AquaCraft Nitro Hammer User Manual

Warranty

• AquaCraft™will warrant this kit for 90 days after the purchase from defects in materials or workmanship. AquaCraft will
either repair or replace, at no charge, the incorrectly made part.

• Make sure you save the receipt or invoice you were given when you bought your model! It is your proof of purchase
and we must see it before we can honor the warranty.

• To return your Nitro Hammer™for repairs covered under warranty you should send your boat to:

Hobby Services

1610 Interstate Drive

Champaign, Illinois 61822

Attn: Service Department

Phone: [phone]:00 am - 5:00 pm Central Time M-F

E-mail: [e-mail]

HCAZ3012 for HCAB26**Entire Contents © Copyright 2002

ASSEMBLY AND OPERATION MANUAL

™

™

Before Building:

We want the assembly and operation of this boat to be a success so BEFORE removing any parts from the parts bags please
read this manual thoroughly and watch the included video to familiarize yourself with the model. If for any reason you
think this model is not for you, return it to your local dealer immediately. PLEASE NOTE: Your hobby dealer cannot accept
a return on any model after assembly has begun.

INTRODUCTION ..............................................................2

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS......................................................2

HELPFUL HINTS ................................................................2

REPAIR SERVICE ................................................................2

SPECIFICATION & DESCRIPTION CHANGES ..................2

SCREW INFORMATION ....................................................3

BOAT TERMINOLOGY ......................................................3

FIELD EQUIPMENT............................................................3

TOOLS YOU WILL NEED ..................................................3

FINISHING THE NITRO HAMMER ....................................3

FINAL ASSEMBLY ..............................................................3

RUNNING THE ENGINE....................................................4

BREAKING IN THE ENGINE ..............................................5

ENGINE MAINTENANCE ..................................................5

PERFORMANCE TRICKS AND TWEAKS ............................7

RACING ............................................................................7

ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS................BACK COVER

TROUBLESHOOTING FLOWCHART ............BACK COVER

Thank you for purchasing the AquaCraft Nitro Hammer! This
manual contains the instructions you need to safely build,
operate and maintain your nitro R/C boat. Read over this
manual thoroughly before operating the Nitro Hammer.

• Use care to avoid touching the propeller anytime the
engine is running. Pay equally close attention to items
such as loose clothing, shirtsleeves, ties, scarves, long hair
or anything that may become entangled in the spinning
prop. If your fingers, hands, etc. come in contact with the
spinning propeller, you may be severely injured.

• Because of the speed and mass of this boat, it is capable
of inflicting property damage and severe personal injury
if a collision occurs. Never run this boat in the presence
of swimmers or where the possibility of collision with
people or property exists.

• This boat is controlled by radio signals, which are subject
to possible interference from other R/C transmitters,
paging systems or other electrical noise. Before turning
your radio on, make sure no one else in the area is
operating a radio on the same frequency (channel).

• Model engine fuel is poisonous. Do not allow it to come
into contact with the eyes or mouth. Always store fuel in a

clearly marked container and out of the reach of children.

• Model engine fuel is highly flammable. Keep it away
from open flame, excessive heat, sources of sparks, or
anything else that might ignite it. Do not smoke or allow
anyone else to smoke in close proximity to open fuel.
Make sure that fuel lines are in good condition so that
fuel will not leak onto a hot engine causing a fire.

• Never operate your engine in an enclosed space. Model
engines, like automobile engines, exhaust deadly carbon
monoxide. Run your engine only in an open area.

• Model engines generate considerable heat. Do not touch any
part of your engine until it has cooled. Touching the muffler,
cylinder head, or exhaust header may result in a serious burn.

• Use safety glasses when starting or running engines. The
propeller may throw loose material such as sand or
gravel into your face.

Avoid running the boat in cold weather. The hull and
plastic parts can become brittle at low temperatures. In
addition, grease and oil become thick, causing premature
wear and poor performance.

If the buyer is not prepared to accept the liability associated
with the use of this product, the buyer is advised to return
this kit immediately in new and unused condition to the
place of purchase.

• Avoid working over a deep pile carpet. If you drop a
small part or screw, it will be difficult to find.

• Place a mat or towel over your work surface. This will prevent
parts from rolling off and will protect the work surface.

• Test fit all parts before attaching them permanently.

