Originally Posted by
mirion
Hi All, New guy here. This looks like a forum I could like, I have read about 40 pages so far, lots of comradery. Having recently retired I am getting back into RC flying after about a 20 year absence. I started out reading as much as I can about the latest stuff. I then bought a copy of Real Flight Simulator and did a little honing of the relexes, it felt good so I bought a EFlite Maule electric (not to crazy about electric) so that I could get some stick time this fall before the Michigan snow flew. Kind of like riding a bike, it all came back and I am excited to get my Ultra Sport 60, Goldberg Chipmunk and a couple others back in shape for spring. Most of my engines, mostly 4-strokes were gummed up. I loosened them up a little with some kerosene so I could partially disassemble them. I then put them in an ultrasonic cleaner with LA's Totally Awesome Cleaner and they came out looking like new. It was fun tearing them down and I got an education on the different brands seeing as I have an Enya 80, a 48 OS Surpass and several Saitos, they all have slightly different variations on the cam timing systems. The David McIntire videos on YouTube were a big help. I have also picked up a couple more used Saitos off Fleabay and I have a couple questions regarding the Saitos.
First off, where is the best place to pick up Saito parts (I have some older ones, FA91, FA80 and FA65) I found a place called McGregor/Hobby Plastic in the UK, are there any others state side?
It looks like Boca is a good place for bearings. How do you determine if bearings need replacing, mine all feel smooth with no bad spots. I have 45 years in the machine tool business so I have some experience with knowing what a bad bearing feels like although these are a little higher RPM than my experiences.
Looks like ICBIMP might be a good place for gaskets.
Thanks for any input as I attempt to read all 1,521 pages on this forum..... Mike in Michigan
nice to see you here Mike,
as for your bearings, if you remove the back plate and you see rust on the bearings>, I say replace them,, yet on some engines you can not see the rear bearing with the back plate removed, so with those type engines you just have to account for how much fuel has been run threw them, and how much after run oil has been used in them, and the feel of the bearings as you turn the crank (without a glow plug in the head), also check to see how loose the bearings are.. cheap bearings can rust in 2, 3 or 4 gallons, < I have seen it (as well as many other Heli pilots have),, good bearings will lest longer, specially if after run oil is used and a spray out is done for the winter's sleep,, here is an example. my OS 61 lived a hard life, it saw little after run oil, it was some 15 years old and had 7 gallons run threw it when I replaced the bearings, the bearings had some rust yet I have seen worse, they turned ok but they felt a bit loose, it was time to replace them, I used quality NTN bearings, and after I replaced them>>> the new front bearing started to leak on the 3rd tank of fuel,, go figure, that's the hobby
good luck, buy more Saitos LOL
Jim