Glow Plugs
 

Today I burned out 4 glow plugs in a matter of 15 minutes. I was working on my magnum 52 on the bench. Could anyone tell me the cause?

RE: Glow Plugs
 

Too lean, bad fuel, wrong plug

RE: Glow Plugs
 

Is the element (the coiled spring) destroyed? If so, probably you are too lean / too hot.

RE: Glow Plugs
 

Need more info.

What kind of plug are you using?
What are you using to power the plug?
What kind of fuel?
Are you removing the glow starter once you get the engine started?
Is there any way you are way to rich or too lean?

RE: Glow Plugs
 

The only time I went through that many plugs was early in my RC career when I used a glow plug clip plugged into a power panel. Glow plugs don't like it when you mistakenly plug the clip into the 12v starter plug. [sm=bananahead.gif]

RE: Glow Plugs
 

Leave it to a Bama boy to come up with a simple answer! That's probably the problem.

RE: Glow Plugs
 

Probably not. Had the glow plugs been conected to 12 V power, he'd have gone through 4 of them in about 4 seconds, not 15 minutes. Sounds like more of a fuel mixture problem, or too much nitro.

RE: Glow Plugs
 

Thanks,

I am going to go with the lean theory for now.

RE: Glow Plugs
 

Hobbico had a batch of power panels go out that have 12v on the glow driver output. The plugs wouldn't burn out in seconds but they whistled when hooked up to power and didnt last too long but you could start and run the motor on them once or twice.

RE: Glow Plugs
 

You might try a different brand of plug?

Enjoy,

Jim

RE: Glow Plugs
 

If you are using a power panel, that could be the problem if you have the dial turned to high. I don't know if you realize it or not but a power panel puts 12 volts to the plug for about 1 millisecond then nothing for the next 9 milliseconds. When you turn up the dial that 1 millisecond time period is increased and can be increase enough to burn out the plug. If you are using a battery for the glow starter, then I'd suspect to lean a run. Another possibility, did you put any additives into the fuel. some additives can be destructive to glow plugs.

RE: Glow Plugs
 

I always start with an O.S. #8.

RE: Glow Plugs
 

Plug heat range is way to hot.