Chassis. Made from aluminum, plastic composites or woven carbon fiber, this is the main platform to which all other components attach.

Clutch Bell. The clutch bell attaches to the crankshaft of a nitro engine and meshes with the spur gear, performing the same function as a pinion gear on an electric motor. Changing the number of teeth of teeth on a clutch bell alters the way a vehicle performs. Fewer teeth produce more low-end torque, whereas more teeth increase top-end speed.

Clutch Shoes. Clutch shoes are made from aluminum or a composite material and are attached to the engine flywheel. They expand under increasing RPM to engage the clutch bell that, in turn, engages the spur gear to make the vehicle move.

Crank Shaft. The shaft that the flywheel and clutch bell are mounted to. It is attached at the back to the piston by means of a connecting rod. The up and down motion of the piston causes the crank to rotate.

Crystal. A small interchangeable element in radio systems that determines what frequency that radio will operate on. You will find a crystal in the transmitter and in the receiver.

Differential. A differential is a unit that transfers power from the input to output shafts. The differential, or ¡§diff,¡¨ enables the outside wheel of a vehicle to spin faster and travel farther than the inside wheel during a turn.

Discharger. Many battery chargers include a built-in discharging function. A better way to discharge your packs, however, is with a separate discharger that connects directly to the battery pack. One common style looks like c row of small light bulbs.