Having the day off work, I decided to wander into the LHS to see if they had any coolpower 30% heli low smoke or something similar. Being a semi-rural city we are a mix-your-own area so I wasn't hopeful but I just wanted to eliminate another variable.
It turns out they don't stock commercially mixed fuel so I lucked out.
In the past I would pick up 5 litres of Nitromethane from his bulk supply but a problem with his bulk supply about a year ago meant I had been picking up 1 litre bottles with various labels on them, the last two of which I don't think smelled quite right. Anyway, while I was in there I picked up a litre from his bulk supply and decide to mix up 1.5 litres of 30% nitro 15% oil just for kicks. (I usually run 20% nitro/10% oil)
Well, I could wind the regulator right in again without it misfiring and loading up and the idle was happy at steady 1600rpm where before it needed about 2000rpm to keep idling. I wasn't too upset with the extra 400 rpm on the top end either. It took off like a scalded cat and while it was still a bit sluggish rolling on the throttle from cruise it was very flyable and the top end kick up the backside it now had was fun. Leaning the regulator a bit over the next few short hops improved the transition but it still seems a bit sluggish in that area. I'm not sure if the extra (or better) nitro is masking an underlying issue or that ring needs more bedding in.
The best way I can describe the sluggish felling is that it's almost a bit two-stroke'ish in that not much happens when you roll on the throttle from cruise as you pull into an upline, then the power quickly ramps up for the last bit of throttle and it begins to accelerate up.
What I can say is if this is what the 170cdi does on 30% nitro compared to 20% then a 185 in good condition on 30% nitro must be a beast.
I won't have much to add for the next few weeks as I'll be off on holidays, but today has been a positive morning out. The engine just earned it's millionth 2nd chance...
I know how Clarke Griswold feels. The whole clips is worth watching (and is a personal favorite along with the movie itself), but the time poor can watch from the time stamp in the link..
https://youtu.be/0ar-__ub0rc?t=141