Satio 100
 

I have a Saito 100 in a Yak54 (60), I have run a gallon of fuel through it, now trying to tune it for 3D flying. The engine runs clean to about 6/8 throttle, at that setting I am pulling about 9000rpm, from there to WOT it only picks up 1000RPM, and starts to sound rough (rich), and the engine goes up/down about 300RPM at WOT (on its own). Seems to run better (smoother) at 6/8 throttle. My HS needle is about 3 1/2 turns, and LS about the same, I am using a 14X6 prop for break-in, and OMEGA 15% 4ycle fuel. QUESTIONS 1) how do i get motor to run smooth from 6/8 to WOT, and hold steady RPM at WOT ? 2) what is best prop for 3D (hover) ? I have not flown this yet (winter project), just tuning now, any help would be great.

RE: Satio 100
 

Nappy

I run a Saito 100 in a UCD .46 and I use a 14X 4 prop for 3D. The engine has constant power through out its entire range. I don't know what RPM its turning but provides instant response.
Hope this helps

K.O.

RE: Satio 100
 

If your Saito hunts for RPM at full throttle it is either A: Not broken in enough yet or B: a bit too lean on the top end. A 15x6 Xoar prop would be perfect for that engine after it's broken in good which should take 2-4 gallons. Tune the high end so that it is about 4-500 RPM off peak then tune the low end so that it is as lean as it can be without hesitation during quick throttl up from idle. It should smooth out in the mid range and not hunt on top if tuned properly. Most engines won't gain much RPM past about 3/4 throttle or so so I wouldn't worry about that.

RE: Satio 100
 

I've had a Saito 100 for about a year, nothing but problems, sent back twice for warranty then Horizon said they wouldn't fix it again, muffler always breaks off and breaks the cylinder, just happened again today, this time resulting in a bad dead stick on my part...Saito is a POS, go O.S. if you can.

RE: Satio 100
 

An APC 16-4W works well in the Saito 100 for 3D flying

RE: Satio 100
 

Chuck, PM me if you want to get rid of that Saito POS of yours.;)

RE: Satio 100
 

your probably to rich. its possible it is starving for fuel and can't make power. look in your manual though and see what the rpm raange is....i think its like 2000-11000.

also, it could partially be your throttle linkage and nothing to do with your motor.

-half open carb is not 50% power.
-set a throttle curve to make it more linear, some people brag saying they can hover at 1/3 or half stick...(sometimes yea, its because they have a lot of power) but sometimes it's their throttle linkage and their half stick is 75% power.

if it's a problem with your engine i would say it is to rich. or, another problem could be a small air leak between our tank and either the carb or the muffler resulting in not enough pressure in your tank to properly deliver fuel at higher rpm. (or a small hole in our tank but you would probably notice it) one other thing to check is the plumbing in your tank. Make sure that the tubing to your clunk didn't streatch and is now rubbing the back of the tank. that could cause fuel delivery problems as well.

i would try

-richening the high end
-replacing all fuel tubing
-if still problems replace tank

then, call horizon.....good luck man! hopefully you get it sorted out

RE: Satio 100
 

Saito tuning - First you need a tach. Tach high end to max RPM then richen to lower rpm by 200. Then start to lean out the bottom end, I keep leaning untill throttle responce starts getting bad.

You got to do this low end right-

Get engine to a LOW idle. Let it Idle for at least 15 seconds then go to full throttle all at once. You want to lean the low end untill it stalls doing this. Then richen untill it goes from idle to full without hesitation. Always having the engine at LOW idle for at least 15 sec. and always nail the throttle. Recheck the high end a few times while your adjusting the low, it probaby will change slightly if you have to adjust lots on the low.

Do this tuning when you have time at Home. Doing it at the field is to distracting for me. I want to fly!

RE: Satio 100
 

Nobody said this yet, but are you positive your problem isn't fuel foaming in the tank?

If possible, I'd repeat the test on a stand, or use an external fuel tank (which you can see that isn't connected to the airplane) and see if it still does this.

All my Saitos have run great from the box without any tweaking to get them RTF. 7 of 8 have needed to have their low speeds adjusted leaner ~ 2 turns after "break in", however the latest one is the best of them all and didn't need any adjustments besides the usual warm/cold weather needling.

RE: Satio 100
 

if you are refering to my Saito 100 POS, I have a tach, I followed instructions, I've checked everything, had experienced people help me with it, you can't compare new Saitos with the old Saitos and I have found other people with the same exact problem that I had. Horizon, even though I have spent tons of money and love those guys there are Horizon, say it is due to vibration due to rusting internally. I was told to always run the engine out of fuel, then pump after run oil into the vent in the rear every time after flying, which I did and it happened again. The last time, they said they wouldn't fix it if it happened again and it has happened again, so the 3 year warranty is not worth the paper it is printed on. I have always taken care of the engine, I might have gotten a lemon, but never the less, Saito and Horizon are not honoring the warranty and as I said, I've since bought O.S. engines and never had a problem...much better quality engine. Super Tigre use to be good engines in the past...but now, they are not, they use to be well made, now they are mass produced in China...I think Saito is doing the same and not backing a $300 engine is just not right any way you look at it.

RE: Satio 100
 

Chuck
Its true, the bearings Saito uses, and the ones Horizon uses to replace, SUCK.
I put up with them for an engine that is superior as far as Power to Weight Ratio.
For me Power to weight is King for 3D flying.
There are many here (AKMedic and Me are a few) who snap up used 1.00 with a smile.

RE: Satio 100
 

yes, the bearings they use aren't good and don't last. However, you can still run them with bad bearings and all they do for a while is get noisy. I'd think you'd know if bearings were your problem and it wouldn't behave the way you describe without being really noisy too.

