O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
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O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
My .65 LA is starting to leak a bit of fuel out of the front around the crankshaft. It really still runs great and don't seem to be sucking air the tuning is still spot on.
It has been in service for a LOT of hours and I do not really have the money to replace it at the moment.
I see that the LA series requires me to pretty much buy a new crankcase to fix it. If I was going to do that I would just buy another engine. It is still on my hobbistar 60 and no matter what that plane goes to the field.
Some days she stays in the truck but most days she comes out for a few flights. I really like the easy going flight of the trainer to wind up before, and wind down after flying anything else.
I can take it up, go to 1/3 throttle and just cruise around for a LONG time on a tank,its relaxing flying
My question is.. Is it dangerous or risky to run it this way(don't want a hobbistar rebuild thread) since it runs fine? It only leaks a bit while priming and just a couple drops after I stop the engine.(oil)
It has been in service for a LOT of hours and I do not really have the money to replace it at the moment.
I see that the LA series requires me to pretty much buy a new crankcase to fix it. If I was going to do that I would just buy another engine. It is still on my hobbistar 60 and no matter what that plane goes to the field.
Some days she stays in the truck but most days she comes out for a few flights. I really like the easy going flight of the trainer to wind up before, and wind down after flying anything else.
I can take it up, go to 1/3 throttle and just cruise around for a LONG time on a tank,its relaxing flying
My question is.. Is it dangerous or risky to run it this way(don't want a hobbistar rebuild thread) since it runs fine? It only leaks a bit while priming and just a couple drops after I stop the engine.(oil)
#5
RE: O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
Some bushing engines have a spiral grove in the crandshaft which is intended to pump excess oil back into the crankcase. If it gets clogged with congealed oil and dirt it will no longer do this. Might be worth checking.
#6
RE: O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
I second the adding of castor oil for the bushing engine. Make sure the oil content is around 20%. I use 20% castor oil in my plain bearing engines.
turbo
turbo
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RE: O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
I run wildcat premium extra in all my stuff. It is the 18% oil in a 80/20 synthetic to castor ratio. This engine is only 4 yrs ish old but the first year and a half it was flown nearly every day. On a Saturday afternoon it was pretty common to burn a gallon or more through it.
It is one of the easiest most reliable engines I have dealt with, including other O.S.
It don't see that kind of run time anymore as I have several other planes, however I do love flying the trainer still.
I disassemble all my engines and electronics once a year to check everything out.
Had a TH/GMS on a strega get rusty so I always run out the last bit of fuel and use after run oil, errr now that is.
This also prompted the yearly checkout of inside the engines.
I noticed the LA leaking about the 25th flight of this year for it. I finished a good look of everything and filled the tank, primed and did a run up on the stand while waiting for traffic to clear a bit. I watched some guys that are better then me show off for a while and saw a dime size spot of oil under me engine.
So I primed again and noticed she was leaking about 2-3 drops then stopped. Has been this way for the last month.
I will mix up a gallon with a bit more castor just for the LA, sounds like it may slow the progress.
It is one of the easiest most reliable engines I have dealt with, including other O.S.
It don't see that kind of run time anymore as I have several other planes, however I do love flying the trainer still.
I disassemble all my engines and electronics once a year to check everything out.
Had a TH/GMS on a strega get rusty so I always run out the last bit of fuel and use after run oil, errr now that is.
This also prompted the yearly checkout of inside the engines.
I noticed the LA leaking about the 25th flight of this year for it. I finished a good look of everything and filled the tank, primed and did a run up on the stand while waiting for traffic to clear a bit. I watched some guys that are better then me show off for a while and saw a dime size spot of oil under me engine.
So I primed again and noticed she was leaking about 2-3 drops then stopped. Has been this way for the last month.
I will mix up a gallon with a bit more castor just for the LA, sounds like it may slow the progress.
#8
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RE: O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
i really dont think the extra castor will help it since it doesnt get hot on the crank. Castor helps on worn parts when it gets cooked on it. Once you use a syn oil it will wash the castor back off. you might try to take the engine apart and then have the crank coated with a thin coating off moly. This might help seal it up some till can get another case for it or another engine. look on Flea bay
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RE: O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
18% oil is the lowest oil % recommended on the spec sheet. Bump the oil content up to at least 20%. If you use a castor/ synthetic blend I would go to at least 22%. It might still leak as some wear has obviously occured with your current fuel.
