AquaCraft Rio 51Z User Manual

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WARNING:

• NEVER attempt to swim after a stalled RC boat!

• Never operate your RC boat while standing in the water.

• Never operate your RC boat in the presence of swimmers.

• Always use a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) when boarding and operating your retrieval craft, i.e. Jon boat or duck boat.
NOTE: Because of the sharp running hardware included with this RC boat, we do not recommend a rubber blow up raft.

• RC boat running hardware is very sharp. Be very careful when working on and around the metal parts.

• While the motor is running pay close attention to the propeller. Do not come in contact with the propeller at any time the
engine is running or serious injury will result.

• AquaCraft products are to be used by ages 14 and over.

www.aquacraftmodels.com

REQUIRED ITEMS

THANK YOU!

THE FOLLOWING TOOLS ARE REQUIRED (NOT INCLUDED) TO
ASSEMBLE AND INSTALL THE BATTERIES IN YOUR RIO 51Z

❏ 5.5mm Nut Driver (HCAR1112)
❏ 7mm Nut Driver (HCAR1116)
❏ 3mm Hex Driver (HCAR1156)
❏ #2 Phillips Screwdriver (HCAR1024)
❏ #2 Slotted Screwdriver (HCAR1002)
❏ 10mm Wrench

NECESSARY COMPONENTS FOR OPERATING YOUR RIO 51Z

❏ Personal retrieval system.
❏ Friend to help you start and launch the boat. Besides, R/C boating

is the most fun when you have a friend with you.

❏ 8 “AA” batteries
❏ Approved gasoline can (with standard pump gas)
❏ 2-cycle oil
❏ Graduated mixing cups (GPMR8056)
❏ Small funnel
❏ GrimRacer™ 50 weight cable oil (AQUB9550)
❏ GrimRacer Speed Grease drive cable lubricant (AQUB9500)

EXTRA SUPPLIES YOU MIGHT WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU DURING
THE OPERATION OF YOUR RIO 51Z

As with any hobby, it is a good idea to assemble a useful collection
of tools and accessories to bring along when you head out to the
pond. Here are some items you will want to keep handy:

❏ Extra “AA” Batteries
❏ RX Balloons (AQUB9504)
❏ Threadlocking Compound (GPMR6060)
❏ Pliers (HCAR0625)
❏ Hobby Knife (HCAR0109)
❏ Metric hex wrench set (HCAR0521)
❏ Stubby Metric hex wrench set
❏ 5/8 [16mm] inch spark plug wrench

OTHER USEFUL ITEMS TO HAVE ON HAND:

❏ Waders or rubber boots
❏ Paper Towels
❏ Spray-On Cleaner
❏ Sunglasses
❏ Sunblock
❏ Folding table
❏ Lawn chairs
❏ First-Aid kit
❏ Cooler with plenty of ice and soda
❏ Canopy or shelter

Thank you for purchasing the Rio 51Z! We at AquaCraft know how
exciting a new R/C boat purchase can be and we know you’re anxious
to get started. Please take time fi rst to read this manual carefully and
completely before attempting to operate your model. This manual
contains the instructions you need to safely operate and maintain
your boat. Remember as with any hobby, there is a possibility of
injury if this product is misused, so please be careful.

If for any reason you think that 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 the fi nal assembly
sequence has begun.

MANUAL SPECIFICATION & DESCRIPTION CHANGES

All pictures, descriptions, and specifi cations found in this instruction
manual are subject to change without notice. AquaCraft™ and Zenoah™
maintain no responsibility for inadvertent errors in this manual.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

• Never ever attempt to swim after a stalled R/C boat. Do not get
in the water for any reason to retrieve your boat. To aid you in
retrieving a stalled R/C boat, set up a fi shing reel with a tennis
ball tied to the end of the line. Or better yet, get yourself a small
Jon boat so you can row out and pick up your boat. Remember
to use a PFD (personal fl otation device) any time you enter your
retrieval craft.

• AquaCraft products are to be used by ages 14 and over.

• Do not touch 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 fi ngers, hands, etc. come in contact with
the spinning propeller, you may be severely injured.

