, Texas 75074Phone: 972-265-8000Toll-free 1-888-TRAXXAS InternetTraxxas.comE-mail: [email protected] Entire contents ©2012 Traxxas. Traxxas, EZ-Start, Smart Start, Ready-To-Race, Ready-To-Win, Rustler, TRX, Top Fuel, Ultra Shocks, and ProGraphix are tra...
Page 4 - • NITRO RUSTLER; SafETY PREcaUTIONS; ImPORTaNT POINTS TO REmEmBER; Model engine fuel is dangerous and highly poisonous.; BaTTERIES aNd BaTTERY chaRGING; Recycling Your Traxxas Power Cell NiMH Battery
4 • NITRO RUSTLER This model is not intended for use by children under 16 years of age without the supervision of a responsible and knowledgeable adult. All instructions and precautions outlined in this manual should be strictly followed to ensure safe operation of your model. SafETY PREcaUTIONS All...
Page 5 - NITRO RUSTLER • 5; Recommended Equipment; SUPPLIEd TOOLS aNd EqUIPmENT; accessory Equipment
NITRO RUSTLER • 5 TOOLS, SUPPLIES, aNd REqUIREd EqUIPmENT Your model comes with a set of specialty metric tools. You’ll need to purchase other items, available from your hobby dealer, to operate and maintain your model. Recommended Equipment These items are not required for the operation of your mod...
Page 6 - • NITRO RUSTLER; aNaTOmY Of ThE NITRO RUSTLER
Rear Camber Link (Turnbuckle) 6 • NITRO RUSTLER aNaTOmY Of ThE NITRO RUSTLER Battery Box Fuel Tank Fuel Tank Lid Steering Servo Suspension Arm Front Bumper Shock (Oil Damper) Tie Rod (Turnbuckle ) Throttle/Brake Servo Transmission Air Filter Pipe Header Engine see pg. 14 for details Pressure Line Fu...
Page 7 - NITRO RUSTLER • 7; qUIck STaRT: GETTING UP TO SPEEd; Use a fuel-dispensing bottle to fill the tank.
NITRO RUSTLER • 7 qUIck STaRT: GETTING UP TO SPEEd The following guide is an overview of the procedures for getting your model running. Look for the Quick Start logo on the bottom corners of Quick Start pages. 1. Read the safety precautions on page 4 10. Range test the radio system • See page 12 For...
Page 8 - • NITRO RUSTLER; Correct; RadIO SYSTEm PREcaUTIONS; TRaxxaS Tq
8 • NITRO RUSTLER To prevent loss of radio range do not kink or cut the black wire, do not bend or cut the metal tip, and do not bend or cut the white wire at the end of the metal tip. Correct No No No Learn terms related to the TRX 2.5 racing engine beginning on page 16. INTROdUcTION Your model inc...
Page 9 - NITRO RUSTLER • 9; Battery; NITRO RUSTLER WIRING dIaGRam; Tq 2.4Ghz TRaNSmITTER; Applying The Decals
NITRO RUSTLER • 9 CH3 - Battery CH2 - Throttle Servo CH1 - Steering Servo CH1 - Channel 1* * Not used KA186 7-R00 KA186 7-R00 Your model is equipped with the Traxxas TQ 2.4GHz transmitter. The transmitter has two channels: Channel one operates the steering, and channel two operates the throttle. The...
Page 10 - 0 • NITRO RUSTLER; INSTaLLING REcEIvER BaTTERIES; RadIO SYSTEm RULES; Use the Right Batteries
10 • NITRO RUSTLER INSTaLLING REcEIvER BaTTERIES The radio receiver in your model uses 4 AA batteries. The battery holder for the receiver batteries is located underneath the battery cover on the rear bumper.1. Remove the battery cover by removing the body clip from the post.2. Remove the battery ho...
Page 11 - NITRO RUSTLER • 11; RadIO SYSTEm BaSIc adjUSTmENTS; Steering Trim; Servo reversing should only be required; Steering reversing procedure:; Warning; RadIO SYSTEm cONTROLS
NITRO RUSTLER • 11 If the status LED doesn’t light green, check the polarity of the batteries. Check rechargeable batteries for a full charge. If you see any other flashing signal from the status LED, refer to the chart on page 13 to identify the code. If you use rechargeable batteries in your recei...
Page 12 - 2 • NITRO RUSTLER; USING ThE RadIO SYSTEm; Range-Testing the Radio System; adjust engine idle speed.
