Matt,


First of all, an engine will never have to pull the fuel up to its carburettor, while it is idling.

You are checking the engine in an unrealistic condition. Nose-straight-up test is only done while the engine is running full-bore, or in a 3-D plane, when the engine is running in hovering throttle setting...

Your engine will never be very good for a 3-D plane, so just ignore this statement and adjust the idle mixture, with the model in level attitude.

First of all, back off the idle-stop screw in the carburettor, so the throttle can close fully. Now,close the throttle until the engine is running below 3,000 RPM and use the 'pinch test'.

If you pinch the fuel-line, the RPM should increase momentarily and the engine should quit within 1-2 seconds.

If the engine quits almost immediately, it is too lean; close the air-bleed screw 1/4 turn and try again.

If the engine runs longer than 2 seconds before quitting, it is too rich; open the air-bleed screw 1/4 turn and try again.


If the air-bleed screw has unmasked the entire air-bleed hole, you must use less nitro and this will allow the high-speed needle to be closed further, or you will have to disassemble the carburettor and drill the air-bleed hole one size larger.

After getting the right 'quit-time', check the transition from idle to full power. This should be done with the model level and at servo-speed - not whacking it open as fast as your fingers can do it, just as fast as your throttle servo will do it.

If it 'chokes' quietly and dies (or chokes momentarily and advances afterward), it is too lean. If it hesitates, sputters and then advances over a couple of seconds (or dies), it is too rich. Make these adjustments smaller than before (1/8th of a turn).


Second, a reciprocating internal-combustion engine does not flame-out... This is a very descriptive term, reserved for jet engines only. Don't over-estimate yourself...
Your engine will only quit, die, shut-down, cut-out, conk-out, or whatever, but will not flame-out. Look elsewhere in this forum...