Newbee needs engines 101
 

S! All

Greetings all and Salute! I've bought my trainer plane and while I await club membership and hopefully a fine trainer fellow, I thought I'd dive right in and learn how to fire-up the motor. I was given 2 TT .46 Pros that are missing a few parts here and I have no manual for them. I worked all night to make a engine testing platform and I just got her started and running for a few seconds (funny too because I got this big *****grin and that never happens when I start my lawn mower!)

I need to learn the proper starting, break-in, and carb setting for this motor. Please send help. I bought a book that stated to back out the needle 4 turns but she seemed to spit alot of fuel out the muffler and if I close the throttle all the way she quits..which I guess is proper but got me wondering how you setup the engine when it is in the plane to never quit but to idle smoothly. How do you stop the engine when on the ground but never have it go below idle in the air!? I know..I'm like a machine gun with questions-sorry.

Thanks ahead~ Ned.

RE: Newbee needs engines 101
 

First of all, and most importannt, the engines are supposed to spit out fuel from the muffler it helps keep it cool among other things. you can ruin your engine by not allowing some fuel to cool down the muffler, if you can even get it to run long enough. I'm not too familiar with TT engines, my preference is OS, but see if you can DL a manual from the manufacturers website to get the information for breakin. Most likely, if its an old TT, you run it rich(out with the idle screw) for a tank or two alternating between idle and full power for 8-10 seconds each and let it run mid throttle every few times. If those engines were missing parts, more than likely, unless you put in a new piston and sleeve, it does not need to be broken in because it is already been used. As far as cutoff is concerned, I set my idle when the throttle stick is pulled all the way back and the cutoff when I pull the throttle trim all the way back. You always need an engin cutoff in case of emergency. If I were you I would go out to the field and watch what all the experienced people are doing, and if you ask enough questions and are really interrested in doing this right, someone will "take you under his/her wing" and show you proper setup and safety. That is what happened to me......

Byrdman

RE: Newbee needs engines 101
 

Hmm, lots of questions, where to begin?

Let's start with the search tool. One of the most valuable features of RCU is the ability to search. You will find a search box on the left, near the top when looking at forums. You will also see a search link in the rectangular bar below the icons on the right side of the page. This one takes you to a search page. I tend to use this one since it gives me more search options. The reason I mention searching is that you will find that many questions have already been discussed in great detail. Reviewing these past discussions will save you time, because you can get your answers immediately, rather than waiting for someone to answer your thread. It also helps other forum members by saving people from having to answer the same question over and over. Please do not take this as a suggestion that you should not be asking questions, that is not my intent. I'm mentioning this because while reviewing search results I often get answers to questions that I hadn't even thought to ask yet.

On to your specific questions...

Four turns open is probably way too much. I can't speak for ALL engines, but most I have used started at something like 2 1/2 turns open. I suggest NOT RUNNING your engine any more until you do have the instructions, or someone to help you. I believe it is an ABC engine, and running them "sloppy rich" means they do not get up to proper running temperatures. This prevents the liner from expanding the right amount, which can lead to excessive piston/cylinder wall wear. The result is an early death of the piston/liner, leading to an expensive repair, or total engine replacement. Here are a few threads which provide more on this subject:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_19...tm.htm#1992096
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_13...tm.htm#1369094

There are many, many more

Controlling engine idle versus shutoff is done with the transmitter. For glow engines, there are two ways to do this, based on the features available in your transmitter. On a basic transmitter, you control the engine shutoff with the throttle trim lever. You adjust the servo to carb linkage so that high trim gives a good idle speed and low trim closes the carb, which shuts off the engine. A more advanced radio will come with a throttle shutoff switch. Flipping this switch will move the throttle servo to the preset closed position. On the Futaba 6EXA, engine cutoff is done by flicking the trainer switch twice. This closes the throttle and shuts off the engine.

RE: Newbee needs engines 101
 

As a non-mechanical kind of guy (you won't see me tinkering with my car or the toaster) I found learning to deal with engines to be much harder than learning to fly. In fact, I can tear up the sky (well at least bend it a bit) but I'm still learning how to solve engine problems.

I remember when I first went out to the field I was amazed at the the dexterous movements of the "old hands" fingers and they brought my trainer's stubborn engine to life. They put their fingers over the muffler and carb, rubbed their fingers together to check for oil in the exhaust, pinched the fuel tube to stop the engine, tweaked the carb needle as they cocked their ear to one side. Sure some had tach meters but most just seems to know what an well-tuned engine should sound like. Almost 10 months later I'm also beginning to recognize that sound. But when my engine won't start I'm greatful for all the experienced help I can get.

And there ain't no amount of book learnin' that can replace that!

RE: Newbee needs engines 101
 

Ned-

You mentioned that you need to learn the break-in procedure, but you also said that the TTs are missing a few parts. I assume that you managed to combine enough parts to make one engine. If your engines are missing parts, have they been run before? If they have been used, they probably don't need to be broken in.

-Scott

RE: Newbee needs engines 101
 

Thanks guys! I understand about the idle and cutoff now. I think I have the 1st engine running good enough for now. I'll let the guys at the field double check it when the time comes. I'll read everything I can and post a few more questions over the winter months til spring training can begin! Thanks again!

RE: Newbee needs engines 101
 

piper-chuck - you know... I own a 6EXA and never knew there was a engine cut-off!!! Thanks!!!

RE: Newbee needs engines 101
 

Don't let engines intimidate you. R/C engines are fairly simple to deal with, waaaaaaaay (did i mention, way?) easier to deal with than an automobile engine. Not even in the same ballpark:D...
Find a manual for your type engine, read it, and then put it on your test stand and fiddle with it until you get the hang of it. But whatever you do, don't let it intimidate you, it's really pretty easy to figure glow engines out. Once you get the hang of it you'll see how simple they really are.
Good luck!!:D

RE: Newbee needs engines 101
 

You're welcome.

RE: Newbee needs engines 101
 

Jagnweiner- Yep, that is exactly the case.. 1 engine I'm sure has been used and the second is still unused and waiting for me to fiqure out what plane might be a good match for me and the engine. :D

I found a good use for my folding workmate stand and I believe I have the #1 engine running pretty well. Starts right up with a chicken stick and goes from idle to full power smoothly. I have my local RC shop hunting down the missing pieces for #2. Thanks everyone. I'm off to research the proper plane for after training. Hey, it's almost winter and I need something to do!