RE: BCMAEngines

RE: BCMAEngines
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RE: BCMAEngines - 7/31/2006 10:57:46 PM

blackbaron

Posts: 340
Joined: 9/25/2004
From: Longmont, CO, USA
Status: offline

It depends how strong your magnet is. In most cases the thickness of a quarter is sufficient. This is the case for all ignition units.

(in reply to SpeedBird)

Post #: 201

RE: BCMAEngines - 8/7/2006 5:42:47 PM

ddotson

Posts: 91
Joined: 4/21/2005
From: , FL, USA
Status: offline

Hi, just recieved the sp26. How in the world are you getting 1800 rpm idle??. Mine does not run well at all. Got the needles set so that it will transition fair, but seems to skip and not smooth at any speed. Can't get a reliable idle below 3000rpm. Not impressed. Need help....Thanks, Don

quote:

ORIGINAL: AlexL

Just want to share my first hand experience dealing with BCMA Engines, and especially Adam.

Received my SP40 but didn't have a chance to start it, and then bumped into this thread and got my interest going again. I was particularly interested in the Zama carb and couple of e-mails with BCMA, my order for the Zama carb was placed. Adam was also kind enough to point out that the new ignition module is timed for the Zama, and that he would do a straight swap for my "old" unit which has not been ran at all. The order was promptly dispatched and duely received, thank you very much.

In starting the stock engine, I was getting pops but couldn't sustain a continuous run, I know I was getting ignition because the engine kicks. A quick phone call to Adam resolved the problem. He knows his stuff, he suggested that the timing from the factory might have been too advanced, and walked me through finding the BTDC, and then adjusted the timing to 30 degree advance.

The engine now fires consitantly on the 3rd or 4th flips, let's say I am a very happy customer.

Here are the numbers:

Regular gas with a 32:1 Lawnboy Ashless mix for run-in purpose (will switch to symthetic after run-in)

Master Airscrew Classic 18 x 8

Idle - 1800 rpm

High end - 7600 varies to 7800 after a mere ten miuntes on and off run, I am very impressed.

The muffler seems to shake itself loose but nothing couple of drops of locktite can't do.

So there you are, I look forward to switching over to the Zama and will report back the test results.

Good engine as far as I am concerned, and I do own a few of them, DA's, Zenoah's, etc. and I am quite please with this little guy.You have gained another happy customer, will be ordering my 26 soon.

Alex
Ontario, Canada

(in reply to AlexL)

Post #: 202

RE: BCMAEngines - 8/7/2006 6:17:37 PM

gboulton

Posts: 1862
Joined: 5/28/2005
From: La Vergne, TN, USA
Status: offline

Don,

A couple of things I went through with my SPE-40 that might be applicable to your situation:

1) Remember it's a brand new motor...it's quite possibly not happy about being told to go to work. My 40 smoothed out considerably after the first 1/2 gallon of fuel or so, then showed notable improvement over the next couple of gallons.
2) Sounds like you may still be a bit too rich. Keep in mind that the needles DO merge...meaning an adjustment to low end will have SOME impact on high end, and vice versa.
3) Could timing be off? Is it tough to start? I'm not sure where the timing's supposed to be on the smaller engine, but I'd wager BCMA's website has that information. It's worth checking, and the timing's not tough to set.
4) Finally, don't hesitate to give Adam a call. He's quite responsive (ALWAYS returns calls if you have to leave a message, and more often than not, answers the phone straight away) and is, ime, very willing to talk through any issues and help resolve them.

