Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

Ok here's one from the ranks of the complete and total newbie when it comes to glow engines. I've been building my first RC model, a Sig LT-40, and it's going fabulously. I've now turned my attention to the engine, a Thunder Tiger Pro 46. I've rigged a solid bench test and followed the instruction regarding the fuel tank etc. The engine won't start. I'm using the fuel recommended by my LHS the label states: 15% Sport, Syn 75%, Cas 25%, Oil Content 20%. There is lots of fuel (too much?) a bit squirts out the carb when I turn the prop. I assume the glow plug (OS A-3) is hot enough....is there a way to tell?? I charged up the glow starter over night as per the package instructions. Is it supposed to be maybe a bit warm to the touch when fully charged? Mine is cold. There is lots of compression. I would hope the prop (11X5) is on the right way and that it runs counter-clockwise when looking at it? I don't have a starter so I've been using the chicken stick you see in the picture. Now I'm not a total idiot :)and in fact I'm a fair to middling mechanic but as you can tell I have no experience what so ever with the little power plants and don't know anyone that does....so any help would be appreciated!! Thanks guys.

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

prop does run counter clockwise. take your glow plug out and test it on your igniter. to make sure thats working first. just dont burn yourself with the glow plug when testing. i put a tt 46 pro on my last plane and it started with the first flick of the stick.

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

How recent is that pic? In the pic you don't have anything set up to adjust the throttle - just wanted to make sure you weren't going to try to do that by hand.

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

I will give ya what little I know.

It looks ok, is the tank hooked up correctly in terms of the hoses? The bleeder to the muffler and the the clunk to the carb? Also, when you get it started, you will want to control the throttle, make up a wire hooked to where the servo will control the throttle so you can keep you're fingers out of the mix.

I would, first thing take the glow plug out and hook it to you're igniter out of the engine so you can see if the glow is working. It sounds like that is not the case. Once that hurtle is crossed, just make sure that the needle valve is set the way the instructions say it needs to be, (prolly 1 and a half turns out from full closed) and you are on the way.

It will rotate counter clock wise when looking at the engine from the front, or prop side.
Hope this helps..

Tom

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

From your set up, tank looks a little too high.. Put the outlet level with the carb inlet... Also sounds like it might be flooded. If the glow plug is ok, open the throttle all the way open and crank unitl you feel it starting to hit. I have a TT pro 61 and love it. It starts on the first crank... The Thunder Tiger engines have a reputation of not having the idle needle adjusted very well at the factory. I had to adjust mine almost a full turn richer to get it to run properly...The instructions are clear on how to do it.. Now it is great.. Fred123[&:]

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

Looks like you've got it mounted in a vice in your workshop huh? Hmm... were you planning on running it in that spot? If you are, you might want to rethink that idea... these engines spit out a lot of oil... and combined with the effects of the propeller, you'll be cleaning oil off that wall for hours... the last time I broke in a motor, I took it outside, set it up and ran it.... then I had to spend a couple of hours cleaning oil off the wall behind me. [:@]

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

Like Liberator said hook up a control rod to the throttle. Please do not stand in front or beside that prop while it is turning. You need to be able to get behind it preferable on the opposite side of the muffler. I am thinking that if fuel is spurting out of your carb that you maybe have the throttle open too much. Most of the time the trottle os only open less than 1/8".

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

If you have fuel spitting out of the carb, then it is flooded. Remove the feul line, and the glow plug, invert the engine, and rotate the prop to get all the fuel out. Then try again. If you are priming it, try using half as many rotations to avoid flooding it again.

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

That's a good point about the tank height. You may be getting fuel siphoning into the carb and flooding it. When you do get it running, please, please be extra careful around the prop. They disappear once they start spinning and the last thing you want to do is have any body part anywhere near them.

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

Fred. The (more-or-less) correct setting for your needle valve should be about 2 1/4 turns to 2 1/2 turns open from dead closed, for breaking in that engine. It turns counter clockwise when looking at it from the front.

When you first get it started, run it at full throttle, with the mixture set so that the engine is just barely on the lean side of the 2-stroke/4-stroke break point. To get it there, start with the needle valve ~2 1/2 turns open from fully closed & slowly close it at full throttle -- the engine should suddenly transition from sputtery irregular running to sharp clean running, & the exhaust note will start to rise sharply -- that is the 2-4 transition point. Run right there, just as the engine starts to "sharpen-up", but not leaned out to where it really shrieks. Operate it that way for ~ 3 minutes, then stop it & let it cool off. Repeat that process for a couple of tanks of fuel then lean it out untill it is running as fast as it can go --- then back it off until it just starts to lose revs -- that is the correct full throttle mixture setting for a broken-in engine. Go flying.

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

I'd go ahead and get the electric starter too. Not that expensive and can make up for a stuborn engine and save fingers. Works best with a spinner though. IMHO

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

She is up and running!!:D Thanks for the help guys. I think it was just flooded. I did as suggested and lowerer the gas tank, made up a wire control arm for the throtle and took the whole thing outside. Great tips on those two latter items. I didn't want to go anywhere near that prop when it was going!! and she does make a bit of mess behind her when she runs rich eh??:) Thanks again.

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

Looks good, congratulations. tank position looks much better.

