RE: 3W 150 Problem
I just got back from the flying field and after three hours and about one and a half gallons of fuel burned running the engine on the ground, I found the problem. The ignition module which is mounted inside the engine box is getting warm and shutting the engine off after the eight minutes or so it takes for the mufflers to heat the box up.
I tried running the engine by hooking the carb line up to the empty smoke tank, same results engine dies at eight minutes. I tried running a Nicad instead of the li Ion battery same results, engine died at around eight minutes.
Finally I tried running the engine with the top hatch to the Cap 232 off and it ran for 15 minutes varying the throttle between half and full and never missed a beat. I put the top hatch back on and refueled the engine and started it, eight minutes later the engine died. I took the top hatch off as quickly as I could get the six bolts out that hold it on, checked the temp inside the engine box with my IR temp gauge and it showed about 118*-120* (that shouldn't kill the engine but it did). I tried restarting the engine immediately and it wouldn't start. I unmounted the ignition and let it hang by the cables back out of the engine box towards the fuel tank. The engine fired right up. I shut the engine off and topped off the tank. Started the engine again and ran it at full throttle till the tank went dry 15 minutes or so later again the engine never missed a beat.
I think I need to send the ignition back because no matter where I mount the ignition during the summer here in Florida its going to get hotter than 120* just sitting in the sun.