Electronic solutions to modifying glow engines of all sizes to gasoline
#652
The uneven distribution was caused by the carb barrel moving sideways as it opens which biased one side of the engine to receive more fuel than the other side. If your barrel doesn't move out as it opens, which it won't, you won't have the uneven distribution problem.
#653
Yep, the insert unscrewed with the glow plug during the CDI conversion. Truth be told I spec'd the length of the insert wrong. The glow plug hole on Saitos is canted with respect to the roof of the combustion chamber, which I knew ahead of time, but somehow spec'd the insert length 2 threads too long anyway. The swaged portion of the insert only engages the cylinder threading around 60% of it's perimeter. Perhaps that explains why the swaging of the 2 bottom threads was so easy. In addition I used JBweld only on the top 2 threads of the insert, none on the insert flange, and didn't ham fist tighten the insert during installation. It was tight enough to remove the glow plug with uncured JBweld, so I figured good enough. Wrong.
This time I used JBweld on the top 3 threads as well as on the insert flange and tightened the crimeny out of it. Might hold now.
This time I used JBweld on the top 3 threads as well as on the insert flange and tightened the crimeny out of it. Might hold now.
#654
I took the choke off and just used my finger (pinky) through the front hole in the cowl... Don't know how well that rubber button will hold up to gasoline... the boxers spit a lot of fuel out the carb when run on glow fuel, on gas that should be reduced quite a bit... I don't know what that button is made of, but its not silicone, possibly soft vinyl.
On the Gauil I replaced the carb 5mm steel socket head mounting screws with 5mm nylon screws, and a 1/4" silicone rubber insulator between the mounting flange and carb base.
If I were to run the os boxer on gasoline, I'd make a modification to the intake runners... I would cut the runners off about 5/16" - 3/8" behind the tube nut... leaving a stub and then use a rubber coupler to re-join the intake runners back onto the end of the stub... leaving a small gap between the ends of the of the cut tube... to thermally isolate the intake runners completely from the cylinder head.
On the Gauil I replaced the carb 5mm steel socket head mounting screws with 5mm nylon screws, and a 1/4" silicone rubber insulator between the mounting flange and carb base.
If I were to run the os boxer on gasoline, I'd make a modification to the intake runners... I would cut the runners off about 5/16" - 3/8" behind the tube nut... leaving a stub and then use a rubber coupler to re-join the intake runners back onto the end of the stub... leaving a small gap between the ends of the of the cut tube... to thermally isolate the intake runners completely from the cylinder head.
Last edited by John_M_; 09-05-2022 at 08:02 AM.
#655
Yep, the insert unscrewed with the glow plug during the CDI conversion. Truth be told I spec'd the length of the insert wrong. The glow plug hole on Saitos is canted with respect to the roof of the combustion chamber, which I knew ahead of time, but somehow spec'd the insert length 2 threads too long anyway. The swaged portion of the insert only engages the cylinder threading around 60% of it's perimeter. Perhaps that explains why the swaging of the 2 bottom threads was so easy. In addition I used JBweld only on the top 2 threads of the insert, none on the insert flange, and didn't ham fist tighten the insert during installation. It was tight enough to remove the glow plug with uncured JBweld, so I figured good enough. Wrong.
This time I used JBweld on the top 3 threads as well as on the insert flange and tightened the crimeny out of it. Might hold now.
This time I used JBweld on the top 3 threads as well as on the insert flange and tightened the crimeny out of it. Might hold now.

#656
My experience with JB weld, is it doesn't bond well to waxy metals like brass... I think you would have been better off with the hi temp red loc-tite, on the entire threaded portion ( well decreased threads ) and let it setup for 48 hours... if you have to remove the insert, just use heat to soften the loc-tite.
#658
#661
A barrel NOT moving sideways, does NOT automatically mean both cylinders will run equal, but at the very least I would expect the difference to remain more or less constant.
One thing that is very important, is that both temp probes are located as precisely the same as you can get them, because measurements vary with location. Get that right first, otherwise you are only chasing your tail.
#663
I took the choke off and just used my finger (pinky) through the front hole in the cowl... Don't know how well that rubber button will hold up to gasoline... the boxers spit a lot of fuel out the carb when run on glow fuel, on gas that should be reduced quite a bit... I don't know what that button is made of, but its not silicone, possibly soft vinyl.
In fact, on my twin the ONLY rubber part I replaced was the HS needle O ring. everything else ((carb neck seal, LS needle O-ring, and the branch seals that seal the intake runners to the T-junction are still original and hold up well.
67 Runhours now...
#664
If I were to run the os boxer on gasoline, I'd make a modification to the intake runners... I would cut the runners off about 5/16" - 3/8" behind the tube nut... leaving a stub and then use a rubber coupler to re-join the intake runners back onto the end of the stub... leaving a small gap between the ends of the of the cut tube... to thermally isolate the intake runners completely from the cylinder head.
Also very little heat soaking after a hot engine stop. No explanation why, just an observation.
#665
That's too quick a thought: If the barrel does not move sideways, you still CAN have uneven distribution if the fuel is biased left or right. The air will distribute evenly, but liquid has different inertia and might not distribute evenly at the T-junction.