HTH

_____________________________

The free man will ask neither what his country can do for him nor what he can do for his country. - Milton Friedman

(in reply to ddotson)

Post #: 203

RE: BCMAEngines - 8/7/2006 6:45:00 PM

ddotson

Posts: 91
Joined: 4/21/2005
From: , FL, USA
Status: offline

Thanks for the quick reply. I have ran about 3/4 gallon through it. It seems to transistion ok. Just does not want to idle smoothly and at a speed that would be required for landing. I set the high end for peak and richened a little. Set the low end so it would transition ok and then the high end again. Back and forth with above method. On WOT seems to "skip", not real bad just misses often. midrange seems to "gurgle", just not smooth and steady. Idle not reliable at all below 3000 rpm and this is generous, more like 3500 rpm. Now this is my first forray into gassers, but I have tinkered with the needles enough to know they are at the best setting to get the engine to run. Maybe more breaking in? am I expecting to much?. Don't really want to mess with the timing at this point, but would like more info. Appreciate all the help....Don

(in reply to gboulton)

Post #: 204

RE: BCMAEngines - 8/7/2006 7:49:07 PM

Herby 1

Posts: 10
Joined: 4/26/2003
From: Northern Arizona
Status: offline

Too much spark advance will cause a miss at WOT....
30 BTDC is as far as you want to go....
You can't hurt anything by messing with the timing, try retarding it as far as it goes..If it runs slower advance it a little at a time until you get max rpm...If it still misses you might have an ignition problem...

(in reply to ddotson)

Post #: 205

RE: BCMAEngines - 8/7/2006 8:19:57 PM

ddotson

Posts: 91
Joined: 4/21/2005
From: , FL, USA
Status: offline

Thanks, will give it a try. Just so I understand, looking at the engine from the front rotate the pickup counter clockwise to retard timing?
How will this effect idle?
Don

(in reply to Herby 1)

Post #: 206

RE: BCMAEngines - 8/7/2006 9:04:55 PM

gboulton

Posts: 1862
Joined: 5/28/2005
From: La Vergne, TN, USA
Status: offline

(Appologies to all for the thread-jack)

Hey RCIGN1,

Am I correctly informed that you are Ralph Cunningham who does the modifications to, among others, Zenoah G-62's replacing stock ignitions with EI, etc etc? If so, may I PM you about modifying an engine I'm considering for another project?

Thanks

(You are now returned to your regularly scheduled thread)

_____________________________

The free man will ask neither what his country can do for him nor what he can do for his country. - Milton Friedman

(in reply to ddotson)

Post #: 207

RE: BCMAEngines - 8/7/2006 9:41:24 PM

Herby 1

Posts: 10
Joined: 4/26/2003
From: Northern Arizona
Status: offline

Yes
Idle might be a little better, not likely...
It should idle at 1800 or less, depends on the size and weight of the prop.

< Message edited by RCIGN1 -- 8/7/2006 9:43:13 PM >

(in reply to ddotson)

Post #: 208

RE: BCMAEngines - 8/7/2006 9:44:54 PM

Herby 1

Posts: 10
Joined: 4/26/2003
From: Northern Arizona
Status: offline

Ghoulton..Yes

(in reply to gboulton)

Post #: 209

RE: BCMAEngines - 8/7/2006 9:50:17 PM

P-Diddy

Posts: 676
Joined: 12/12/2005
From: Eugene, OR, USA
Status: offline

I have the SPE 40 and 26 from BCMA, ( I liked the 40 so much I bought the 26 ). Although it does seem to be a little rougher-sounding than glow engines, the idle is very slow and predictable. I don't have a tach, but I know that when I idle down the airplane doesn't move on the ground, which to me says it's low enough for my taste.

There is definitely something not right with your 26, Don. One thing that I found out is that tuning a gas engine is a heck of a lot different than tuning a glow engine. Maybe some of the more experienced gas experts, (gasoline, that is!) can give a quick run-down on the best techniques for adjusting to the best mixture? My finding is basically that if it is running rough, it is rich almost always. If it runs only briefly but smoothly, it is lean. My guess is you're used to glow engines, and as Adam at BCMA told me, forget everything you know about glow when you are working with gas.

If you haven't called Adam yet, do so, he'll do everything he can to make sure you're happy with your engine, and then he may just talk airplanes for a little while just for fun.

