help with engine problems
 

I have been having trouble with starting my engine. I've checked the glow plug, the starter, and the fuel lines. It is getting good compression. I got it started once and it ran for a couple second and then it died. I don't know what the problem could be. I'd appreciate any help you could give.

RE: help with engine problems
 

could you be a it more specific? are you getting muffler pressure? wat kind of engine is it? what kind of prop is it? what fuel are you using? did you try resetting the high speed needle? it may be either too lean or too rich and not allowing enough fuel to get there or simply flooding it. are you using an electric starter?

RE: help with engine problems
 

For the sake of argument, I will assume that you are talking about a OS 40LA. I remember being so frustrated trying to start that engine that I went out and bought an electric starter for it. Follow the engine manual that came with the engine for starting and breakin instructions. It will tell you where to set the needle valve before starting.

No matter what kind of engine it is, take the plane to your club and ask for help. Tuning and breaking in is not difficult, once you learn how the engine sounds when it is too rich (4 stroke), etc. They can show you how to check for too lean, too rich, etc. I can tell you about the pinch test, but having someone show you is a lot easier.

BTW, my 40LA now starts with 2 flips. I don't even get out my electric starter anymore. If I would have followed my own advice about going to the club, someone would have let me use theirs and I could have put off buying one. Well, advice is usually given from personal experience :D

RE: help with engine problems
 

The engine is an OS 46LA. After it wouldn't start for a while I richened the high-speed needle. I'm using an electric start and Wildcat 10% nitro for fuel. It's had about 5 tanks of fuel through it already. The last time I had it running and flying I nose dived into the ground.

RE: help with engine problems
 

Make sure no dirt got inside it. Dirt can destroy your engine very quickly.

If you have the instructions and you have been moving the needles around I would suggest resetting them to the factory settings and try again. Or you could get in person help from someone with experience and save yourself a lot of frustration (and quite possibly an engine).

Turning an engine is as much an art as science. I've seen guys with alot of experience throw up the hands in frustration claiming that they got a "bad" engine only to have another "tune" it in nothing flat. This type of help is one of the many reasons why people consistently reccomend newcomers to the sport seek out local clubs/LHS.

IMHO there is NO substitute for in person help.

RE: help with engine problems
 

yeah the weather is a little coller now, so richen it a little
did you check the line in the tank ?

if no parts are missing or loose.
The plug is clean, sometimes I crank up the juice just a little more on the glow driver.
I blow into the return line to prime it.
sometimes you gotta mess wiht it a little.
do little adjustments at a time thou.

maybe the fuel is bad.
how old is the fuel?
how did you stored it?

did you use after run oil. If not you might want to flush the engine.
Rust or gunk resedue will cuase the front bearings to leak.
or scrath the sleeving and piston.

nice to hear you trying to get back into the air again.
good luck, luke

RE: help with engine problems
 

If the pressure line in the tank is submerged in fuel could that be the problem? I just checked the lines in the tank and they seem to be fine. Do you think it could be a problem with the glow plug not getting hot enough? It seems to die a second or 2 after I take the glow driver off. The fuel is about 3 months old. I've been storing it in a a plastic tub in my house.

RE: help with engine problems
 

yes..return presure line submerg dosen't help.

try leaving the driver on a a little bit longer to let the engine warm up.
then lean it a little at a time.

when the engine dies when you remove the glow driver.
it's either too rich or the plug is fouling out.

if it's the same plug you had in the engine while it sat.
gunk or oil resedue will form on the plug's coil, thereby not allowing the plug to get hot enough.

RE: help with engine problems
 

VERY IMPORTANT CLUE!!! A common problem after hitting the ground hard is that the force of the impact sends the clunk to the front of the tank, bending the pickup line in half, and just about stopping fuel flow. Point the plane nose up and shake it a little. Normally, you should hear the clunk rattle a bit. If you can't hear the clunk, shake it alot. Often, this will cause the clunk to drop back to the correct position. If this doesn't work, remove the tank and shake it outside the plane.

RE: help with engine problems
 

I might try putting another glow plug on or maybe leaving the glow driver on a bit longer.

RE: help with engine problems
 

Frager-

Your LA has a remote needle valve. When you prime the engine, do you see fuel beginning to flow through the line from the needle valve to the carb? If so, the tank may not be a problem. If you don't have fuel flowing through the line or get bubbles in the line, then you definitely have a problem at the tank.

BTW, you can prime the engine two ways: with the throttle open you can seal off the carb opening with your finger and turn the propeller by hand (creates suction) or you can cover the exhaust outlet with your finger and do the same (creates tank pressure). Make sure you don't have the glow driver attached, as it can start up on its own while you are doing this. Once it is primed, then hit it with the electric starter.

I know you are out in the middle of nowhere and trying to do this on your own, but this is another reason to try to find a club for at least a few training sessions.

-Scott

RE: help with engine problems
 

I can see the gas coming through the fuel line so that wouldn't be the problem. The way I got it started once for a couple of seconds was by priming it the way with your finger over the carb. After that I couldn't get it started even by priming it. Thanks for the help.

RE: help with engine problems
 

If it won't start at all, it may need a new glow plug. If it starts and then dies, leaving the igniter on longer may help. If it runs with the igniter on, but stalls when it is off, it may be either a bad plug or too rich. You may also want to post your question in the engine forum.

-Scott