Sig 25% CAP 231EX engine power
10-22-2003 | 07:44 PM
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From: Wichita,
KS
Sig 25% CAP 231EX engine power
I have an RCS 1.40 that's going in this bird for now, but I may want to get something with more power later. I need an engine that will hover and be able to pull out right now. 3D is not important yet... but once I get my spins and hovering down I WILL start to work on 3D. Will the RCS fit the bill or am I better off selling it and getting a 2 stroke glow engine? I plan on putting a 9252 digital servo on the rudder and some cheap high torque servos on every other surface. (GWS BP148X 2BB - 1.62 oz, Torque: 78 oz.in, Speed: 0.21 sec./60° at 4.8V).
How much gas do the large glow engines go through? Right now I'm loving the efficiency of gasoline. I can spin an 18X6 at 8000 RPMs (8400 when lean), what would I expect on glow?
How much gas do the large glow engines go through? Right now I'm loving the efficiency of gasoline. I can spin an 18X6 at 8000 RPMs (8400 when lean), what would I expect on glow?
10-23-2003 | 10:48 AM
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From: , MA
RE: Sig 25% CAP 231EX engine power
RS2K,
The two most popular glow engines on the Sig Cap 231EX's that I have seen are the 4-stroke Saito 180 and the OS 160 2-stroke. I know a flyer who has had 3 of these Caps all powered by the Saito 180. He has also flown another flier's Cap 231EX that is powered by an OS 160 and in his opinion it is overpowered. He put a 22oz tank in his Saito 180 powered Cap and gets 8 minutes safe flying time. The 180 really sucks up fuel.
My Cap is powered by an OS 160 2-stroke and has a fast vertical climb but I don't find this plane to be easy to hover. It appears that the OS 160 uses less fuel than the Saito 180. I'm using the tank that came with the kit and I set my timer for 9-minute flights but there is always lots of fuel left when I land. Sometimes I fly it for a couple minutes longer.
Initially I followed the guidelines in the OS manual for prop selection and used a 16x10 APC prop. It made the plane fly much too fast and made it difficult to slow down and land at a tight flying field. This is not a plane you want to go blasting around at high speeds with, the ailerons will flutter and come off. I tried to experiment with an 18x6 wood Zinger prop but the plane was making unusual noises in the air so I landed in about a minute. I put my hand on the plane and ran it up to high throttle and felt it vibrating so badly that I feared it might come all unglued. I'm currently using an 18x8 wood Zinger that I had on hand but I think the plane needs to slowed even more.
All servos except for the throttle are Futaba S9304 ball bearing core-less. Throttle uses a standard no-ball bearing Futaba S3003.
Throttle management is the key to longevity with this airplane.
The two most popular glow engines on the Sig Cap 231EX's that I have seen are the 4-stroke Saito 180 and the OS 160 2-stroke. I know a flyer who has had 3 of these Caps all powered by the Saito 180. He has also flown another flier's Cap 231EX that is powered by an OS 160 and in his opinion it is overpowered. He put a 22oz tank in his Saito 180 powered Cap and gets 8 minutes safe flying time. The 180 really sucks up fuel.
My Cap is powered by an OS 160 2-stroke and has a fast vertical climb but I don't find this plane to be easy to hover. It appears that the OS 160 uses less fuel than the Saito 180. I'm using the tank that came with the kit and I set my timer for 9-minute flights but there is always lots of fuel left when I land. Sometimes I fly it for a couple minutes longer.
Initially I followed the guidelines in the OS manual for prop selection and used a 16x10 APC prop. It made the plane fly much too fast and made it difficult to slow down and land at a tight flying field. This is not a plane you want to go blasting around at high speeds with, the ailerons will flutter and come off. I tried to experiment with an 18x6 wood Zinger prop but the plane was making unusual noises in the air so I landed in about a minute. I put my hand on the plane and ran it up to high throttle and felt it vibrating so badly that I feared it might come all unglued. I'm currently using an 18x8 wood Zinger that I had on hand but I think the plane needs to slowed even more.
All servos except for the throttle are Futaba S9304 ball bearing core-less. Throttle uses a standard no-ball bearing Futaba S3003.
Throttle management is the key to longevity with this airplane.
10-23-2003 | 11:01 PM
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From: Gaston, OR,
RE: Sig 25% CAP 231EX engine power
actually you have the perfect motor .If it just is not quite enough call ch ign. and get the walbro wt-499 carb and a plug adapter and convert it to glow you save the weight of the ign. plus you will gain almost 1000 prm and best of all you still get no goop because you only need 5% oil and .on 0 nitro is only 3.00 a gallon all my smaller gasers are now 0 nitro glow.
no gas smell
lighter
still no goo from 20% oil only need 5%
more power
inexpensive to do
my .02
Darin
no gas smell
lighter
still no goo from 20% oil only need 5%
more power
inexpensive to do
my .02
Darin
10-24-2003 | 11:31 AM
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From: Wichita,
KS
RE: Sig 25% CAP 231EX engine power
Rocketman_, is there anything I can do to make the ailerons better? Like sealing th hinges, added a static counter balance, etc... Why don't you find this an easy plane to hover? does it want to fall out? or does it have to do with the ailerons being too far from the center. I'm going to use stabilators/ailervators to give me more aileron control at when hovering.
hmmm, that's an idea, bn120. I'm going to keep it gas for now, and maybe in the future I'll try that out. why does it only need 5% oil?
Does anyone know how well this plane Will blender, spin, snap, flat spin, harrier, wall and parachute? These are the maneuvers I plan on doing most..... but the snaps and spins will happen before the 3D.
hmmm, that's an idea, bn120. I'm going to keep it gas for now, and maybe in the future I'll try that out. why does it only need 5% oil?
Does anyone know how well this plane Will blender, spin, snap, flat spin, harrier, wall and parachute? These are the maneuvers I plan on doing most..... but the snaps and spins will happen before the 3D.
10-24-2003 | 01:25 PM
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From: Gaston, OR,
RE: Sig 25% CAP 231EX engine power
the reason most glow engines today need 20% oil is the bronz bushing they have for the conecting rod, if it was a roller bearing like a gas engine then it would only need 5%,
The reason for a little more oil in glow fuel running in a gas engine is methanol has 0 lubrication unlike gas thas is a petrolium based fuel so the mix is about 25 to 1 for methanol instead of 40 to 1 for gas.
for the carb and adapter is like $50.00 so before you buy a new motor you might want to give it a try.heck if you decide not to use it then I will buy the adapter and carb from you they are great for conversion engines.
Darin
The reason for a little more oil in glow fuel running in a gas engine is methanol has 0 lubrication unlike gas thas is a petrolium based fuel so the mix is about 25 to 1 for methanol instead of 40 to 1 for gas.
for the carb and adapter is like $50.00 so before you buy a new motor you might want to give it a try.heck if you decide not to use it then I will buy the adapter and carb from you they are great for conversion engines.
Darin
