Thanks Jim, great info.[sm=idea.gif]
I found it. If anyone is interested here is the web page with tech data for all GP planes.
Scholl through to find SS.
[:-]
http://greatplanes.com/techsupport/technotes.html
Thanks all for the help!
Shubova
[8D]

Well I straighten out the incidence problem it was 4 ½ positive now it’s 0 and added 8oz to the nose to get her balanced.
If anyone is interested here is some pics of my make shift CG tool and the Stearman.[:-][img][/img]
Shubova
[8D]

STERLING McC, I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SOME PIC'S OF YOUR GP STEARMAN,I WAS GOING TO INSTALL AN OS 91 FX IN MINE BUT OPTED FOR THE SATIO 125 GOLDEN KNIGHT. THE KIT HAD SOME PROBLEMS FROM THE FACTORY BUT I HAVE PATCHED AND WORKED AROUND MOST. IF I HAD READ YOUR NOTE BEFOR BUYING THE SAITO I WOULD HAVE A LOT MORE FULE MONEY IN MY POKET. WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ABOUT HOW YOURS FLIES. HOPEFULY MINE WILL FLY THIS WEEKEND. BE SAFE, GOOD FLYING.BILGE

I'm trying to find some ideals on mounting a Saito 170 into my super steerman. Anyone have any ideals? Looks like the supplied engine mount will make it impossible to use blind nuts as the interior bracing is directly inline with two of the holes in the mount. Looks like I may need to use a plate of alum. or steel to sandwich between the firewall and engine to make it work. What is the thinnest plate I can use and still be strong enough to work? Also, has anyone had any luck with a smoke system on such an engine? Thanks

I have a 170 in mine, it's a good match for the plane. I'm away from the plane for the next week or so and don't remember most of the specifics, but I can tell you that it does fit with the supplied mount. What I can remember is that I cut off everything that extended past the firewall and I think I had to notch the tri stock on the inside for the the blind nuts.

[sm=idea.gif]My suggestion for you is spend some time and scan through the pages of this thread. There is a lot of good info that applies to your situation. I took the info I needed and did a copy/paste to a Word document. So I had a lot of notes to fallow when I started to build my Stearman.
I’m using a Saito 180 and using the stock mounts. It is a tight fit but it worked. I had a friend fly it; he’s really great at aerobatics. Well let me just say he did things that I didn’t believe this plane could do. It has power to spear. I had to add 6 oz to the nose that put me at about 15 lb.
Believe me I have seen Stearmans that had 170’s in them, they did look cool but it is way over powered for this plane. I would suggest to anyone to save the weight and [sm=greedy.gif], and not use any engine larger then a 150 or 180. Of course you do what you want.
I also had a problem with fuel siphoning into the carb because the tank center is higher then the carb. I don’t know were the carb is on a 170 but it should be something to consider. I used a Cline fuel system (fuel regulator) and it works well.
As far a smoke again I would suggest reading through this thread. There are a lot of people that are using them.
Good Luck and Happy Flying!
Shubova
[8D]

[:-]
PS: My Stearman is the one you see in the pictures a couple of posts above yours. It's my version of a balancing tool.

The 170 is a perfect match for this aircraft in sound and power. It has the approx. power of a 150 due to power loss thru inherit friction in multi cyclinder engines, the more cyclinders the more mechanical loss.
There aren't any issues with fuel siphoning when the 170 is set to the prescribed engine location as indicated on firewall.
Hope this helps

Rcten

You get a better sound from a single cyl. 4c then a multi.. a multi sounds more like a racing engine when at speed. to many cyl firing..

just my 2cents...from my 140 and a friends 170 and what other people have commented..

2Brave try checking Post 942 and 943 from this forum. You will find an example of how Rcten mounted his 170. I am just about to mount my 170 ion my Super Stearman using a different (not saying better) method. I'll post some pictures soon. The Saito 170 Radial develops about the same horsepower as a Saito 120 single cylinder: According to Saito manuals Saito 120 2.2 H.P., Saito 150 2.5 H.P. and saito 170R 2.0 H.P. I don't believe the 170 is too much power for this plane. I am with Rcten re: great sound and great match for this plane. Be sure to use an on board glow driver so you don't lose a cylinder at low power settings (8:00 cylinder can be especially bad for this) especially until the engine is completely broken in. I have a link to an excellent video of a S.S. with a Saito 170 in it. I will post with a link to the video as soon as I find it.

Here is a link to the Super Stearman with the Saito 170R. Seems to fly/sound great:
http://www.speedersonline.com/av/superstearman.wmv

Shubova:
Have you flown the Stearman after this change?
Did your lower wing was at 0 as same as the stab?
Is the engine at 0 incidence?
Thanks.

Yes I have had several flights after setting the incidence at 0. It still wanted to climb a little, I put in a few clicks up elevator and it flew just great. Loops, rows, Cuban 8's no problem. I'm going to move the CG forward about a 1/4 in. A club member who is very experienced flew it and he felt that’s all it need now.
Shubova
[8D]

Thanks for your info, I have been around this bipe for some years now but I have not decided to buy it yet, I consider this incidence issue the only problem with this great Bipe and I am trying to learn a lot of it before order it from Tower.

