Elwood

My Feedback: (2)

I need to break in a new engine. I can't do it in my neighborhood it's just going to be too loud. It's going to be a fox engine, so it will take a long time to break in.

Do you have any suggestions for an out of the way place to break in an engine for an hour or 2?

NikolayTT

Any otherwise noisy place: near highway, near metal factory, near airfield...

goirish

How about on the plane

Elwood

My Feedback: (2)

Ringed engines require extensive break in time. If you fljy too soon dead sticks will happen.

goirish

OK, don't want that to happen.[][][]

controlliner

Fox instructions "no extensive break in is required, just mount in a plane and fly. Just keep the carb setting on the rich side" Once set up, I've never had a Fox flame out ever, especially when the carb was set rich enough and still fly the plane. Note: Fox manufacturing states on the instructions that the engine has been run up at full throttle at the factory.

pe reivers

A quick setup at the field, then go fly with burbling rich settings. (the engine should miss every now and then) Ringed engines should run in richer and miss a lot, ABC engines should only show an occasional rich miss.

Mr Cox

I do my running in at the field, on a stand with easy access to needles etc. You can do a few short runs to get to know the engine and then you can fly it in model for the rest (rich settings as discussed above).

ArcticCatRider

My Feedback: (6)

Bring a test stand out to the model airplane flying field.

Or just do it your neighborhood. Wait until your neighbor is mowing his lawn or using his leaf blower and run them at the same time.

earlwb

I like to test run a engine for a while on a test stand to work out the details before putting it in a plane. But then I fly it on the plane rich for a while as it runs in. The engine will usually let you know you can lean it out a little bit after a few flights, as it'll be running more rich than before.

Some guys have good success bench running a engine using a hose to extend the exhaust down into a bucket of water. You just have the tube go into the water a little, not too deep. If you have a garage you can run the engine inside with the doors closed, if you have a way to route the exhaust gasses outside of the garage of course.

flybyjohn

My Feedback: (2)

"if you have a way to route the exhaust gasses outside of the garage of course"

That is important. It only takes a few seconds to fill the garage with smoke. Been there, done that.

1QwkSport2.5r

I use the muffler bucket technique to run-in at home but when the engine is ready for "duty" i go to a deserted park to do the final steps off the bucket. I use clear vinyl tubing from the muffler to the bucket so I can see the color of the oil coming out. The vinyl breaks up and develops holes right around 13,000rpm thus moving to a different venue to run unmuffled. The deeper the hose is in the water the richer the mixture. Having the hose above the water acts like having the carb 3-4 clicks richer than "flying mixture". If that makes sense.

The bucket works very well. Depending on water level, it sounds like a fast drum beat with a side of carb and prop noise.

maxtenet

I just went to Home depot and bought the biggest lawn mower muffler I could find and connected it to the engines muffler with some tubing. I did have to make an adapter using an aluminum plate and tube. Ran it in the back yard. No louder than weedeater. Best idea is to take off a day of work so neighbors won't be home and if wife works, no one to bother you about the smell and oil on your clothes! Then you can run engines all day. I actually do this about twice a year. Now that I've gotten to know my neighbors and fixed their lawnmowers and weedeaters for them over the years, some actually come over and check it out when I'm running stuff!

Max

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Here in front of 35 acres.[8D]

MTK

Why not take it to the Barbour Pond airpark? I work at Maquet across the street from the airpark and see nobody there most days

MTK

If you can find 35 open acres in the NE you are doing good. I think you're bragging

earlwb

They don't mind you getting oil on the corn?

Looks great otherwise.

flyntruk

My Feedback: (5)

  In your backyard at around 7:30 AM   On Sunday ..

Airplanes400

My Feedback: (349)

I break-in my engines in the air.
Or, 6 AM on Saturday's or Sunday's.

jessiej

Near a highway, railway, shooting range, race track, airport, factory, lawn being mowed, parking lot being blown off, or any of the dozens of other sources of noise greater than a model airplane engine. OTOH, during the few decades I had neighbors, none complained about the noise of my model engines. Come to think of it they didn't complain about my noisy hobbies either.

jess

8MILLSNIPER007

I break engines in all the time right in my drive way or garage and have never had an issue, they are not much louder than a lawnmower and much quiter than the guys working on their harleys...

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Hey Matt, if it were my field I guess I could brag a little, I have 1/4 acre. There is winter oats growing there right now.

Earl, the little Saito .30 wouln't kill too much corn. Here is the same field with several hundred geese in it.

ronwc

My Feedback: (404)

I usually crank a new engine on a plane, tune it rich and fly - if I hear it going lean I land and richen it - it's not that complicated -

Granpooba

My Feedback: (5)

Have never seen this happen in my 69 years. []

Have always broken in any new engine right on the plane from the very first flight. Just run a little richer and you will be happy with the end result.

FullSpool

My Feedback: (12)

break in the air, not on ground.