Fred Dings II

My Feedback: (2)

Hi, Cheli

Yeah, the 4 cycle engines shake, all you can do is make sure the prop is balanced, and if you have a Saito, or O.S. check the muffler nuts to make sure they are tight. I actually detest the Saito muffler arrangement.

I have also heard the gear plate in the ARF's is very weak, but guess I've been lucky so far I have over a hundred flights on my Twist and no problems. What I do now with the ARFs is to buy a Dubro composite gear and attach it with substitute 10-32 nylon screws for the metal ones.

BARCC

Hi i might consider buying a UCD 46. Would it be a good match with a O.S. .50 SX? I have the UCD 60 with a 91 FX and runs great! would be a perfect addition! Thanks

Fred Dings II

My Feedback: (2)

Hi, and the UCD .46 is a very pretty plane and should be a good addition to your fleet.
I know little about the UCD .60 although I have one still in the box. My friend, Dave Quatse at the Silver Spring Field has an O.S. .91 FX in his UCD .46 and loves it. I have seen him tail touch his plane and hover with it. I read a review wherein the O.S. .50 FX was tested and although it did well, the reviewer liked the O.S. .70 4 cycle. He thought the O.S. .91 was too throttle sensitive in the range he wanted to operate.
I bought a Saito 100 for my .60 UCD mounted it on a board and the engine wouldn't run properly, so much vibration the carb broke off the back plate. (Yeah, my APC prop was balanced.) I sent it back to Horizon and they sent me another motor by return post. Yesterday, I mounted it in my .46 UCD and ran 2 quarts through it. This one also vibrates like hell and doesn't want to run smoothly. Man does it have power. Way too much for the .46 UCD. I haven't called Horizon yet, but the valve gaps were and are perfect. The only thing else I can think of is that the Saitos I got were assembled improperly re the valve cam. I have two other Saitos a .72 and a 1.5 and they are only O.K. I've been in this hobby for over 20 years and have never had motors act like these Saito 100's. I have purchased my last Saito.
I am having a lot of fun with my Twist.

K.O.

My Feedback: (16)

Fred
I've mentioned in past replies I have a 100 Saito in my .46 UCD and It works well for me. Agreed it is way to much power and the engine does vibrate more than a 2 cycle but not out of the ordinary for a 4 cycle. I have 2 Saito 100's and both run the same and they run great. I plan purchase larger planes when I get my Van to haul larger planes, and I'll probebly get something in the Saito 150 or 180 size. Cadilacs are not for everyone. Some folks also like Lincolns
K.O.

Fred Dings II

My Feedback: (2)

K.O., thanks for your comments. I had heard nothing but positive comments about the Saito line, and I was upset with O.S. for the remote needle on their 2 strokes and so I bought the 150 for my Cap 232. Runs great. Then I bought a Twist and the Saito .72. It also runs great. My brother in law has a Saito 100 GK and it runs great. We both started to break in our Saito 100's together on an outdoor bench setup. We had the same balanced APC prop, and the same setup. From the start, his ran smoothly my non/GK Saito had an awful time just to keep running. I checked the gaps and they were right on. I still persisted trying to run it and the vibration was so great that the carb broke off the backplate. I was disappointed as I used to compete and haven't had a bad engine since the YS people tried to introduce their .61 longstroke.
I called Horizon and they were very nice and eventually they sent me a new engine.
Several months have passed and I thought I would break in the new Saito on my UCD .46. I took it out to the field and had identical problems. The vibration was so bad that the axles enlarged the outside holes of my wheel pants. I could also hear a click when I rotated the prop with the glow plug out. I traced it down to the port side rocker arm striking the valve stem, but the starboard side made no noise at all. I have no idea if this is normal or not.
I called Horizon and asked if they have been having problems with the 100's and they said no, and I told them I had a letter D stamped on the mounting flange.
They are sending me a mailing label to return the engine.
I think my problem is unusual, and they have no way of knowing whether I'm mentally deranged or not. My doctor doesn't know either.
Let me make an off topic remark about you wanting larger planes. I went through the same route and I was surprised to find that the larger planes are so much easier to fly that I went back to the smaller planes, .60 size. A great thing about this hobby is that there is something in it for anyone at every level of skill. To quote a famous author, "Cadilacs are not for everyone. Some folks also like Lincolns."

K.O.

My Feedback: (16)

Fred

I had a friend that hit a tree square with his P-51 and bent the crank shaft on his Saito 180. The engine was a few years old, but he sent it back to them for repairs. They replaced the crank and all new gaskets. The bill was $60 and they paid the return postage. I'd say that says a lot for Saito backing up their products. Thats why I'd buy another.
K.O.