Again, can't say enough good things about these engines. I just put that 26cc in a Hangar 9 Showtime 4D, and it is perfect. I expected to have to add tail-weight, but it came out tail-heavy! Very lightweight gas engines, great power, great running, and great price. If you don't find the same to be true with your BCMA engine, call Adam and he'll work with you until you do.

-Pat

_____________________________

Currently:Aviation/SD Yak 54 33%(3W70),UltraRC GilesG202(BCMA 40cc),T-Rex600N(O.S. 50 Hyper), MSH Protos 500

(in reply to Herby 1)

Post #: 210

RE: BCMAEngines - 8/8/2006 1:11:23 PM

ddotson

Posts: 91
Joined: 4/21/2005
From: , FL, USA
Status: offline

Morning all. More testing last evening. Tried adjusting timing, no help, carefully returned pickup to original position. The only tuning method that seems to get even close is as follows. Peak out the high end and richen slightly. Lean out the low end and gradually richen until engine does not try to stall in transition. touch up high end. I can get about 8k on high end with what sounds like an random miss. midrange not a smooth purr, sounds like missing. Low end seems critical as far as throttle arm setting. Rpm below 3k is very undependable and engine just seems to die. One thing I have noticed is the throttle stop screw (for setting idle) is turned all the way in and at lowest idle the throttle arm does not even touch the screw? Seems I have tried every possible needle setting scenario. Anyone with alternate tuning methods, I am all ears. BTW I am turning a 16/8 APC prop?

My friend encouraged me to get into gas engines against my better judgement, as I have seen many planes lost(expensive planes) because of gasoline engine failure, just do not seem to be as dependable as nitro to me. Given the good reviews on this forum on this engine and the fact that I had a Funtana 90 waiting for an engine and the price, I decided to give it a shot.

Guess I could fly it and just let it run out of gas, because it will not land at a 3k idle. Better yet just toss it into the bin with other failed projects.

(in reply to P-Diddy)

Post #: 211

RE: BCMAEngines - 8/8/2006 2:12:57 PM

Flyer Freq

Posts: 912
Joined: 8/20/2002
From: Appleton, WI, USA
Status: offline

Don't give up, until you talk with Adam. He will get you taken care of! No need to consider anything a failure yet. I can almost guarantee, that those guy's you refer to that crashed planes due to gassers quitting, were well versed in nitro engines, but perhaps not gassers. As you have heard, the two are distinctly different. I know a lot of guy's well versed in nitro engines that crashed when their nitro engines quit, as well. I am still learning gassers. When I started, I couldn't get mine to idle well under 2200 RPM. Mine will now idle at 1500, though I prefer it around 1850RPM. You may be asking why your engine didn't run well, right out of the box, if Adam runs them all. Gas engines are sensitive to atmospheric pressure and changes in altitude. The conditions Adam tuned the engine under, are different than where you are. It should have been close, but not likely right on. If you are running without proper filters in place, you could have sucked something up into your carb. That is what I did

. It happened real quick, too. Hang in there!

Andy

_____________________________

Lose not thy airspeed, lest the ground rise up and smite thee!
If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans

(in reply to ddotson)

Post #: 212

RE: BCMAEngines - 8/8/2006 2:26:35 PM

gboulton

Posts: 1862
Joined: 5/28/2005
From: La Vergne, TN, USA
Status: offline

Don,

I feel your pain...I really do. Been there myself, and not so long ago.

First suggestion : Call Adam. Today. As you'll note in this thread, every one of us who have dealt with hi have NOTHING but good things to say. Chances are pretty high he'll answer the phone himself. If he doesn't, leave a message, and he WILL return your call, probably sooner than you expect. Adam WILL help you get this engine running right. One simply can not describe the lengths to which the man will go to make sure that his customers have a strong, reliable powerplant with which they are happy.

Now...some unsolicited "commentary" if I may.

Quite frankly, the reason you (and I until recently) feel that gas engines are less reliable is, quite simply, that (at least imo) a MAJORITY of people flying them simply don't truly understand their motor. They expect them, bluntly, to "be like glow motors".

They're not.

1) Gas engines RARELY run right