Hi all,

I flew today but had some trouble with my engine. the first flight ended when i throttled up to go-around and the engine died on me. My dad and i then spent an hour trying to get it to run correctly. it had problems with idle. We adjusted the needle valve and the carb. The engine is an OS 46la. The problems we considered were, overheating (it was 107-112 degrees outside), fuel, the fuel we had been using was a little over a year old and it was the end of it, and just a problem with the engine internally.

Anyone have an idea what could be wrong with it?

The fuel is 10%.

Thanks,
Farr301

Farr,
It honestly sounds like the low end was too rich. At idle the engine loads up with fuel and when you open the throttle it simply floods and dies. You need to lean out the low end. But.... I will tell you right now that a LA engine with the airbleed carb can be a bit cranky to tune the low end. It's very hard to adjust the low end. The trick is very VERY small movements on the airbleed screw. 1/16th or less increments is what you need to do when making adjustments on the low end. It might take a bit to get the setting right, but that's what you need to do.

Ken

It could also be the glow plug. If it idles well with the glow driver connected but not without it, I would try a new plug. A too rich setting can give a similar behaviour but this can be checked by pinching the fuel line or tilting the plane. Don't give up on the engine, it is usually something fairly simple ones you find the right thing...

Before you mess with anything, try flushing the system. Pull the high speed needle valve out and blow fuel through the tank and out the needle valve opening, then put the needle valve back in just barley. Open the throttle and blow fuel the rest of the way through the carb.
After you do this you will probably have to drain the muffler by holding the plane straight up and letting it drain a bit. Put the needle valve back in until it just bottoms out then turn it out 1 1/2 turns. Then when you get ready to start, take it slow and make sure it's not hydraulic locked. If it is just drain it some more.
I've found over the years that if you do this first, you probably don't have to mess with anything else, especially the low speed needle.
Hope this helps. ENJOY !!! RED

If your fuel is over a year old and especially if your near the bottom of the jug, I'd try some fresh fuel.

You adjusted the needle valve and does this mean you also adjusted the low range bleeder screw.

If so are you aware that bleeder type carbs work the opposite of most others (double needle types) And that you unscrew the bleed screw to lean the mixture. I agree with the above I think your midrange is rich.

John