ORIGINAL: opjose
ORIGINAL: ArcticCatRider
This is all that is important in regards to glow engine temps.
EDIT: A pusher setup is completely different. It then becomes like a car engine...and would require to be run sloppy rich, or have a large heat sink
Head temp even on tractor prop planes, is affected by prop size, and other factors.
Knowing the head temp helps to make sure you are not prematurely degrading the engine.
The ''spit test'' is not quite enough, nor are the engines designed to run hot.
I've seen all too many people tune up glow engines for best performance, back off a bit as they are supposed, only to have them seize in flight resulting in a deadstick or a crash.
While using the wrong prop was ultimately the culprit, monitoring the head temp would have pointed to the problem.
I just have to question this. I fly on average three days a week, I was involved in pylon racing also for a long time and to this day I have never seen anyone, myself included ever seize a model aircraft engine. I have seen cranks break but never seen a model plane engine seize. I have yet to see any aircraft pilot use a temp gauge. Just how many engines do you see seizing up in any given year??