I am predominately an electric flyer, from smaller parkflier and 3D, to large sport scale aircraft and I have been building for quite a few years. About 2 months ago at work, I was asked by a co-worker to build his Carl Goldberg Piper Cub (76" span) with a Supertiger 61 and Pitts muffler. He has not flown an airplane in many many years, and is currently getting a trainer and building it this fall but planning on learning to fly next spring. Originally, I was to build the plane, with full cockpit scaling and some other touches, break the engine in, make the maiden flight, and then turn it over to him where he is going to hang it in his two-story kitchen space till he learns to fly well next year.

My question is, I can easily see this plane being flown, and having a sucessful maiden, but I am concerned about the engine during storage over what may be a long period of time. Should I break this engine in, make flight, and then let it hang for 9 mo, 12 mo, or longer? I would think that the engine is in good shape now having been factory oiled, with no glow fuel run through it, and that I should hang it up this way with the glow plug and carb capped off to protect from dust.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Personally, I think I'd wait to break the engine in when your friend is ready to fly it on a buddy box with you or an instructor. He can be there for the engine break-in and fly it himself after it's first couple of flights. Like you said... no rush to build it and break it in if he won't fly it for several months yet...

if it has to be broken in the best way to preserve it after you fly is to run the fuel out of it and then remove the plug and put air tool oil inside and some in carb and turn the engine over a few times to lube and protect it and cap the carb. If I was storeing for an extended time I would have it off the model and vacuum sealed in a food bag, but the only time I have extended storage is when the model does not exist anymore.

Rob,
Your post indicates that this fellow is going to build a trainer before he ever flies the Cub. I personally would build the Cub, not run the engine at all, and let him hang it up with the engine still brand new. The Cub is not an easy plane to takeoff or land and IMO requires somewhat more skill than a beginner or someone who hasn't flown in many years possesses.
Built it, don't run the engine, let him hang it up and admire it, and when he is ready, take it down, break it in and let him fly the wings off it.

Regards,
doubledee

I was not endorseing breaking it in I was just informing him of a safe way of storeing the engine if it has already been run and broken in. This is for his future reference.

H!
The first thing yoy should do is to replace that big .61 twostroke engine...it is simply not suitable for the size CUB your friend has choosen.
Instead a more suitable engine size is a .40 -.46 twostroke, and prop should be a 11x6 -12x4 APC which will give good static pulling power, rapid takeoffs and a quit engine. 5% nitro is good to use, not more!
If the plane is going to hang from the ceiling for a year or more, I recommend that you don't run the engine prior to it being flown. Just put small pieces of paper in the engine intake and exhaust opening so no dust and dirt get in.

Regards!
Jan K
Sweden

Personally, if your friend is not going to fly his cub until next year, I would wait until then to break in the engine. Otherwise he's going to have a nice "oily" cub hanging from his kitchen. He would also have a fueltank with oil build-up over the winter months. I would put a good 24 hr initial charge on his new radio, leave the engine alone and let him hang it up until he is ready for it's maiden flight.

One final thought: If the cub was only going to get a maiden flight before hanging in the kitchen over the winter months, it's much easier to hang up a newly built plane rather than a cub that's in a million pieces in case the maiden flight goes haywire!

If nothing else have him give me a call. I will personally fly to his hometown and fly it for him when the time is ripe!

Just wanted to give my opinion.