Fred Dings II

My Feedback: (2)

K.O. I would feel the same way.

I've probably been too long winded on a couple of my posts.

I see you're in OHIO so we're neighbors and share about the same weather. The first week of this month I ran over a gallon of fuel through my Saito .72. I haven't flown since, due to the rain.

Have a good day.

FRED

K.O.

My Feedback: (16)

Fred
I was in Florida a week ago vacationing and seeing some old friends. Weather was 70 degrees plus everyday. I had the opportunity to fly my friends UCD .60. His is powered with a OS.91. . It flies great but different than my .46. Mine has a bigger power to weight ratio and that's probably the big difference. Yes you and I probably have the same weather. You are about 450m miles east of me and about on the same parallel but while the weather is in-climate I keep busy building or rebuilding i.e. (adding flaps to my Hanger9 P51 .90 size which has the other Saito 100). Its almost done, then onto my scale Avenger.
K.O.

BARCC

Anybody know if a O.S. .50 sx would be a good combo for this plane?

K.O.

My Feedback: (16)

Barrc
The OS 50 will fly the plane but I'm not sure what performance you are expecting. If you have been reading the various comments on 3D airplanes for performance they tend to be powered higher than recommended. For example if your looking to go unlimited vertical then I'd recommed a larger engine. However if you are a biginner or Sunday flyer then your OS 50 will do fine. I really think the .46 UCD with a consertative engine is a good trainer, yet safely capable of doing a lot more as the skill level improves. If you have more power you don't have to use it and fly half throttle. Three things I like in an airplane, plenty of gas, altitude and power. I call it insurance.
K.O.

Fred Dings II

My Feedback: (2)

K.O., excellent answer.

Altitude, Fuel and Power is the other Trinity.

FRED

raideron

My Feedback: (1)

Hi all, I just picked up a used UCD 46 with a older YS 63 no radio gear..
I was planing on useing a APC13x4w, I've only looked at tower so far
but I see no W prop.. But did see the APC 13x4. Does APC make a W
on this size? I was planning on getting a spinner, but was looking at
the true turn 2" wide cut, will this prop cutout be to wide for the APC
13x4?? Also I was going to order some HS 425bb's (5) and the HS635
for the rudder and run on 6v.. Will these servo's be good enough?
Guess CG at 5&5/8" to 6" is a good starting point? Thanks for any
info...

rclement

My Feedback: (1)

Hey yall. Just got my UCD all together and am setting up the D/Rates and Expos and I am wondering about how much % expo to put in the set up. What is a good starting point for beginning 3d? I am useing a Futaba 6EXA.......... Ooops! I forgot to take the masking tape off the canopy after glueing it. Turned out nice though. Nice plane.

Jack Hyde

My Feedback: (1)

raideron,
A 13x4w or 13x4 are a little low on load for a YS63. Mine turns as fast as I want (11,000) with a 13x6 or 14x4. I try to keep the revs below 11,500.

McGyverBob

my two cents....

inverted, 2 cycle engine idle issue solved

I got my UCD 46 for x-mas and it now has about 15 flights on it. I have an OS 61FX on it. i had a heck of a lot of trouble getting the engine to idle for more than 7 or 8 seconds initially with the OS #8 plug. I ended up changing the plug for a Fox R/C Long with idle bar. Idled and ran much better. Continued to adjust the low speed needle to the lean side. Factory setting is 1/2 turn out with carb closed. I ended up at about 1/4 turn. High speed needle is also a bit on the lean side. Motor still runs a very tiny bit rich, fuel leaks etc. (because of the fuel tank location), but motor runs and idles wonderfully! This past weekend I removed the baffle in the muffler before going out to fly hoping that the pressure to the fuel tank would be reduced slightly. Don't know if the pressure has been reduced but the engine is running better than ever. I can idle it for extended periods of 3 or 4 minutes and it wont die on me.

If this where to have been a kit I would have slightly rotated the engien so the plug isn't pointing directly down, but to do that on this arf it would have required some surgery I didn't want ot do.

So, Fox R/C Long plug with idle bar, baffle removed from muffler, and slightly lean needle settings....did the trick!
Oh, running 13x4w prop.

Can't leave without mentioning that this plane is awsome! The 61FX will hover the plane but with almost full throttle. There is just a little bit of power left to pull it out.

raideron

My Feedback: (1)

Hi Jack, I was thinking a 14X4W, but then the person I got this
from said that may be to much for the engine??? (It is an older
engine but ran and sounded good when he started it for me)
and that he was using a APC 12.25x3.75, So I started thinking
13x4w. I may have a 13x6, if so I'll tach it and see what it'll
turn before I order the prop... Thanks for the info!!

