RE: I converted a glow engine to run on E85
Charlie, I'm not sure whether the solder adjustment on the spraybar was necessary due to the difference in fuel stoich or the altitude I'm living at which is 6840' MSL. I did not get nearly the same RPM at top end with E85 that I did with methanol (9100rpm), I didn't even bother trying to fly it because I want more power, not less. It was about 800rpm less. I'm sure there's a lot of planes that can fly happily all day on a Saito 120 running at 90% RPM which was about 8300rpm with a MA 14x6, but any aerobatic plane already wheezing at 6840' MSL needs all it can get. I will probably convert it to electric power which doesn't suffer from oxygen starvation at altitude. The top end of the needle wasn't an issue on the ground tests, although I did not use muffler pressure and so that might have had something to do with it. I think a fuel pump would probably help out as well, the fuel feed becomes erratic without muffler pressure during acro. A Perry Micro-Oscillating pump can be adjusted for output pressure, although that might make the top end more sensitive than no muffler pressure since some pressure will certainly be added. The Walbro is probably the best carb ever for model airplanes, it has a pump and a regulator built in, and a separate idle circuit with great atomization of the fuel. For a 2-stroke it is perfect, and I know Saito just released a 4-stroke with one as well, probably using crankcase pressure to work the pump and regulator, same as the 2-strokes. For gasoline it's a must because the fuel amounts are much smaller and harder to meter. It would certainly be nice for an E85 conversion as well. -Tom