Hello all, firstly i would like to thank you for taking the time in helping me with my first glow engine boat build. I started out building a hull designed for a steam engine and after running it a few times I thought it would be fun to swap out the steam engine with a small glow engine. I purchased what looks identical to the ASP 15MX nitro bump start engine:
Working volume : 2.45cc
Weight : 240g
Output shaft power : 0.50 / 16,500 (kw / r.p.m)
Practical speed : 3,000-17,000 (r.p.m)

I decided to buy this because of the cheap price at $40 on ebay. I am starting to think i should have spent the extra bucks to get something thats been around longer and has more information on it. I cannot seem to find what type/percentage of nitro i should use and also the recommended prop size for this engine on a 20 inch boat.

The real problem is that i cannot get this engine to start up. This is what i am doing…. I have a 75cc tank filled with Traxxas Top Fuel 20%, the carburetor is getting the fuel and i have set the throttle to be open 1-2mm upon start up. The mixture-needle is set to 2.5 turns open, I have been using two different types of glow plugs the first one i tried was a O.S. medium 6, and the second was a O.S. number 8. the engine seems to have great compression and i have been turning the flywheel over with my hand and also a impact driver hooked up to the drive shaft. I am twisting both to the right and the glow plugs are turning bright red.

Any recommendations on starting this engine? I have even put a drop of fuel inside the cylinder under the glow plug hoping this would kick start it up. Thanks again everyone for helping a new guy in the hobby.