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

You can actually run it right there. What we do is get a piece of aluminum pipe (about 3/8 inch ID) and place it over the muffler outlet. It will be a loose fit--you want that. Strap the pipe down where it will stay put. Bend it so that the other end goes into a big jar or bucket (we use a one gallon pickle bottle--works good. That way all of your oil gets collected in the jar. You will have exhaust fumes, though, so make sure ventilation is good! There will still be some oil get blown onto the wall behind you, but not NEARLY as much--just what leaks out of the exhaust header and so on. Also, dirt and anything else in the air will get spattered all over the wall. We also do it outside when the weather is nice--I just wanted to give you another option if it's cold or for any reason you don't want to do it outside!
Sounds like you also may be trying to start it with the carb at full throttle? It should be at low idle when starting. An electric starter will save you soooo many headaches--just make sure the engine isn't flooded when you put an electric starter to it, or you could bend the crank, con-rod assy.

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

Wow, the prev two posts were posted while I was typing mine--looks like you don't need my help! :D
BTW, she'll make quite a mess even after you lean her up! Nature of the beast--the castor doesn't burn very well (but that's a good thing for the moving parts inside of the engine! ;))

Good luck and have fun!

Sometimes i paint the tips of my props white or yello--makes a nice little ring while the engine is running that reminds you where the prop arc is. Some of the larger MAS props come already painted like this--works good. Just try and paint them even on both ends (balancing issues).

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

kelownafred you might want to put a little tape across that control rod so it's not jumping around while the engine is running. In fact put a small piece of cardboard or something over the rod and tape the cardboard down, you just need some tension on the rod.
You might even want to run the engine in the grass, away from your concrete, and garage.
Make sure you understand the directions that TT gave you for breaking in your engine.

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

Does the oil eat through the concrete? Personally I wouldn't want to kill my grass.

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

No it doesn't eat concrete. If you put it in the grass 3' up on those horses you should not notice any dead grass.If you leave it near your garage might not like the fumigation that it will do to the garage and you will not like the oil spots that will be left on your concrete.

The best way to break-in an engine is in the air. NUFF SAID!

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

Yeah, but the smoke drives off the mosquitos??:D Or is it me forgetting to take a shower, I can't remember. Oh well, same result. [:'(]

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

You could lower the whole thing and cut the grass while you're at it. :)

Congrats! Glad you got it going. I liked that painting the tips idea, I am going to have to do that. It is an excellent idea.

Tom

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

paint front and back of the blades.

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

Hey Bruce, not to hijack a thread here, but if you have time Ihave a quesion about my assemble, (cant really call it a build)
I am putting together the u-can-do 46 and finished the wing yesterday. Everything is hooked up and looking good, but I think I am detecting a little warp in one of the ailerons. They looked straight before I put everything together, but now, (and maybe I am just paranoid) I seem to see a little dip on the middle of one. My thought to fix was trying to tighten the monokote on the opposite side.
Iknow it's tough to have a suggestion without seeing it, but I am just wondering if you have ever built one of these. These are huge ailerons by the way. I am worried about a snap roll on take off.

Tom

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

To be honest, I'm not all that familiar with the u-can-do a/c. What do you consider a LITTLE dip? How experienced of a flier are you? This may be the time to let someone with u-can-do experience maiden your plane for you. The phrase "Pride cometh before the crash" mean anything to you? It may fly fine. Have you tried to straighten it yet? Have you put a long straight edge on it to see if it is actually dipping? If you don't have a long ruler/yard stick, try stretching a string between the ends and looking for gaps midway. Do the ailerons move freely stop-to-stop or do they tend to bind at some point?

Anybody else out there with ideas

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

"To be honest, I'm not all that familiar with the u-can-do a/c. What do you consider a LITTLE dip?"
It can be seen, but not very much, perhaps an 1/8th?

How experienced of a flier are you? I have not flown regularly for about 20 years. When I flew before, I used to fly pattern, and scale birds, and I had a little pylon racer that I use to zip around. I flew for about 8 years or so I guess as I think about it.

This may be the time to let someone with u-can-do experience maiden your plane for you. The phrase "Pride cometh before the crash" mean anything to you? lol yup it sure does. :)

It may fly fine.

"Have you tried to straighten it yet?" Nope

"Have you put a long straight edge on it to see if it is actually dipping? Not yet, as soon as I get home.

"If you don't have a long ruler/yard stick, try stretching a string between the ends and looking for gaps midway. Do the ailerons move freely stop-to-stop or do they tend to bind at some point? The ailerons move very well. I have WAY too much throw in them, but I have not cut down the throws on the radio yet. I am going to fix the throws physically, then cut that in half on the high/low switch and use that for the maiden flight.

RE: Duh....which way does the prop turn???
 

OK, it doesn't sound to me like the plane itself should be a problem. If you can work out the dip, so much the better but nothing to lose sleep over. You didn't say anything about current flying and I do know this plane can really maneuver. IF you are not currently proficient, let an experienced pilot maiden the plane for you, then go fly the heck out of it once it is trimmed. Yes, low rates sound good for a beginning. I'm flying one now that rolls so fast on high rate it scares me and I won't come near the ground in high.
Enjoy your plane. :)

BTW- Did you get the OS 50? I've got one of them, a real strong and smooth engine.