Hey all,

I finally finished the installation phase of my .40 engine on my trainer .40 plane today. I wanted to see if my dad and I could fire up the engine (Thunder Tiger .40) so I followed the included directions and tried to get it running.

However, I think I have a problem. When I was "priming" the engine... it didn't seem like any fuel was being syphoned into the carb (whilst my finger was over it and i cranked the prop). I am sure the glow plug was good and also the glow plug igniter.

How do I make sure that fuel is pulled from the tank to the engine? I have an 8 oz tank with a vent line going to the muffler and a fuel feed line going from the tank to a fuel filter to the needle valve assembly on the carb.

Anyone have any suggestions??? I have been working on this for years (sad that it's taken that long) and I am really just excited to fire it up and get a tank of gas through it.

Thanks ahead of time for your help!


Onebb.

Make sure the needle valve is 2.5 turns open. CLose it gently until it stops. Then open it (CCW) 2.5 turns. As a diagnostic, you can put some fuel tubing on the carburetor nipple and blow air from your mouth. This will help you confirm that the fuel passage is open through the needle valve.

Also, make sure that you don't have the fuel line and pressure lines crossed. I've done this. It should still draw a little fuel from the vent line on a full tanks but you never know.

The first time I tried starting a glow engine I found out that I was priming the engine with the needle all the way closed (it came that way from the factory, and I didn't open it the 2 turns). Of course no fuel got to the carb. Then I figured it out, opened the needle, primed it up and saw fuel running through the lines to the carb. Once you see the fuel in the line reach the carb, flip the prop a few more times. You might not see any fuel in the carb itself, but there should be enough.

Good luck.