mach2

My Feedback: (5)

I wonder if that will have any effect on cooling.

What kind of paint did you use? High temp engine paint?

Stone17

I flown the plane with the motor painted. I have telemetry on my plane and motor temp get to about 220f flying WOT. If I cut the power down to 75% the temp drop to 180f.

The paint I use was Dupli-Color High Heat Ceramic. You can pick up a can at your local auto parts.

warbird72

My Feedback: (79)

That is good engine paint! I have painted converted chainsaw engine's before no issues what so ever!!!

mach2

My Feedback: (5)

I wonder if the paint will reduce cooling any. Also wondering how well the paint will hold up. Did you use high temp automotive engine paint?

warbird72

My Feedback: (79)

I painted only my cylinder! I would clean the part. Preheat my oven to 150 degrees. I used the ceramic engine paint. Paint the part and bake for about an hour. Let cool. And go with it. Black to. And no cooling issues! Go to my dossier here on rcu. Gallery.

warbird72

My Feedback: (79)

Keep in mind. We paint lawn mower and motorcycle engine's all day long. As long as there getting air. No worries at all. Air cooled engine's are forgiving unless ran lean!

Stone17

No cooling problem so far. I was told this motor can get up to 250f.

warbird72

My Feedback: (79)

man that looks good!!

mach2

My Feedback: (5)

I didn't mean to post that comment twice. I came back to the page later and nothing new was there. Not my comment either. So, I reposted. I guess the page had not loaded.

Anyway, glad there's no cooling issues. Now hopefully you don't get any prop strikes.

Stone17

After about 20 flight, I broke the prop over the weekend. After landing I hit a bump in the runway and broke the prop. I did not see it hit, Just noticed the motor died.

Dreamtime

I posted previously about the Xoar 17x6 prop working really well with the DLE 20. Unfortunately I also broke mine this W/E -- the 17" prop gives just over 1" clearance, and with the springy undercarriage, it does not take much to hit a bump on a grass runway. We are in our winter season so the runway is very soggy resulting in even less clearance. I will have to go to a 16x8 I think. Just like Stone17, I had no new idea that it was broken -- just realised that the engine had quit.

Stone17

16x8 prop is awesome. I have 3 more at home I'm going to paint.

wjcalhoun

Guys - think about the 15x10 as well; more speed, more responsiveness. Still unlimited vertical on a well tuned DLE20
Bill

Dreamtime

Hi Bill. Do you know what rpm's you are getting with the 15x10? I was using the 15x8, but was unloading to about 10 000 in the air -- just too much for the DLE I feel. Maybe the 10 pitch keeps the rpm down. My other problem was that she just floated on forever, whereas the 17x6 was much easier.

ahicks

My Feedback: (2)

17x6 plenty fast enough here!

I think Bill's point is that the 15x10 will hold the engine in a safe power band for the engine, just as the 17x6 and 16x8 props will. Which one works best is up to the pilot, and what he's expecting from his plane!

Regarding prop clearance, if you want a 17" prop, get an APC. Grass and dirt will scramble getting out of the way of that prop. Grass that doesn't make it just turns into a green stain on it's tips. If you insist on wood, best of luck!

Stone17

What about shaving down a 17'' pro to 16.5"?

wjcalhoun

Al is correct; the 17x6 will fly her well - to about 65-68mph. The 15x10 gets about 9800rpm in the air (Eagletree monitor), and about 8600 on the ground at sea level.
You are also correct on the float problem, which is worse yet with a 12 pitch prop. Idle rpm draws the airframe along just at or above stall speed, so getting down can be harder. OTOH, 109mph on the 12 pitch prop WOT is a blast.

Stone - others have had some success cutting tips off a prop, but without great machining skills, i think the tip shape would likely be different one tip to the other. In addition, balance is essential. Al's riight, use the APC - they are made in such a wide variety of diameters and pitches that you can certainly find something to work. I am partial to Xoar wood props on my bigger birds, but the R70 flies on a 14x12 APC.

Dreamtime

I managed to throw in a quick flight today with the old 15x8 APC prop. I put my bike GPS computer inside just to see what the max speed was -- this can only give me the max speed when back on the ground -- this was at some stage in flight most likely when in a shallow full throttle descent -- I made no steep dives. Recorded 114.9mph.

mach2

My Feedback: (5)

I decided to do something a little different on this plane. A little pizzazz if you will. So I went with an Amsoil theme. I may even add a few more of the small decals on the cowl and elevators when I get them from my buddy (amsoil dealer).

warbird72

My Feedback: (79)

Like!! Looks good. How can we vet stickers like that?

Stone17

About to rebuild my DLE-20 carburetor.
Second week in a row, I could not get my motor to run. I have to turn the low needle all the way down just for the motor to fire up.

warbird72

My Feedback: (79)

Something seriously wrong if you have to have the needle cranked in all the way!!

Stone17

I know. It was flying good 3 weeks ago. The plane only set for 5 days before the next flight (did not fly).

warbird72

My Feedback: (79)

you sure nothing is loose on the engine? carb/cylinder!!

Stone17

I pulled the engine yesterday and everything is tight. I found some track inside. I cleaned the card. I got the motor to fire over put the chock was on.