Took my brother's Hangar 9 Alpha and couldn't get the engine running right. Any ideas on where I should start with the needles? Normally, I am not a needle twister, but I saw my brother doing it quite a bit when trying to get it started before I took it home and I got the funny feeling he's got them way out of wack and he's not sure it was ever running right. Everything I ask him about the plane is "I can't remember" -- he can't even remember whether he has crashed/damaged/flown the plane ever!

The engine seems to start okay, but will not run when I take the battery off. The high end seems to fluctuate quite a bit at full throttle. My experience is with 4 strokes, so don't know where to begin with an ABC 2 stroke.

As far as the engine not running when you take the glow plug igniter off, I would change the glow plug.

It is too rich on the bottom end. Turn the low end needle in 1/8 turn and try it. If it continues keep turning the low end in 1/8 turn at a time till it doesn't lose RPM when you remove the igniter.

I only have 4 stroke plugs... would these be okay to try? I have tried leaning the low end, til the screw is all the way in. There are tabs that only allow it to go so far.

Glow plug is good advice too, just wasn't sure whether a 4 stroke plug would hurt it...

Take your plug out then and put the igniter on it and check it. I'd wager your plug is fine and the low end needle is out of adjustment.
The 4 stroke plug will work on a 2 stroke I am pretty sure.

First, change the glow plug to a good 2-stroke plug.

Second - Remove the ring that limits the low end adjustment. Open the throttle to One Millimeter. Close the low end needle, then open it 1 1/5 turns (One and one fifth). Replace the limiter collar to the center of the adjustment position.

Minn, thanks for posting. I will take another look at it and see how it goes. Should I be adjusting the high end first, though? Everything I know about 4 strokes suggest adjusting the high end first, then the low end, if necessary and only after getting the high end right. Just want ot be sure.