I just hate to see guys blame a good motor for what is really a fuel delivery problem. I think a lot of engine manufacturers are tired of debunking tank/fuel line problems too. If you've already done what I said, then bravo. If not, I think you owe it to yourself and the motor to try just running a fuel line directly to your carb from the fuel jug and see what happens.

RE: Satio 100
 

I bought a Saito 100 about a couple of months ago for my P-51B Mustang...mounted it the plane ,only to find out that there was no compression..returned the engine to Horizon and they mention that there was balsa dust in the engine,and they corrected the problem...well I got it back,mounted it the plane again,only to find out that it was very hard to turn it..there was no free wheeling like normal engines do,so I mounted a prop on it and began to tighten the prop nut up,and there was a loud 'Bang", like something broke inside...I took the back cover off,and found no shavings or anything that cause this loud bang..I inspected the engine from front to back, and found nothing broken...the engine now is freewheeling and plenty of compression..Bearings were mention in this thread,and I wonder if that might of been the problem as to the engine being tight, and not free wheeling..Never had a Saito that acted like this, so maybe this week,might try to start it up and see what happens..Know one thing...as soon as it starts, am moving to the back of the engine,just in case this engine goes bananas..will let you know what happens....

RE: Satio 100
 

I'm not flying mine again, I will send it back to Horizon and see if they will honor the warranty, but I suspect not. If this were a car and a lemon, eventually, they would have to honor the warranty, I guess this is not true with $300.00 RC engines!

RE: Satio 100
 

It sounds like possibly the rear bearing wasn't seated fully. When you tightened the prop you pulled the bearing into place with a pop. I bet if you start her up she'll run just fine.

RE: Satio 100
 

AKfireMedic:

I think you were right..fired it up and no problems..did have a bad glow plug, other then that it ran pretty decent...now just have to wait until some decent flying weather comes along...probably mid April or so...Thanx again

RE: Satio 100
 

That's rather entertaining as you are the first person that I have ever heard of putting down a Saito 1.00-even more so by suggesting a heavy, lesser powered OS. All the 1.00's I've seen start with a single backflip and I have NEVER had a single issue or deadstick to date with mine. It turns a 16x4W with authority on my Mojo 60 and has crazy power-couldn't be more happier.

RE: Satio 100
 

I have a 1 year old Saito 100 with about 12 gallons through it. It's a piece of junk. Why, just last weekend I had to change out the original glow plug. Give me a few more years and I'm sure I'll find more stuff wrong. It's inevitable with poor quality products like this one.

RE: Satio 100
 

1 year , 12 Gallons[X(]. That is a lot of flying for one engine. Your 3d KungFo must be getting strong.

RE: Satio 100
 

I wish....I'm almost to the point where I break less than one prop per flight. :D:D

RE: Satio 100
 

One problem is your prop of choice. A 14x6 turning around 10k rpm isn't healthy for the engine. You want it to turn at about 9.5k, which means you'd wanna go up a size. Remember that props unload a lot in the air. Go to a 15x4W for a couple gallons, then up to a 16x4W. Great 3D props, great thrust, great options. That's what I did, that's what worked.

I also agree with flygilmore, I've never heard of anyone trash-talking a Saito 100 AND recommending a heavier, less powerful engine instead. I've heard of cases where planes need the extra weight in the nose.

RE: Satio 100
 

I hate to burst your bubble, but when I first got my Saito 100, I was all excited and people at the field, who had bought many Saitos in the past, were all complaining about Saito and how their quality had gone down, they said they would only buy O.S. now after all of the problems with the Saitos they were having. I know another instructor who bought a brand new Saito, it was messed up from the get go, he hates it, he said he will never buy another Saito.

You call it trash talking, I call it the truth. Not to mention, when the warranty claims 3 year warranty and then they don't stand by it, that is B.S.

My O.S. 91 surpass (4 stroke) is 100% realiable, heavier and not as powerful as the Saito 100 that falls apart all the time...so do I run with an engine that starts and runs everytime or a Saito that is lighter and falls apart and dies all the time?

Sorry to burst your Saito Bubble...I was there once, I had on blinders defending Saito against the masses...then I got to go through the broken Saito BS and no support from Horizon and now I have switched to O.S. My last try was the other day with the Saito 100 again, on my stick and the muffler would fall out after every flight, causing 2 deadsticks during flight and one crash on my part...put my O.S.91 back on the stick after repairing it, flew it no problems, nothing falling off, no oil all over the frickin place, no dead sticks...do the math folks...take off the rosie glasses.

RE: Satio 100
 

No worries, Chuck. Stick with what you like. That's one of the good things about having choices. To each his own, based on his personal experience.

No engine is perfect and they all represent a compromise to one degree or another. I don't own any OS 4-strokes, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be willing to try one if they made one that appealed to me. For now, I'll stick with Saito and YS.

RE: Satio 100
 

It's strange how some people have nothing but good experiences with a particular brand/model of engine and others have nothing bad luck.

My Satios have been 100% reliable and my 100 has never caused me any grief.

It starts first time every time, never dead-sticks, gives gobs of power and is really light.

My Saito 82 is the same.

On the other hand, I've had nothing but grief with my SK50 whereas others say their's is fabulous.

Crazy eh?

RE: Satio 100
 

I agree, I bought my Saito because of everything I heard about them and loved it...at first, my wife just pointed out that this was the engine that I had to have, after my last attempt of resurrecting it and then crashing my plane because it blew up again..."wasn't this the engine you just had to have, the expensive one?" she says...of course...I look down and walk away...mumbling...

The power of the Saito 100 is awesome, I just want it to run or Horizon to honor the warranty and give me a new frickin motor, it could be a lemon, but they wont, they'd rather have me struggle with it and then go away hating Saito, which doesn't make good business sense to me...oh well!