ORIGINAL: Nikolas K
Sam,
You are driven by the same motivation that has driven me in converting an ASP .52FS into a gasser. Watch my videos in Youtube if you want. The engine runs extremely well and now I am willing to fly it also, however I have to find the time to install it in the airplane. Anyway, for your engine:
It is indeed a small engine to convert. My idea is that a .50 engine and up is most suitable, as in smaller engines the weight of batteries and ignition system becomes an issue. However, if you want to convert to a gasser, it can be done (imagine, in the '20s, '30s and '40s, before the glow plug invented, there were as small as 0.09 gassers and people were still flying-of course without radio control systems and with large span, slow, airplanes).
As I can see, most of the parts needed are there. However, you need to manufacture a spark plug boot, if you buy this ignition unit. You might also want to consider RCEXL ignition modules for 1/4-32 spark plugs, whose spark plug boot is already there!
Also, the greatest challenge you will face, during conversion according to my opinion, is placing the magnet on the small propellor hub of a .20 engine. It might even bee too big (the magnet) for being properly glued in place...But I do not know your engine exactly, so I cannot imagine your hub.
The timing of the ignition is straightforward, if you have a degree wheel, but another challenge would be placing the sensor holder on the engine. Again, I do not know how you are going to do it, but I used a hose clamp and glued the sensor holder on it. Thus, ignition timing is adjustable, which is a good idea if you make it adjustable as well. My engine needed to lag the ignition some degrees in order to start and work properly without backfires (I haven't reduce the compression).If I had fixed the sensor holder, I would not be able to do so.
If you have more specific answers, do not hesitate to ask.
Thankyou for your reply!
Thats a good point you make about the old engines running spark ignition. I always just assumed they were nitro.
The weight of the system dosen't really bother me, as this is just an experiment i've wanted to do for a while. Later on I might end up buying a bigger, ringed heli or plane engine and modifying it to use on an rc car.
I think I should be ok with placing the magnet in the flywheel, as I was going to make a new flywheel for it anyway on my mini lathe. I also plan to cut a groove into the circumference of the flywheel and use it as a drive pulley for a cooling fan....but that can wait I guess. And I will definately be making the mount for sensor adjustable, thanks for the tip!