Tanaka 32cc Nitromethane Experiment

**Bikeguy Joe** · #11 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 08:17 PM

Just be very careful mixing alcohol based fuel with nitro to your two stroke mix....alcohol need roughly three times the volume to run as rich as gasoline. Too much and you are running very lean. Nitro effectively adds oxygen to the fuel causing it to run leaner still. Also, when mixing the airplane fuel, do you account for the 15% lubricant when adding your oil to the mix?

Tread lightly, as you seem to be doing, but be aware the "edge" is ahead in the fog you are travelling through.

Pablo · #12 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 08:28 PM

I'm going to lurk in the aisles of my RC engine joint.....nice fuel site Jemma!

Jemma Hawtrey · #13 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bikeguy Joe

Just be very careful mixing alcohol based fuel with nitro to your two stroke mix....alcohol need roughly three times the volume to run as rich as gasoline. Too much and you are running very lean. Nitro effectively adds oxygen to the fuel causing it to run leaner still. Also, when mixing the airplane fuel, do you account for the 15% lubricant when adding your oil to the mix?

Tread lightly, as you seem to be doing, but be aware the "edge" is ahead in the fog you are travelling through.

I dont count for the NM lubricant so I am running rich on oil - but then, since I am running a hotter fuel its probably better to run with more lubrication.

I have since doubled the ratio of NM - and the simple answer is DONT. The engine is showing signs of running lean which for a 1 - 2mph inprovement is not worth it. However for those with a tanaka engine a 50mls/gallon mix of nitro fuel is worth it just for the improved starting.

If I had an adjustable carb it might be worth playing around with it, but as I dont and dont have the money for it - I will leave it at current levels

Jemma xx

**Bikeguy Joe** · #14 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 01:02 PM

You may be able to richen you air fuel ratio by counting the oil in the nitro fuel...by not counting it, you make the air/fuel mixture lean by diluting it with too much oil.

Pablo · #15 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 02:40 PM

BGJ just took the words right out of my mouth.

Lots for the new to two strokes here too. (I just wanted to type that)

I didn't have time to stop by the hobby shop....dern!

**Norman** · #16 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 06:24 PM

for nitro try Morgan oil. if your close to a real speed shop you might be able to get pure nitro.
Klots used to sell nitro by the pint or quart.
some Go Kart shops sell it but don't know which ones to point you all to but you might try American Power Sports on line they sell all kind of things for racing/fun karts and minibikes very fun to look at catalog you can get from them as well and some of the things they sell can be used on your bikes.
I got my nitro pure form a electrical company line crew they would give me the pure nitro in plastic tubes that were used with ammonium nitrate to blast rock for power poles they always had the ammonium nitrate that had accidentally been opened up and had gotten wet and couldn't be used so they would toss it and keep the nitro just for us crazy kart racers to mix into the alcohol fuel. It was cheating but everyone cheated. Nitro would make the briggs scream and also cause thermonuclear meltdown got to run the engine slobbery rich as in unburned fuel going out the pipe at low rpms.

Jemma Hawtrey · #17 (**permalink**) 07-12-2008, 07:12 AM

Oh dear - what have I started...

Incidentally there is a vid on youtube of a B&S engine running nitro - I think its a 3hp vertical shaft engine - I think the police round here would get upset about visible flames out of the exhaust lol

Im very tempted by the GP460, fast road gear and nitro combination, but I dont have the money for it and again with the police *sigh*

Jemma xx

Jemma Hawtrey · #18 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 10:21 AM

Hi,

I just did a run out to see my grandmother - 22 miles round trip - to take my mind off things and try and cheer myself up.

I had noticed a few performance differences at first - but the difference now is amazing...

Distance: 21.1 miles (34.1km)
Max speed: 37.53mph
Average speed: 25.48mph
time : 50 minutes

This is an average of out and back - the max speed even downhill I have seen before is 35mph and the average speed is up by 3.5mph on the same journey.

While I had a tailwind on the way out, i was fighting a headwind on the way back and even in those conditions in 'racing trim' I was running between 27-30mph - before the bike would have been fighting to hit 26mph. The temperature is somewhere around 18 degrees centigrade.

The ONLY changes I have made are 2% or so nitromethane fuel and I have also purchased a riding hat/helmet for safety reasons and because I have people depending on me and my continued good health.

With tailwind - on a very slight upward grade I was hitting 36mph flat out at one point....!

Jemma xx

deacon · #19 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 11:06 AM

Wonder what this would do to a 31cc weed whacker or a 33 cc chain saw.

Easy Rider · #20 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 11:40 AM

38mph with a 32cc Tanaka. That's pretty impressive. Nothing beats the sound of a two cycle revving to the hilt.
After a race, if I'm not in the front of the pack I need cough medicine to help me sleep better. Being behind someone who's running methanol irritates my eyes as well as my lungs.