Castor does make a difference in a Non BB engine. The LA 65 is a great engine. You should get way more than 4 years out of todays engines. Try some extra oil and see if you think it makes a difference.
One important note is that it really helps if you do it from the start - from break-in to infinty and beyond....
Happy landings..
Cody
Castor does make a difference in a Non BB engine. The LA 65 is a great engine. You should get way more than 4 years out of todays engines. Try some extra oil and see if you think it makes a difference.
One important note is that it really helps if you do it from the start - from break-in to infinty and beyond....
Happy landings..
Cody
#11
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RE: O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
More oil, especially castor oil, will increase the thickness of the fuel, thus slowing the drip rate by a simple increase in viscosity.
As another poster pointed out, the engine is really still in good running condition as long as the crankcase is sealed well enough to draw fuel. There are good sound reasons for engine manufacturers to make up scale engines with ball bearings. Less oil leakage is one of the primary reasons for using a ball bearing setup with a tight seal.
I would just continue to enjoy running and flying your OS .65 LA and Hobbistar 60 (I had the latter and enjoyed it very much too).
Ed Cregger
As another poster pointed out, the engine is really still in good running condition as long as the crankcase is sealed well enough to draw fuel. There are good sound reasons for engine manufacturers to make up scale engines with ball bearings. Less oil leakage is one of the primary reasons for using a ball bearing setup with a tight seal.
I would just continue to enjoy running and flying your OS .65 LA and Hobbistar 60 (I had the latter and enjoyed it very much too).
Ed Cregger
#13
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RE: O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
ORIGINAL: Phoenixangel
I was just thinking more oil would slow the wear process on the front bushing.
I was just thinking more oil would slow the wear process on the front bushing.
To be perfectly honest with you, in my experience, the only times that I have seen bushings wear out in high quality engines, such as OS is when insufficient oil of the wrong type has been used during the engine`s operational life. In other words, if 23% castor oil had been used in the fuel all of the engine1s life, it is doubtful that the engine`s main bushing would ever have demostrated any signs of wear.
Ed Cregger
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RE: O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
Castor likes to stay put, if you run an engine on all synthetic fuel then wait a couple of days then pull the backplate, every large surface in it will be dry as a bone. If castor is present no surface in it will be dry.
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RE: O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
The wildcat is fine, I was just wondering how to keep it from getting worse after the fact. My choice is to add more castor.. The bottom line is that its wearing out likely because of the fuel used, thats my fault.
I will add more castor in the hope it slows the wear a bit in the future, and fly it till it won't run anymore I have a feeling that will be a long long time yet.
I will add more castor in the hope it slows the wear a bit in the future, and fly it till it won't run anymore I have a feeling that will be a long long time yet.
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RE: O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
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RE: O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
If it begins to leak more than you can stand, there were a few nice used .65la engines that recently sold for less than $50 ea. on epay.
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RE: O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
ORIGINAL: Hobbsy
Hugh, that is probalby the best two stroke fuel you can buy except I get it in the 5% with 20% castor.
Hugh, that is probalby the best two stroke fuel you can buy except I get it in the 5% with 20% castor.
Duke's fuel?
Do you buy it localy or order it from fox?
I bought a case in northern VA, but that source has since dried up.........
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RE: O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
ORIGINAL: spaceworm
I have an OS 60 FP. Is the 65 LA much better or just a little bit bigger? Significant differences?
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Richard.
I have an OS 60 FP. Is the 65 LA much better or just a little bit bigger? Significant differences?
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Richard.
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RE: O.S. 65 LA leaking fuel :(
RC, I just get it directly from Fox, I have used the same 5% but with 20% 50/50 lube and it worked very well too. When I told Sharon I wanted to try the 50/50 she said, "you're not going to run that in our engines are you." I sorta giggled and ran it in Fox engines anyway. It worked surprisingly well in Saitos too.