I have broken in my AV-46 engine and have been out taxiing around a bit. The engine likes to bog down when I go to give some throttle, and sometimes will stall. When it stalls it looses it's prime and I have to reprime it. Also there is some movement (about 1/16th of an inch side to side and even less back and forth) in the throttle barrell. Is it possible that air is being sucked in around the throttle barrell where it goes into the carb? Is there an o-ring on it? Being a beginner to the sport I am reluctant to start tearing the carb down for fear of getting in over my head.

Thanks

There could be a number of potential causes for the symptoms you're describing. Your Aviastar .46 engine isn't wildly different from any number of other Chinese-made ball bearing 2-strokes.

You might repost your question in the Glow Engines forum:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_114/tt.htm

There are a number of helpful folks who regularly respond to glow engine questions.

On a new engine, you need to get the high speed needle set to just before peak (slightly rich) when the engine is running at full throttle. Make sure you have your high speed needle adjusted to near peak rpm at full throttle before adjusting your low speed needle.

They will likely recommend that you test your low-speed (idle) needle setting with a "pinch" test. Start the engine and set the throttle to minimum idle, then pinch the fuel line to the carb closed:

A) The engine stops right away as soon as you pinch the line - Your low speed needle is too lean, turn counter clockwise to open it up (turn 1/8 of a full rotation, retest)

or

B) The engine continues to run for a bit after you pinch the line and speeds up a bit - Your low speed needle is too rich and needs to be turned clockwise to lean it a bit. (turn 1/8 of a full rotation, retest)

Ideally, the idle should be set so that the engine speeds up just a bit and then cuts out after a couple of seconds after you pinch the carb line.

One of the best parts of flying with a club is you can usually get help from some of the more experienced guys until you "learn the ropes" when it comes to engine tuning. Every club always has a few guys that just love to help with engine tuning.

I'd suggest you try the above tuning tips, and repost in the Glow Engine forum if you still need more help.

Sounds like a rich low speed needle setting to me. There are a few different ways to adjust the low speed, but biged's pinch test description will work.

You can trust Nathan's advice, he helps me straighten out my engines when I get my needles all jacked up!

Thanks for the advice. Will try the pinch test and if that doesn't cure my problem I'll post to the glow engine forum