I hope someone has an answer for me. I am new the the RC plane hobby although a do own 2 RC nitro Trucks. The problem I am having is at first, when atempting to breaking in the engine, I had a hard time to get it started until i figured out how to prime the engine. with the needle valve limiter on the plane set factory, the engine would start and run for a 15-30 or so seconds and then turn off. it almost seems like its not geting enough fuel. it also in the same situation instantly dies when i up the throttle. I took the limiter off and rotated the valve a total of 3 times instead of the factory 1-1/8 turn, it will start then and runs. I didnt get hardly any smoke but oil/fuel was coming out of the exhaust. i ran a tank through it with idle and going on the throttle every few seconds. what could be the reason for that and at what temp should the engine run so i can guess how lean to make it. i HAVE FEW OTHER QUESTIONS BUT WILL ASK LATER.

To figure out if its to lean do something along the lines of this:
At full throttle give the plane a 45 degree angle. If it revs and then dies, with no smoke too lean. If it revs and dies with smoke it's too rich. Just get where it will rev and keep going
someone please correct me if i am wrong.

The setting should be between 1-2.5 turns. Run it quit rich your first few flights, it takes almost a gallon of fuel to fully break in an engine

Thanks for the post, I will try that.

When the engine is on idle, should smoke be visible?

And why would the needle be way out of wack from what the factory calls for?

Does anyone know what the engine temp should me on the OS .46FXi at peak?


Thanks
Marcel

I was reading another post about the OS .46 FX engine. It mensioned about air bubbles in the line. Im having the same issue also. This causes the engine to sputter at partial throttle.

I forgot what airbubbles mean. When you go flying tommrow, your instructor should be able to help you. The engine shouldn't smoke much during idle, though it is not uncommon when you go from idle to full throttle to see a tiny bit of smoke

Air bubbles mean theres an air leak in the fuel system generally. Had this problem myself last week. Turned out to be a crack/hole
in the fuel line going to the needle valve. The line was torn right at the copper tube that hangs out at the fuel tank. I put a new section of silicon tubing on and bubbles disappeared.

Dave...

Mine needed a lttle low speed needle adjustment to get it right. You may want someone to help you with that once you get the other issues ceared up.

Bubbles can also mean vibration and foaming fuel. Leaning out is the result. If it only happens in the air it can be quite a mystery. Mounting the tank in soft foam usually cures the problem.

If you have air bubbles comming from the fuel tank to the engine you have a problem. Did you wrap the tank in foam rubber? Vibration will cause fuel foaming and this will lean your engine out but will not cause the starting issues your having. (cause the fuel hasn't foamed yet) Are you using a starter or flipping it over by hand? Does it say in the manual that for break the high speed needle should be set to 1 and 1/8th? That sounds more of a setting for after the engine is broken in, and for break in 2 to 2 1/2 should at least get you in the ballpark. Since it's a ringed engine you want to break it in slobbering rich the first couple runs. It needs to be full throttle controlling engine speed with the high speed needle. What exactly does the break in proceedure in the manual say to do? Check your fuel lines and padding on the fuel tank first to figure out why your getting air bubbles comming from the tank. Then let us know what the manual states for a break in proceedure to check your high speed needle settings.

We I just got back from my first flight.

I think the reason for the bubbles in the lines is B/C it was wayyyyy to rich. It was getting fuel too fast. I finally got it right at about 1 and 1/2 turn out. The first flight went well. I had to turn off the AFS B/C it didn't work properly. it works when you lean the plane one way but not the other way. Anyways, here are a few minor issues that occured during flight.

1) After a rought take-off, i got it in the air and the plane wanted to go up when i let go of the right stick. I did check all the rutters and areion based on what the manual said. I had to adjust the trim all the way up just to get the plane to come down for a landing.

2) With 5-7mph wind, it was kicking my plane around peatty bad when I attemped to land. My plane kept creaping to the right so i had to attemp the landing several times. Once landed, it bounced and the Prop hit the concrete and broke.

All in all: My first solo flight came out ok without any major damage. And without the AFS active or any lessons from an instructor. If anyone has any tips for the few issues, let me know.

Although it was only a 10 minute flight, it was the biggest thrill I had in a long time. I love it.

You really have to be careful with that wind. It will REALLY knock your plane around in take off. I learned that the hard way today. In takeoff another thing is that if you have a split second to think of a reason not to go up wind espeacially, I highly reccomend you go to idle and let it run in the grass or whatever it takes to keep it on the ground. I had a split second and thought i could make it. The crosswind was fine for me and i easily got through it, but then the wind changed and gave my plane a little boost of lift causing it to go vertical and tip stall

STUPID STUPID STUPID

Just be careful with wind, and don't give too much elevator.

Today was the winds fault, last time it was mine

I can also give you a little additional advice on the Nexstar, I have one and have flown it quite a few times. My first flight was with an instructor and he quickly landed the plane shortly after take off, that was because the Air Brakes that are supplied caused the plane to have way too much lift. We had to readjust the elevator setting via the linkage. Well, only a couple of flights in this manner, I soon realized that it was time to take the air brakes off because for one, with very little head wind, the plane was a little difficult to land smoothly, may have been operator error on my part, . I took the brakes off and also removed the wing tips, now it flys much more like a regular plane and is so much easier to land. I don't fly it much anymore cause I am using my other planes but still it is a great flyer, I would go ahead and take off the extras as noted above, you still cannot go wrong. BTW, I did not use the AFS at all.. could not get it to trim out correctly so I just turned if off at the get go.

I may be selling the plane here shortly, have not really decided yet but I could use the space in the hanger... Good luck on your next flight