12 • NITRO RUSTLER The Nitro Rustler’s on/off switch does not have an indicator plate to show which direction is on. However, you can tell by looking at the wires that come out of the switchbox. Moving the switch towards the gray/gray-white wires turns the receiver on. USING ThE RadIO SYSTEm The TQ ...
Page 13 - NITRO RUSTLER • 13; TQ 2.4GHz Binding Instructions; When the LEDs on both the transmitter and the receiver turn solid; INSTaLLING ThE REcEIvER aNTENNa; Insert the tube into the antenna mount.; TRaNSmITTER LEd cOdES
NITRO RUSTLER • 13 TQ 2.4GHz Binding Instructions For proper operation, the transmitter and receiver must be electronically ‘bound.’ This has been done for you at the factory. Should you ever need to re-bind the system or bind to an additional transmitter or receiver, follow these instructions. Note...
Page 14 - 4 • NITRO RUSTLER; ThE TRx; The number one cause of premature; aIR fILTER maINTENaNcE
14 • NITRO RUSTLER ThE TRx ® 2.5 RacING ENGINE INTROdUcTION The TRX 2.5 Racing Engine is a specialty high-performance racing engine. Its impressive performance is the result of years of focused engineering development and thousands of hours of controlled testing and rigorous real-world running. It o...
Page 15 - TRx 2.5 RacING ENGINE ILLUSTRaTEd; Needle
NITRO RUSTLER • 15 ThE TRx 2.5 RacING ENGINE EZ-Start Controller TRx 2.5 RacING ENGINE ILLUSTRaTEd Air Filter Housing Head Protector Head (Cylinder head) EZ-Start Motor Low-Speed Needle Throttle Arm Clutch Bell Flywheel Carburetor Air Intake Fuel Intake High-Speed Needle Idle Speed Adjustment Screw ...
Page 16 - TERmS TO kNOW
16 • NITRO RUSTLER ThE TRx 2.5 RacING ENGINE TERmS TO kNOW You’ll find these Nitro R/C engine terms throughout this section of the manual. .15 - .15 or “15” refers to the displacement of the engine. The TRX 2.5 Racing Engine is .15 cubic inches or 2.5 cubic centimeters (cc). The name “TRX 2.5” is de...
Page 18 - 8 • NITRO RUSTLER; ThE fUEL; Use the Right Fuel; ThE TRx 2.5 RacING ENGINE
18 • NITRO RUSTLER ThE fUEL Use the Right Fuel It’s imperative that you use the correct fuel in your TRX 2.5 Racing Engine for maximum performance and engine life. Traxxas Top Fuel ® should be used to ensure correct engine lubrication, performance, and ease of tuning. Traxxas Top Fuel has been prove...
Page 19 - ThE aIR fILTER
NITRO RUSTLER • 19 ThE TRx 2.5 RacING ENGINE 1 1 Clean your air filter after every hour of runtime to avoid engine damage, even if the filter looks clean. If you use compressed air to dry your air filter assembly, wear safety glasses and avoid directing compressed air toward your skin. If foam filte...
Page 20 - ThE caRBURETOR; Understanding the Carburetor adjustments; ThE fUEL mIxTURE NEEdLES; Air
20 • NITRO RUSTLER ThE TRx 2.5 RacING ENGINE See page 28 for more information on how air density affects engine tuning. A “turn” refers to tightening (“turning in”) or loosening (“turning out”) mixture needles. A “full turn” refers to turning the needle 360°, so a “1/2 turn” would be 180°, a “1/4 tu...
Page 21 - The optimal fuel mixture setting is rich; to provide; The Idle Speed Adjustment; Water Valve; Lean; • Set the high-speed needle to 4; on page 28 for complete
NITRO RUSTLER • 21 ThE TRx 2.5 RacING ENGINE increased air flow. As the throttle is increased, the low-speed needle is pulled completely away from the needle seat, leaving it fully open. At that point, fuel metering is entirely controlled by the high-speed needle. Again, using our water hose example...
Page 22 - Using Other Chargers; Charging the EZ-Start Battery; ELEcTRIc STaRTING SYSTEm
22 • NITRO RUSTLER ThE TRx 2.5 RacING ENGINE Using Other Chargers Another convenient option for charging the included battery is an AC peak-detecting charger that plugs directly into an AC wall outlet, such as the Traxxas EZ-Peak Plus, Part #2933. It contains special peak-detection circuitry that au...
