We finally got a break from all the cold & snow, so I flew My SAP-180 today. I'm starting out a little differently through the break-in period, using the stock muffler while I get to know the engine. My main reason for doing that is to make sure I have a good handle on baseline performance and behavior before adding the pipe. Using Lawnboy ashless at 32:1 and an APC 17x10 for initial runs. My engine is the one that Todd Syssa made some minor mods to, effectively reducing exhaust timing by a couple of degrees. Compression is just a little higher than the stock engine. Overall, it's not much different.

The engine started very easily the first time, and every time afterwards. Initial start using the prop rocking method with an open throttle and closed choke pulls fuel to the carb very quickly. Subsequent starts for the day never required any choking and were 1st flip events every time but once (I experienced a 3 flipper). It was necessary to open the high end needle about 2/3 to 3/4 turn from the factory setting to get the type of setting that I like for break-in. Temps were in the high 40's.

Performance pulling an Aqulia was very good, using the Masters sequence to gauge things. With only a 17x10 break-in prop, the engine unwound nicely in the air and had good throttle response all around. It died a couple of times in 2 1/2 turn inverted spins, I think because I set the idle too low for an engine that has not yet been broken-in. I had set it for about a 1500 RPM idle, so being set rich, running in cool weather and so forth, I'm not suprised that it quit at that setting in a spin. A couple of clicks higher and it was fine. Top end RPM was 8200 to 8250 after 3 flights. I recall from when Matt and I did the initial tests at Syssa with a pipe, that this 17x10 prop turned 8900. It's certainly a light load for the engine, but that's what I like to do when an engine is new. All-in-all, I saw some improvement through the day as running time increased. Compression is very good, and the engine now doesn't have that tight feeling like it did out of the box.

Can't wait to get the nose ring and try this in my Prestige.