OK, doing this poll to see what the feelings are about test stands for running your engines. It seems that I may have upset one or two people by saying that I don't feel I miss out in not having one.
My general argument is: why set up your engine to run perfectly on a test stand, when you want it to run perfectly in your aircraft, where the set up may be completely different. Save time and hassle and do all setting up in the plane.
I have only given you two options so that you can't sit on the fence.
Some specific points:
On a test stand the engine has to be mounted upright, but I would say that few engines are mounted like this on a plane, most are side mounted or even inverted. I have yet to come across an engine that has the same idle setting for inverted against any other mounting.
How do you perform a "nose up test" on a test stand?
The position of the tank relative to the carb can be important. You are unlikely to have the position on the test stand the same as in the plane. And if you do go through the hassle of measuring up so that it is the same, why not just fit the engine to the plane in the first place.
The length of the fuel line from tank to carb is also important. You could only get the same length if you first mounted the tank and engine to the plane, set up the fuel lines, then removed again to run on the test stand. Why bother?
OK so it is easier to reach the engine to make adjustments verses an engine in a cowl, but you should not have the cowl fitted until the engine has had a few tanks through and has been set up any way. And many aircraft don't have cowls.
Noisy and Smelly! Running engines is noisy and smelly. I live in a flat (apartment) so cant run an engine there, my planes live at my parents, but running an engine there is not an option either as it will upset them and their neighbours (I don't want my planes evicted!)
OK, that should do for the rant, so over to you.
Do you have a stand and can't live without?
Do you not have a stand and don't see the need?
Perhaps you do have a stand, but hardly ever use it?
Well let us know!!!