Page 24 - 4 • NITRO RUSTLER; BREakING IN YOUR TRx 2.5 RacING ENGINE; Starting Your TRX 2.5 Racing Engine for the First Time
24 • NITRO RUSTLER Factory Needle Settings:Your carburetor is preset at the factory to give the correct air-to-fuel ratio and idle speed for engine break-in. Do not adjust the carburetor unless you observe a poor running condition that requires correction (see page 21 for stock settings). Higher nit...
Page 26 - 6 • NITRO RUSTLER; Do not lean the fuel
26 • NITRO RUSTLER Winter Break-in Tips During the break-in process, the piston and sleeve wear into each other to form a precise fit. The engine needs to heat up to a temperature around 200 to 215°F to allow the piston and sleeve to achieve this fit properly. A precise fit between these two compone...
Page 27 - TUNING YOUR TRx 2.5 RacING ENGINE; Never run the
NITRO RUSTLER • 27 ThE TRx 2.5 RacING ENGINE 1 5 TUNING YOUR TRx 2.5 RacING ENGINE The engine’s performance depends on the fuel mixture. Turn the mixture needles clockwise to lean the fuel mixture and counterclockwise to richen it. Leaning the fuel mixture will increase engine power up to the engine...
Page 28 - 8 • NITRO RUSTLER; Low-Speed Fuel Mixture Adjustment; Humidity; Fuel Mixture Adjustment Chart
28 • NITRO RUSTLER Low-Speed Fuel Mixture Adjustment The low-speed mixture is always set after the high-speed needle is correctly adjusted. The low-speed mixture is set using the "pinch test". 1. Once the engine is warm, do several high-speed runs to confirm that the high-speed needle is set...
Page 29 - Fine-Tuning the Carburetor; Once the engine is tuned, then observe the temperature.; any; signs of overheating. Richen the fuel mixture slightly to provide
NITRO RUSTLER • 29 ThE TRx 2.5 RacING ENGINE Fine-Tuning the Carburetor After fine-tuning your TRX 2.5 Racing Engine at the end of the break-in procedure, no major adjustments to the fuel mixture are usually necessary. Make note of the temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure at the time you f...
Page 30 - 0 • NITRO RUSTLER; dRIvING YOUR mOdEL; Driving Tips
30 • NITRO RUSTLER dRIvING YOUR mOdEL INTROdUcTION Your TRX 2.5 racing engine is broken in, the fuel mixture is balanced, and the idle is set…now it’s time to have some fun! This section contains instructions on driving and making adjustments to your Nitro Rustler. Before you go on, here are some im...
Page 31 - NITRO RUSTLER • 31; TUNING adjUSTmENTS; Adjusting the Slipper Clutch; Toe
NITRO RUSTLER • 31 TUNING adjUSTmENTS Once you become familiar with driving your Nitro Rustler, you may wish to make adjustments for better driving performance. Adjusting the Slipper Clutch The Nitro Rustler features an adjustable slipper clutch on the spur gear to help protect the drive train from ...
Page 32 - 2 • NITRO RUSTLER; Do not neglect your air filter; Loose or missing screws; maINTaINING aNd STORING YOUR mOdEL
32 • NITRO RUSTLER Your Nitro Rustler requires timely maintenance in order to stay in top running condition. Neglecting the maintenance could allow dirt, deposits, and moisture to build up inside the engine, leading to internal engine failure. The following procedures should be taken very seriously....
Page 33 - NITRO RUSTLER • 33; Centering the Servos
NITRO RUSTLER • 33 After-run Procedure You must perform after-run maintenance on your Traxxas engine whenever the model will be stored for longer than a few hours. Taking the time to prepare your engine for storage will reward you with longer engine life, easier starting, and better performance.When...
Page 34 - 4 • NITRO RUSTLER; TROUBLEShOOTING YOUR mOdEL; Radio system does not work properly:
34 • NITRO RUSTLER TROUBLEShOOTING YOUR mOdEL The following section addresses some very basic engine and radio questions you may have about your Nitro Rustler. Most questions arise from simple user errors or minor adjustments that are easy to correct. If you can’t find a solution for your Nitro Rust...
Page 35 - NITRO RUSTLER • 35; Engine performance sluggish:
NITRO RUSTLER • 35 • Check your fuel mixture settings. It may be necessary to adjust the fuel mixture if the outside temperature or barometric pressure has changed significantly since the last time the engine was run (see Fine Tuning the Carburetor on page 29). Turn the high-speed needle out (rich/c...