• The speed and mass of this boat can infl ict 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.

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

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

• Gasoline is poisonous. Do not allow it to come into contact with the eyes
or mouth. Always store gasoline in an appropriate labeled container and
out of the reach of children!

2

• Gasoline is highly fl ammable. Keep it away from open fl ame,

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 gasoline containers. Make sure that gas lines
are in good condition so that gasoline will not leak onto a hot
engine causing a fi re.

• 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.

• R/C models produce vibrations which will cause screws, nuts,

bolts, etc, on your model to become loose over time. It is important
to make sure that all hardware is secure before operating your
model.

• In the event that weeds become entangled in the propeller, stop the

engine before attempting to remove them.

• If your Rio 51Z should happen to stall, water currents will slowly

carry it to shore. The bad news is that the boat could be carried
to the opposite shore. When surveying areas to run your Rio 51,
keep variables in mind such as wind direction, size of the lake, etc.
It is not advisable to run R/C boats on any free-fl owing bodies of
water such as creeks or rivers.

• It’s a good idea to use eye protection when starting and running

your Rio 51Z.

SPECIFICATIONS

RIO 51Z BOAT SPECIFICATIONS

51.5" long [130cm]
57" overall length [145cm]

13.5" beam [34cm]
8" tall [21cm]
13" overall height [33cm]
14 lbs, 4oz [6.4 Kilo]
26 oz fuel capacity [768cc]
20 minute run time per tank

WARRANTY & SERVICE

ENGINE WARRANTY SERVICE

Aquacraft will warrant your G260PUM engine for 90 days after
purchase from defects in materials or workmanship of original
manufacture. Aquacraft, at their option, will repair or replace at
no charge the incorrectly made part. This warranty does not cover
damage caused by crash, abuse, or misuse. To return your engine for
repairs you will need to provide proof of purchase, such as your store
receipt or an invoice. Send the engine to the address listed below or
see the ZENOAH owner’s manual for other warranty information.

BOAT WARRANTY SERVICE

AquaCraft will warrant your Rio 51Z for 90 days after purchase
from defects in materials or workmanship of original manufacture.
AquaCraft, at their option, will repair or replace at no charge the
incorrectly made part. This warranty does not cover damage caused
by crash, abuse, misuse, alteration or accident. To return your boat
for repairs you need to provide proof of purchase. Your store receipt
or product invoice will suffi ce.

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PURCHASER BE ENTITLED TO ANY
INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES,
WHETHER RESULTING FROM THE USE, MISUSE OR INABILITY TO
USE THE PRODUCT OR FROM DEFECTS IN THE PRODUCT.

This warranty gives you specifi c legal rights and you may also have
other rights, which vary from state to state.

Hobby Services

3002 N. Apollo Drive, Suite 1

Champaign, Illinois 61822

Attn: Service Department

Phone: [phone]

9:00 am - 5:00 pm Central Time M-F

E-mail: [e-mail]

ZENOAH® G260PUM ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS

Stroke: 1.1 in [28mm]
Bore: 1.34 in [34mm]
Displacement: 26cc (1.58 cubic in)
Horsepower: 2.1
Ignition Style: Spark
Fuel: Gasoline/Oil mix 16:1
Weight: 3.75 lb [1.7K]

RADIO SPECIFICATIONS

Transmitter: Tactic™ TTX240 with servo reversing and

dual rate functions
Receiver: Tactic TRX324
Servos: Tactic TSX200 Throttle servo (56 oz-in at 6 volts)

Tactic TSX201 Steering servo (90 oz-in at 6 volts)

3

STANDARD REPAIR SERVICE

After the 90-day warranty has run out, you can still have your Rio
51Z repaired for a service fee by the experts at AquaCraft. To speed
up the repair process, please follow these fi ve simple steps:

1. It is best (recommended) to return the ENTIRE system, boat,
radio and engine.

2. Make sure batteries are removed from the transmitter and receiver.
Also make sure any gas and oil is drained from the tanks.

3. Send written instructions which include a list of all items returned
and a THOROUGH explanation of the problem or problems needing
service. Be sure to include your return address and daytime phone
number. If you have access to e-mail please provide us with your
e-mail address to help speed communication.

