ORIGINAL: eagles9239
Hello, I have a Hobbico Trainer with an O.S. 40 LA engine. The glow plug that came with it was an A3. When I asked my LHS for A3 glow plugs they said that I Shouldent use those and I should use thunderbolt standard w/ an idle bar. Should I use those glow plugs or return them and get some A3's?
A3 will do just fine. The LA series engines are rather low compression and very tolerant. I don't run them but instruct many that do.
In addition those Thunderbolt Idle Bars will also give you good service, however not for a long time.
Like many standard plugs today the platinum is in short supply in these plugs and after 20-25 flights, even though they glow well to the eye, they allow a thin glaze to occur which tends to insulate the low platinum amount from the methanol thus reducing catalytic action between platinum and methanol with resulting poor ignition, especially at throttle-up and idle.
Some years ago TBs were the choice of many fliers, especially me. However for the past 10+/- years the specialty heat ranges of the McCoy line has won me over.