needle valve adjusting
 

Quick question. I have mounted my Saito 82 covered up by the cowling. Is there a needle valve extention, or do I just fire it up without the cowling on, adjust as necessary, and then shut her off and attach the cowling?
Thanks

RE: needle valve adjusting
 

Trying to adjust then put the cowl on will quickly get to be a real PITA[:'(]

Normal practice is an extension to the needle valve that protrudes through a hole drilled in the cowl at the correct spot. Most engines have a grub screw that allows fitting of an extension, pretty sure Saito is one though I don't have my Saito 65 here at work to check!)

Position the hole by measuring from some fixed point with the cowl off then transfer the measurement with it on. I usually stick a piece of masking tape along the side of the fuselage and measure a line and distance to where the hole needs to be.

Hope this helps

Terry

RE: needle valve adjusting
 

mesaflyer, what I do is take a piece of 256 pushrod and sand the end so it fits in the needle valve end,then I put a bend in it to make it easy to turn outside of the cowl, it also helps to keep track of how many turns you have,as well as making it easy to turn while its running.
here's my mustang notice the "L" bend wire after you put the cowl on, just feed the needle into the engine through the hole you need to cut into the cowl.

RE: needle valve adjusting
 

Redback and Big Tim have given you good advice.

Before you remove the needle valve, turn it all the way closed, and count the turns as you go. Let's say you get 2 1/4 turns. Now you can remove the Needle, put the cowl on, replace the needle and close it all the way - then open it 2 1/4 turns so you're in the right ballpark when you try to start the engine.

RE: needle valve adjusting
 

And closing away the needle out of reach, inside a cowling means someday you're going to fly that puppy with a bad needle setting.

Someone who avoids the time and effort to make the needle accessable through the cowl WILL someday decide it's too much effort to get to that needle and rationalize that the engine is running "good enough."

RE: needle valve adjusting
 

on scale ships I cut the head off a 4-40 socket head bolt and silver solder or braize it to the end of the needle vavle and use a ball driver thru a hole in the cowl to adjust.

RE: needle valve adjusting
 

get a skinny allen wrench and put it in their

RE: needle valve adjusting
 

Boy, sometimes I wonder about myself. That is so simple! Thanks for all the good ideas and responses.

RE: needle valve adjusting
 

All good suggestions above, One thing I insist on for my all stuff as well as anyone I may be mentoring is access to not only main needles but also midrange adjustments whether second needle type or a bleeder as well as the glow plug with the cowling installed.

This last one becomes even more important in the case of an inverted engine and the probable need to clear engines by plug removal fairly often.

A typical second needle type mid range can be easily accessed usually with a small hole for a flat tip driver and of couse these adjustment only done with the engine not running.

John

RE: needle valve adjusting
 

I have the engine mounted inverted, and the glow plug is easily accessable, except for having to "stand on my head" if the plane is on the ground. I had some reservations about the engine being inverted. But after reading alot of posts on inverted engines, I decided I would give it a shot. I can lower the fuel tank to Saito's suggested height. Thanks again.

RE: needle valve adjusting
 

If you can keep the fuel tank close to the recommended height then the Saito will run just like it was upright.

RE: needle valve adjusting
 

there is some neat tips on this sight for the saito engines.

http://saito-engines.info/

RE: needle valve adjusting
 

Thanks for the link. It is just what I needed!