w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

No

rmalko

It has a great 4 stroke sound...maybe better than the glow. When landing it sometimes has a slight hissing sound. JMO

Timbers

My Feedback: (3)

Well I flew the FG-20 today with the CH ignition and the engine ran like a top. It was unbelieveable. I set the timer for 15 minutes and flew. Landed and had only burned half a tank. Ran awesome and not one sputter the entire flight!!

Really bad news though. I had no compression again after I landed. Exhaust valve must have beat itself into the jug again because there was no backlash on the rocker arm.

This is the second time I've had this happen to me. The engine is now going back to Horizon for the fourth time. This has got to be the worst product Saito has ever made. Someday when they get all these problems worked out I think we should all be offered new engines.

...Tim

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Sait needs to undercut the valves below the guide area to get away from this sticking valve problem.

Timbers

My Feedback: (3)

This isn't the sticking valve issue this is the issue where the valve seat gave way and the valve is now pounding it's way through the aluminum in the jug. The exhause is too hot and too dry for these chromed aluminum valve seats. Why has this happened to me twice.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Due to a sticking valve the valve is not fully seating in the seat, some exhaust is blowing by the seat each time and overheats the seat area thereby causing the chrome to flake off and the aluminum to erode away.

Timbers

My Feedback: (3)

So why isn't everyone having this problem? This will be my second jug and valves. I ran the Penzoil air cooled oil for awhile in this engine, but switched back to the Evolution oil because its highly recommended by Saito and Horizon, even if you guys say it produces hard deposits and slowly causes the exhaust valve to not seat properly.

Well after my one fun 15 minute flight the valve fried itself. Theres so much oil in the gasoline that you can see the smoke trail behind the plane when I was landing it was pretty cool.

Well its going back to Horizon again today, along with a big letter telling them to call me about the ongoing problems with this thing.

...Tim

R/C Foolish

My Feedback: (6)

I have the answer to everyone's problems with the FG-20. Throw it in the trash and buy an Aerovate 20cc from TroyBuilt Models. I bought this motor for $198.00, installed in an Aeroworks Extra 300 (the new .60-.90 size), right out of the box, fired up and is running perfect. No messing around at all at less than 1/2 the cost.

R/C Foolish

Timbers

My Feedback: (3)

Where did you get it from? I'd like to take a sledge to this piece of crap. I'm the most paitent person in the world obviously, no one else at my field would have spent more than about 2 hours with this POS haha I've spent a year and a half!

...Tim

rmalko

Can't blame you for being disgusted with it. I have been running with the Evolution oil and have not had the problem you have had.

R/C Foolish

My Feedback: (6)

You can get the Aerovate motors at Troy Built Models, they have a 20, 15 and soon to be released 10cc gas price includes ignition, standoffs, spiral wrap for wiring and muffler.

R/C Foolish

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

We are talking about Saito engines here.

Any more "Other Brand" suggestions will be removed

R/C Foolish

My Feedback: (6)

As moderator you can do what you like but ALL of the people that are struggling with this motor I am sure will be interested in this information. Every thread on RCU has off topic conversations all of the time.

R/C Foolish

Stiknrudder

My Feedback: (3)

So my question is this.......Why can we have smooth running and easy tuning 2 strokers in the smaller displacements, yet the 4 strokes in this size are more temperamental. Carb design? differences in induction? 2 strokes are more tolerant? At least one person on RCU seems to think this carb design is severely flawed, but I love the way it sounds so I am determined to make it run right.

Rick

Rick

R/C Foolish

My Feedback: (6)

It is the carb design. Saito is trying to use the glow needle valve to adjust this motor. The needle valve should be with a finer tip to give more adjustment. The blunt tip only gives you a click either way of adjustment. A Walbro carb would make the FG-20 purr like a kitten, instead we have the Saito carb, i rest my case.....

R/C Foolish

Stiknrudder

My Feedback: (3)

Is there anyway to make the needle finer? or does the seat have to be changed as well? Any walbro's that will fit?

Timbers

My Feedback: (3)

Horizon couldn't find the parts to fix my last Saito FG-20 POS so they sent me a brand new engine! I fried the exhaust valve seat and the ignition was junk.

Almost done bolting it up and retiming my CH Ignition on it. Any guesses as to how many flights I will get before the engine fries another exhaust valve seat?

My guess is about two, 15 minute flights should be enough to do her in!

If I was smart I would have put the engine, NIB on Ebay and sold it, but nah, I want more!!

...Timbers

rmalko

Maybe the 2nd will be a charm Good luck.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

We are still here waiting to hear of your experiences.

Lets hope that the third time is a charm

Timbers

My Feedback: (3)

Yah it sucks because I have the engine running good now, but now the exhaust port self destructs. I guarantee Saito is going to come out with a new jug with some sort of pressed in valve seat. Unless this is just a bad chrome plating job, who knows.

...Tim

Timbers

My Feedback: (3)

Well bad news. I broke the brand new engine that Horizon sent me in on the ground, idled for 10 minutes, didn't go over 4000RPM like the directions say. Then I tuned it up like the directions say, and it tuned perfectly by the way. Idled it, ran it at higher RPMs for awhile, got my 45 minutes of runtime on it, like the directions say. Running 91 octane gas with 20:1 Evolution oil like the directions say.

Took it up for a 15 minute flight and it was flawless! Ran great. Come down, checked the compression and its great, more than I had when it was new.

Took it up for another 15 minute flight, and at about 13 minutes I noticed the power was kind of mushy. So I brought it in and as soon as I landed it shut off. Check the prop. NO COMPRESSION again.

So either I fried a third valve seat/jug, or its simply clogged up. I haven't had a chance to pop the engine out and check.

If the jug is fried, then its going back to Horizon for the 5th time, and when I get it back it will be going on eBay with the CH Ignition I bought for it.

I'm done, thats all I can handle!!

...Tim

bulldog319

Have the folks that converted theirs to glow had any problems?
What else is involved besides buying the glow carb?
I'm ready to convert it, I've wasted my time on mine for a couple years and am just done.

bells33

My Feedback: (19)

Hey guys... the spark plug cap on my engine got smashed (don't ask). I think I might be able to repair but I'd rather replace without buying a whole new ignition (189.00). Any suggestions on where I could find either a whole new wire or just the aluminum cover. So far I can't find anything.

rmalko

Maybe Horizon will repair it for you. If not, buy a CH ignition for about $100.

Pete Bergstrom

Send it in mto our service center. We can replace the plug cap for you with no problem.

Pete