I have an onboard glow starter on my RV4. I want to add a micro switch so that when I go to idle the glow comes on. What is the best way to accomplished this and ifyou have any pictures that would be great.
Thanks

chopper

Is this a home made glow system? most ready made systems will aloow you to program it to come on where you want it

Homemade. I used a head lock and just wired it to a on/off switch.

chopper

If it is a momentary toggle, use a wheel collar and a spring on the throttle linkage. Check out car exploded views and parts lists for the brake systems.

Tower Hobbies have two different trucks, that would be a good place to start.

Yeah,I've seen guys mount a momentary toggle switch or something similar behind one of the arms of the throttle servo horn arm. And when the servo arm is at almost idle it will push up against the switch thus tripping it....as the throttle is advanced it moves away from the switch thus killing the circuit and the power is then off. Pretty simple and radio shack should have whatever you need.

Someone here has to have a good picture of this setup.....

I have built mechanical glowdrivers for a couple of my planes. I used a 'roller' switch from Radio Shack and cut a large servo wheel to have a cam on it to activate the switch. Don't have any photos, but here's a drawing...

I am going to ask because no one else has. Why do you need a on board glow starter? What engine do you have?
I considered the same thing, then thought to myself why add the weight and if my engine is not reliable without one what's wrong with my motor?

Sometimes it can improve the reliability at/near idle especially when inverted. Some with twins REALLY like reliable engines.

I'm running a Magnum .91 four stroke in a RV 4. The first reason I did it was to have a clean cowl and no holes for a glow starter. I'm now wanting to set it up to run at idle because as Bruce said I'm looking for better reliability. I've purchased a 2800 mah battery and I'm thinking about running it the entire flight. Not sure I want to go through the switch hassle. Is there any reason that I shouldn't run the battery the entire time?
Thanks

chopper

The heat from the battery plus the heat from running the engine, it will not last.

A lot of the Helicopter croud have remote plugs. Some of their engines are mounted inverted, and if you put the Ni-Starter on it, the landing gear will not set on the ground.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXBC35&P=7

Try this, you mount the plug head where it is convenient, like where you have already cut the cowl around the exhaust.

Maybe something like http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXRYK2&P=ML there are other brands too.