I used to do prolonged break-ins on the test stand...

Not anymore though, although 90% of my engines still get a few minutes of test stand.

The last engine I broke in was on a plane, because I was out of time... it was already past noon (sunday), the weather was beautiful and I wanted to fly! I had worked all night to get the plane ready for its maiden flight...
It just so happens that the needle settings on this engine were way off mark. I had to close the idle over two full turns before I was able to even start the engine properly.
So, to keep a long story short... I almost had a fit, trying to get this engine to run. Then the carb came loose, and I couldn't reach the nut to tighten it... well, you know the routine, the angrier I got, the more things started to go wrong...

Looking back at this... I wish that engine had been on a test stand... that sunday afternoon cost me two years of my life...


So this is why most of my engines still get a tank (or two) on the test stand.
I absolutely hate tinkering on my plane and engine at the field. When I'm at the field, I want to fly!
This is probably why I have never lost a plane due to reversed controls, bad reception and things like that. I double and triple check everything before going to the field.

I could live without an engine test stand... but then again, I could also live without a car, but having one is just so much more convenient...