4. Send to Hobby Services at the address above. When shipping
your item(s) to us, we recommend that you insure it and use a
company that offers a tracking service (such as Federal Express
Ground or UPS Ground). Our staff will carefully inspect your item
and notify you of their fi ndings, at which time you will be notifi ed
of your options for return, repair, or replacement. Please note that
items sent back unrepaired will still carry a service charge and
return shipping.

®

NOTE: Hobby Services accepts Visa

, Mastercard®, or personal

check. We can return the item C.O.D., but additional charges apply.

PREPARE TO RUN

SPARK PLUG

The recommended spark plug is a EMR7H (ZENG7151). The plug
gap should be .027" [or .7mm]. If the plug gap is incorrect, adjust it
with a spark plug gapping tool. This spark plug uses a 5/8" [16mm]
spark plug wrench to remove and install the plug.

GASOLINE

Your Zenoah G260PUM engine requires a 16:1 gasoline to 2-cycle
oil mix ratio for best engine performance and sustained engine life.

• Follow the mixing direction on the oil container. Always use high­quality oil intended for 2-cycle engines. Prepare only the amount
needed. Aged gasoline could damage the engine and cause it to
overheat. We fi nd that gasoline mix over 3 months should be
discarded and replaced.

• Use only low octane, alcohol-free gasoline. The carburetor diaphragm
will gradually deteriorate if you use gasoline with alcohol.

• Gasoline can go bad. Store your gasoline out of the sunlight and in
a cool place. Bad gasoline is one of the most diffi cult problems to
diagnose in engines. If you have tried everything you can think of
to remedy an engine that is not running correctly, try using some
fresh gas/oil mix.

ENGINE BREAK-IN

• Make sure that the engine has adequate cooling. When the boat

is in motion, look at the port side for water spraying out the water
cooling exit.

• During engine break-in it’s best to use non synthetic oil like LawnBoy

ashless oil. Mix 6 oz of oil to 1/2 gallon of gasoline. Run the boat in
8 minute intervals, allowing the engine to fully cool between runs.
Use caution not to run the tank dry during the break-in process.

• Take your time breaking in your new engine. When having fun it

can be hard to make short break-in runs but your patience will be
rewarded with long engine life and great performance!

• NOTE: Be certain you have the high speed needle set for a slightly rich
mixture setting. It is also good to keep in mind that no matter how
much oil you mix with your gasoline, a lean mixture setting on the
carburetor can ruin a good running motor during break-in or after.

• After the fi rst tank break-in is complete and the motor has cooled,

run the rest of the break-in gas through the engine. Allow the
engine to fully cool between tanks. Do not run the tank dry.

• When it’s time to make your next run, switch to a good quality

synthetic oil like Klotz KL-200 (KSFP0200) mixing to a ratio of 8oz
oil to one gallon of gasoline. This is the operating mixture and is
recommended for the life of your engine.

HOW TO CHECK FOR A PROPER NEEDLE ADJUSTMENT:

If your boat does not seem to be running clearly or smoothly, the
best way to check for a proper needle setting is by reading (looking
at) the spark plug. Remove the spark plug and look at the insulator
fi ring nose. When new, the nose color is bright white. This bright
white should become a light to medium tan color when the engine
is performing at its best. If the nose insulator is a dark, wet black or
black, the engine is overly rich and/or the spark plug gap is to large.

4

FINAL ASSEMBLY

Some decals are installed on your boat for you. Extra
decals provided in your kit allow you to customize
your Rio 51Z. Simply peel and stick! See the photos
on the box for decal placement example.

TRANSMITTER FEATURES

1. ON/OFF Switch

2. Servo Reversing Switches

3. Power Light (LED)

4. Steering Rate Adjustment Knob

5. Steering Trim Knob

6. Throttle Trim Knob

7. Throttle Trigger

8. Steering Wheel

INSTALLING THE TX BATTERIES

1. Slide off the battery door on the bottom of the transmitter.

2. Install four (4) fresh “AA” batteries into the bottom of the
transmitter in the confi guration molded into the battery holder.

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