Thats what is did, I copied and pasted notes from this and other threads to a Word doc. I had about 5 pages of notes before I started. That being said I have seen of few of these bips fly and know someone that has one too. He didn't have to adjust the top wing at all. Someone in the tread memtioned that he added 1 degrees negitive incedence, I forget his logic.
They only thing I can come up with, in mine is they must have built the saddle for the lower wing incorrectly. I added the horizontal stab 0 incidence to the lower wing.
Some told me if you put a level on the engine shaft then check the incidence on the lower wing that should tell me something. But I can't remember if the engine has down and/or a little angle right as do a lot of planes to allow for the torque of the engine. I've spent a lot of time on this one and she's doing great, so...
Good Luck,
Shubova

PS: Another thing to consider is that a lot of people myself included have cracked the fiberglass covering around the landing gear when make a hard landing. But if you read the thread there are solutions to that too.

Yes I have read almost all the thread and know some issues, as same as you I have noted that many users do not have a the same problem with the incidence and that is weird to me, I also read about changing the position of the interplane struts.
I have not a very well written track of the entire bipe's performance, but everyone that has one just love it. I really like the way it looks.
Thanks again for your valuable info.

My plane has always needed a bunch of down trim and it's always bothered me. After ready all the posts about the top wing positive incidence issue I decided to check mine. Well, I finally got a chance to check the incidence on the top wing and it was within half a degree of the stab, but guess what, the lower wing is at + 2 degrees. As far as I know there's no way to fix this without major work, so I guess I'll just have to live with the down trim. Anyone else have this problem?

It sounds to me that it is tail heavy. I would try adding small amouts of lead to the nose, or move things around inside. You can't always go by the C. G. they say to use. Good luck

Can anyone tell me if I could use 61/2"? The engine that me and my son want to use would be that long from the fire wall to the thrust washer. Can the cowling be moved out the extra 1/4"? I'm asking before we buy it. Thanks for any help

Yes, the cowel is 6 3/4" deep and you install the cowl mounting ring.

Thanks for your help.

Well I have read this entire thread over the last day and I am sold on the GPSS for my 1st bipe. I will most likely use a g26 from RC Ignitions. I am currently running a Zenoah g26ei on a Rascal 110 and love it. Christmas is arriving soon and I have a oh so good boy this year.

MINE COULD COME FOWARD APROX A 1/4" BUT NOT MUCH MORE, IT WILL NOT LEAVE MUCH OVERLAP WITH FUSELAGE BUT I'M SURE IT WILL WORK. I USED A SOITO 125 AND IT IS WAY FOWARD ON THE STD. MOTOR MT. MY PROBLEM IS FINDING A SPINNER SHAFT NUT THAT WILL FIT NOW. B.R. MIKE.

You might find that you are underpowered with that 125. I have a SAITO 150 in mine and wish I had put bigger.

R/C Foolish

Hi,
An unlucky event turned into good luck for me. My thinking was a 150 Saito would be more then enough power. I bought a used Saito 150 about 2 years ago but never used it. I put it in the Stearman but when I went to start it, it gave me problems. I just had acquired a 180 on a great deal so I changed out the 150 for the 180 and I love it. It does everything I want and more. It has power to spare. It's not fully aerobatic but it does things I didn’t expect. Of course I had the 150 fixed and plan on using on another plane.
With the 125 you should get a good scale flight but you end up adding some much weight to the plane I don’t know if it will do anything else.

Dave Brown or True Turn should have a shaft nut and washer that is close. I ended up using the washer and nut that came with the engine; and to that I added a True Turn shaft washer and adapter so the spinner fits nicely.
Some people cut the shaft down to get a fit but to me that degrades the integrity of the motor. It’s up to you if you want to do that.

One more thing! Make sure you check the incidence on the upper and lower wings, and the horizontal stabilizer. They should all be “0” degrees to each other. My upper wing ended up being 4 ½ degrees positive. Needless to say I had to input every bit of down elevator that I had and it still wanted to climb. Later through my investigation of the problem I found that the incidence varies on this plane from negative to “0” to positive. The crew that built mine must have done a lot of celebrating the day before. So beware!
I also moved the CG forward about 1/4 inch. Like I said it flys great now.
I hope this helps,
Shubova
[8D]

DON'T BE FOOLISH MR FOOLISH, IF I HAD MORE POWER IT WOULD BE A 3-D'ER. REALY FLYS GREAT AT ABOUT 3/4 THROTEL IT LOOK AND ACTS VERY SCALE. I 'M SWINGING A 16-6 PROP AND EVERY ONE IS COMPLIMENTRY ABOUT THE SCALE PREFORMANCE, AT FULL THROTEL IT IS MUCH FASTER THAN A SCALE SHOULD BE.IT PREFORMS ALL STUNTS THAT A SCALE STEARMAN COULD DO. I'M NOT SURE I UNDESTAND ALL OF THIS POWER PROBLEM PEOPLE ARE HAVING, THE PLANE WAS SET UP FOR A 120. THIS IS NOT A ROCKET SHIP.ANYWAY THANKS BUT I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER. GOOD FLYING,BE SAFE B.R. MIKE