So, want to know how to pick a quick 1,000rpm on your DL 50? Um, yea. Just tighten the spark plug! (Assuming your spark plug was loose in the first place).

So I got my new Extra built this week (to replace the one I crashed last week that was using a DL 50 that was running perfectly) and went out to the field first thing this morning. Did the radio check. Battery check, started it up and all seemed fine. Was a little worried that I could have bent the crankshaft from the crash (destroyed the Mejzlik prop a buddy loaned me!), but was pretty sure it was okay. So in the air all was fine, but seemed a little down on power. Brought in and started chasing the needles. After in the air and back on the ground a few times I just started taching it. Best I could get was around 6100rpm. Kept fiddling then realized something just must be wrong - either I have the needles so far out I'm not even close, or the piston/cylinder are scuffed.

Back at home, pull the cowl expecting to tear down the engine. But right away I see black gook on the outside of the muffler, on the plug cap and on the cowl. Duh! I knew right away what it was.

Cleaned it up, tightened the plug, put both needles 1-1/2 turns out and headed right back out to the field. Tached out at 7,100. Okay, NOW we're talkin.

That engine runs so sweat. KE circles (that's the big maneuver I do) at half-throttle and the engine is just humming nice and quietly.


Okay, back to the Edge!