Basically, a change in "relative tune" throughout the throttle range. On my twin, the both cylinders would show a different progression in temperature throughout the throttle range. For example, at idle the left hand cylinder would basically cool down due excessive rich mixture, at mid throttle both would run "about equal, and at full throttle the right hand cylinder would run the coolest because the rich condition changed from one cylinder to the other throughout the throttle range...
A barrel NOT moving sideways, does NOT automatically mean both cylinders will run equal, but at the very least I would expect the difference to remain more or less constant.
One thing that is very important, is that both temp probes are located as precisely the same as you can get them, because measurements vary with location. Get that right first, otherwise you are only chasing your tail.
Basically, a change in "relative tune" throughout the throttle range. On my twin, the both cylinders would show a different progression in temperature throughout the throttle range. For example, at idle the left hand cylinder would basically cool down due excessive rich mixture, at mid throttle both would run "about equal, and at full throttle the right hand cylinder would run the coolest because the rich condition changed from one cylinder to the other throughout the throttle range...
A barrel NOT moving sideways, does NOT automatically mean both cylinders will run equal, but at the very least I would expect the difference to remain more or less constant.
One thing that is very important, is that both temp probes are located as precisely the same as you can get them, because measurements vary with location. Get that right first, otherwise you are only chasing your tail.
Last edited by Glowgeek; 09-06-2022 at 03:30 AM.
#666
it's the same units that chris used when he said the .40 cid engine had a .2 orifice, probably millimeters since only america uses Inch-pound. all I did was scale the orifice area linearly with respect to engine displacement, remembering that on our twins, the displacement is twice the fuel flow rate since both intake cycles happen at different times.
#667

My Feedback: (1)
it's the same units that chris used when he said the .40 cid engine had a .2 orifice, probably millimeters since only america uses Inch-pound. all I did was scale the orifice area linearly with respect to engine displacement, remembering that on our twins, the displacement is twice the fuel flow rate since both intake cycles happen at different times.
#668
do you need any photos and measurements of my mounting plates or are you going to wing it? just let me know if you do. by the way, the magnum mount is slightly longer (or maybe it's shorter) than the os ft120 mount even though they are interchangeable. the cases on both engines are the same length though so i swapped mounting plates when i swapped the ft160 in for the ft120 on my rv8.
...it miight make sense to make a mounting plate that's a custom length to match your specific airframe so you don't need to mess with spacers too.
...it miight make sense to make a mounting plate that's a custom length to match your specific airframe so you don't need to mess with spacers too.
#669
#670
Last edited by John_M_; 09-06-2022 at 06:42 PM.
#671
Same thing on my 200Ti, drowning the front cylinder at idle and drowning the rear at mid range to just under wot. Worst disparity between cylinders I've experienced. It does use a rotary sliding throttle barrel. CDI will help with dropping cylinders but this engine may not be a good candidate for gas conversion using the factory carb. Ideal would be to use Chris's design or run two carbs on short intake runners, like the Saito 300T-TDP.
Things should be a fair bit better with double carbs.
#672
Its not an odd fire twin Bert, its an even fire twin... Clarence states that in his review... the crank journals are set at 30 degrees, cam timing is setup same as a even fire twin... if it was an odd fire, it would have had the Saito signature dual carb setup they use on all their odd firing twins... I would suspect the aggressive valve timing, and glow plug ign.
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TheEdge (09-07-2022)
#673
Its not an odd fire twin Bert, its an even fire twin... Clarence states that in his review... the crank journals are set at 30 degrees, cam timing is setup same as a even fire twin... if it was an odd fire, it would have had the Saito signature dual carb setup they use on all their odd firing twins... I would suspect the aggressive valve timing, and glow plug ign.
BTW, Saito did make an odd fire twin with a single carb, the FA80T MKl. The MK2 of that engine had dual carbs.
Last edited by Glowgeek; 09-06-2022 at 04:23 PM.
#674
Well they certainly did, must have been their first odd fire twin engine... The 130TD had dual carbs with the spit fence between the two carbs... was a menace inside the J3 cowling, I ended up extending the spit fence back to the firewall and up to the inside top of the cowl to stop each cylinder from ingesting the others standoff.... Clarence didn't go into to much detail with his review on the 80T.
Ign timing can be advanced when run on glow fuel, I run the boxer 34-36 degrees, but when you do that with the stock ign, you advance the idle timing as well... on gasoline with that compression ratio, you'll have to retard it some, around 28 degrees.
What oil content are you running?... what propeller?
Ign timing can be advanced when run on glow fuel, I run the boxer 34-36 degrees, but when you do that with the stock ign, you advance the idle timing as well... on gasoline with that compression ratio, you'll have to retard it some, around 28 degrees.
What oil content are you running?... what propeller?
Last edited by John_M_; 09-06-2022 at 05:26 PM. Reason: added
#675
Yep, I've run others at 34 degrees with no problem, however those engines didn't have a very high CR. The 200Ti is 13.7:1, thought I would start low and advance the timing 1 degree at a time until the engine no longer sees gains, then back off 1 degree.
I'm running 15% synth/2.5% castor. I could use a lower oil content, I know, but I like to run the same fuel in all my methanol engines, 4 stroke and 2 stroke/.55 to 2.2 cu in.
I'm running 15% synth/2.5% castor. I could use a lower oil content, I know, but I like to run the same fuel in all my methanol engines, 4 stroke and 2 stroke/.55 to 2.2 cu in.