Fred Dings II

My Feedback: (2)

Hi, BOB
the O.S. .61 might like another prop better. You didn't give us an rpm number, but I could pull an 8 lb pattern plane straight up with a 12-10. If you only have "a little bit of throttle left" you should try a few different props. Also, the bolt pattern on the firewall and motor mount will let you mount a motor sideways. The 3-D ace in our club uses an O.S. .91 4c with a 13-6 prop on his UCD .46. He hovers, tail touches and has a ball.

FRED

rclement

My Feedback: (1)

Hi Raideron, Try here for a 13x4w APC prop. [link]http://www.chiefaircraft.com/cgi-bin/rcm/hazel.cgi?action=serve&item=/Models/Accessories/Props/APCProps.html[/link]

raideron

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks CeeGee.. I found a site... But :-( it cost me .25 more... Can't
wait to get my flight pack so I can see how she flys:-) Thanks again!!

On your expo.. I've never used expo, But I was going to try 15-20%
for a start, and adjust from there...
I was looking at your pic (like your pilot) and noticed your elevator
push rod on the bottom of the servo, shouldn't it be on the top?? Did
you use the stock rods?? I was just wondering if my setup had the
stock rods or not.. If you are using the stock rods, Does the clevis
have sprial type spring that hold the clevis close??

McGyverBob

Hey Fred, thanks for the info.

I don't have a tach yet so I have no idea how fast the 61FX is spinning the prop. When I was braking in the engine I had a 13x6 on there. I never flew it with that prop but the ngine wound up higher after I put the 13x4, or at least it sounded like it. You think I should go back to a slightly higher pitch? or maybe that awkward-sized prop that is something like 12.75x3.75.

Fred Dings II

My Feedback: (2)

Hi, BOB
Yeah, I think you should go to a higher pitched prop. I don't think you are loading the .61 enough with the "4" pitch prop. If you stay with the 4 pitch I think you should make sure you aren't over revving the engine.

FRED

rclement

My Feedback: (1)

Raideron, I set up the elevator horn that way because I dont' have a servo reverser on board. I hope that's okay. I'm kind of new to this type of airplane. I'm going to have my former instructor maiden it so I'll ask him about it. I do have the stock control rods (2-56) installed but also have the 4-40 ones on hand so I think I'll swap them out before I maiden it. I'm waiting on a 14-4 prop anyway. For the clevis's I'm using the supplied fuel tubing as a retainer. Rob

Skippykix

My Feedback: (99)

I just got done building my second UCD .46 ARF. My first one experienced major structeral failure in the horizontal satbilizer in where the port side departed the aircraft on it's 25th flight resulting in it's uncontrolled flight and eventual crash landing. The plane was powered by an OS 50sx and nothing out of the ordinary was being performed when the failure occured. Great Planes did replace the aircraft and I have included tail wires this time to hopefully not have to go through this again. I am upgrading from the 50sx to a SAITO FA-82 4 stroke. Will let you know how it goes this time around.

Skippykix

My Feedback: (99)

Barry, I am on my second U-CAN-Do and it is set up exactly like yours, SAITO-82 and the CG set at 5.5 inches. I have not flown the plane yet and was wondering is there anything out of the ordinary I should watch for with this set up. My first U-CAN-Do suffered major failure of the horizontal stab while it was powered by a OS 50 sx, I added tail wires this time so hopefully I wont loose another aircraft to stab failure again. Skip. uote]ORIGINAL: Barry Cazier

I'm on my 3rd UCD46. I love these planes but I have a tendency to get a little wild on occasion and have an incident that results in my carrying the plane home in a paper bag. But they really are great planes and I love to fly them. I have mine set up with a Saito 82 and a CG of 5 5/8" I works great there. My others have had similar CG. From 5 1/4 to 5 3/4. This is one of the easiest landing planes I've ever seen and yet it can do the wildest 3d stuff ever. It's not a perfect plane but it's a darn nice one. And it's very forgiving. The CG is very flexible and anywhere in the 5 1/4 to 6 range really is good enough.
Thanks,
Barry
[/quote]

raideron

My Feedback: (1)

Hey CeeGee.. No I just thought you had a Computer radio since you
you were talking about expo's, And I saw the linkage as it was on the
Elev. on your pic.. I guess it's no problem.. But it's hard to tell from
the pics, but looks like the pushrod will touch the stab, in the full down
position.. But that's the advantage of having an instructor:-) Lots of
tips and help!!... On the pushrods... I was just wondering if my used
plane had the stock rods or not, I guess not, They look like 440 to me,
and since you had a new UCD I thought I'd just ask.. I took a pic, let
me know if it's the same... Well you have a great time with your UCD
and remember... Practice... Practice... Then more Practice:-) Have fun
and be safe!!