CT46,

Just a quick thought, seems like FlooredCOBRA had it about covered, I was just wondering if you had broken in the engine yet.

Seems like mine never run very well till I've driven a quart or two of fuel through them.

Start rich, just turn the needle 1/2 turn lean after start(to keep it going) leave the glo plug on and let it run a tank through. Do it again, by the third tank, you can start to lean it out and see what it can do.

When you first get an engine the piston is not quite the right size, it takes being heated up in the cylinder to get the tolerances right.

I know that you've just gotten your plane done and you want it in the air as fast as possible but this is kind of fun too.

Mount your engine on a 2x4 and C-clamp it to your picnic table. It will get you familiar with the engine and what the needle valve really does and what happens when you try different settings without having to worry about putting your plane in jeopardy. I know this first hand, I was so excited the first time I got my engine going, I learned by myself and I figured that one tank was good enough to break it in. The second time I fired it up I tried to fly it, the plane got about 100 yards away over the trees and the engine quit.

I never found that plane.

Now, when I can't fly, I just fire my engines just for fun, it makes a great noise and is just neat to play with. Needless to say, my engines are broken in, and you know what, the more they run, assuming it is correctly, the better they get.

Everyone is different I guess.

Good Luck!

As Always,
T -the prole-