Repair service is available anytime.

After the 90-day warranty, you can still have your Nitro
Hammer repaired for a small charge by the experts at
AquaCraft's authorized repair facility, Hobby Services, at the
address listed on the front page of this manual. To speed up
the repair process, please follow the instructions below.

1. Under all circumstances return the ENTIRE system,

boat and radio.

2. Make sure the transmitter is turned off, all batteries are

removed and fuel is drained from the tank.

3. Send written instructions which include: a list of all

items returned, a THOROUGH explanation of the
problem, the service needed and your phone number
during the day. If you expect the repair to be covered
under warranty, be sure to include a proof-of-purchase
date (your store receipt or purchase invoice).

4. Also be sure to send your full return address.

All pictures, descriptions and specifications found in this
instruction manual are subject to change without notice.
AquaCraft maintains no responsibility for inadvertent errors in
this manual.

SPECIFICATION & DESCRIPTION CHANGES

REPAIR SERVICE

HELPFUL HINTS

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

INTRODUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2

Do not use too much force when tightening self-tapping
screws into plastic or fiberglass. Over tightening will cause
the threads in the plastic to strip. We recommend that you
stop turning a self-tapping screw once you feel some
resistance as the head of the screw comes in contact with the
plastic. Avoid using powered screwdrivers when assembling
this kit. They tend to over tighten the screws. Do not use
thread-locking compound on self-tapping screws. The thread­locking compound may damage the plastic. IMPORTANT:
Use thread lock on any fastener that is threaded into metal or
fastened with a nut. Vibration from the engine will cause the
screws to loosen if thread-locking compound is not used.

• BOW: The front of the boat

• STERN: The back of the boat

• PORT: This is the left side of the boat when aboard and
facing the front (bow).

• STARBOARD: This is the right side of the boat when
aboard and facing the front (bow).

• HULL: The body of the boat.

• DECK: The top of the boat.

❏ HCAP2520 Hot Shot

™

2 Glow starter

❏ 10-20% Nitromethane Model Car Fuel

(10%–DTXP0570, 20%–DTXP0600)

❏ DTXP0125 Kwik-Pit

™

250 Fuel Bottle

Other Useful Items to Have On Hand:

❏ OSMG2691 Glow Plugs
❏ GPMQ4131 Fuel Tubing
❏ HCAP3000 After Run

™

Engine Oil

❏ Phillips head screwdriver (HCAR1022)
❏ 4-way wrench (DTXR1170)
❏ Needle-nose pliers (HCAR0625)
❏ Adjustable wrench or 5.5mm wrench (for changing

propellers)

Decals have been provided for your Nitro Hammer. Simply
cut them out, peel and stick! See the photos on the box for
decal placement.

Carefully remove your Nitro Hammer from the box and place
it atop the pre-built boat stand. Remove all remaining
components from the box. You may wish to keep the box in

order to more easily transport and store your Nitro Hammer.

Transmitter Assembly

❏ 1. Remove the transmitter

antenna from the parts bag
and screw it into the top of
the transmitter. To ensure
that the antenna is attached,
lightly pull on the base of
the antenna. If it slides out, it
is not installed properly.

❏ 2. Slide off the battery

door on the bottom of the
transmitter. Install 8 new “AA”
batteries into the bottom of
the transmitter in the
configuration molded into the
battery holder. Re-install the
battery door onto the bottom
of the transmitter.

❏ 3. Turn the transmitter on using the switch on the front. The

red LED light next to the on/off switch should light up. If the
LED does not light up, turn the transmitter off and check to
make sure that the batteries are installed properly. If you see a

flashing LED, the batteries are low and need to be replaced.

Receiver Preparation

❏ 1. Remove the body clip at the rear of the top deck and

carefully remove the hatch.

FINAL ASSEMBLY

FINISHING THE RTR NITRO HAMMER

TOOLS YOU WILL NEED

REQUIRED FIELD EQUIPMENT

BOAT TERMINOLOGY

SCREW INFORMATION

3

STEERING

SERVO

REVERSE

ON / OFF

ADJUSTABLE

STEERING

RATE

POWER

LIGHT

STEERING

TRIM

THROTTLE SERVO

THROTTLE

TRIM

REVERSE

Install (8) new "AA" batteries