ORIGINAL: earlwb
ORIGINAL: Basil Yousif
I have the Thunder Tiger .39 heli glow engine on a Raptor 30. The engine is starting to ruin glow plugs only after one flight. It also has a problem sucking in fuel while trying to start it.
Going back to the first post again. A problem sucking fuel implies a air leak somewhere. The O-ring under the carb is the first thing to check. You must push down on the carb hard to compress the O-ring a little before tightening up the screws or clamp. The next is the back plate might be loose. The head could be coming loose too. Then we get to the bearings, where the front bearing may not be sealing like it should leading to an airleak too. Then there is adjusting the engine to run too lean, heli engines tend to run a little more on the rich side than airplane engines do.
Of course we do not know what fuel the OP is using. Too much nitromethane can be a problem if the engine isn't set up for it.
Also what brand glow plug is the OP using. The wrong heat range plug can be a problem. Years ago I got a batch of defective major band name plugs too. I went through one flight per plug, I never bought any of those brand plugs since then.
earl the problem with sucking in fuel is a air leak but not where your thinking lol. the bearing is shot. parts of it have tore up the piston to sleeve fit. the wear from this has bits of aluminum going to the plug and causing to burn out.
NEW ENGINE!