TOOLS YOU’LL NEED FOR NITRO

Most of the tools that are used for electric vehicles will work for nitro-powered vehicles, but there are a few nitro-specific tools that you should pick up if you get serious about nitro power.

8mm nut driver. You’ll need an 8mm nut driver for the glow plug, and a T-handle wrench is best for this job because it will get you the leverage that you need to loosen and tighten the plug. If you can find one that has a spring or rubber insert that will hold onto the glow plug, that’s even better.

10mm nut driver. A 10mm nut driver is used to install and remove the flywheel nut. You may not think that you’ll ever have to do that, but it’s one of those things that you will need when you least expect it and will be bummed if you don’t have it. Sometimes you can find a 10mm nut driver with an 8mm nut driver on the same tool. Flywheel wrench. A flywheel wrench has slots in it, and they align with the pins found on the engine’s flywheel. This allows you to firmly hold onto the flywheel while loosening or tightening the flywheel nut.

Piston locking tool. A piston locking tool can be used in place of a flywheel wrench to tighten or loosen the flywheel nut. Once in place, the piston makes contact with the stop, and that keeps the crankshaft—

and, therefore, your flywheel— from moving. Flat-blade screwdriver. A small flat-blade-type screwdriver is needed to make adjustments to the needles on your engine’s carburetor.

Temperature gauge. A temp gauge is a great tool for checking the temperature of your engine and getting the tune of the carb just right.