Electronic solutions to modifying glow engines of all sizes to gasoline
#1526
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#1527
Senior Member
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Meanwhile, in the Netherlands:
Clubmate Rob and his dad inherited an old long time unused OS FS40 (one of OS' first fourstrokes smaller than .60, so really an oldie, according to OS' timeline introduced in '81).
They also picked up an old unused Robbe Charter for free, so basically for the cost of a set of bearings and the conversion (ignition, solenoid-stuff and telemetry stuff) they had this very nice summer-evening-flyer.
From first start on gas to adjusted curve took them about 20 minutes of runtime.
Prop is an APC 11 x 6, initially engine peaked at 8100 RPM and was tuned down rich by about 300~400 RPM, so 7700~7800 on the ground.
After about 30 minutes of flying and groundrunning and general messing about, the engine all by itself gained allready 200 RPM and was hitting 8K on the ground despite its rich pre-flight setting.
Absolutely not bad for this old girl, and plenty power for the 60" winspan, 4.6 lbs trainer.... Yup, that is right, This plane, despite the "complicated and heavy conversion" weighs exactly what my own Charter back in 1982 weighed with a .25 glow engine in the nose...
Clubmate Rob and his dad inherited an old long time unused OS FS40 (one of OS' first fourstrokes smaller than .60, so really an oldie, according to OS' timeline introduced in '81).
They also picked up an old unused Robbe Charter for free, so basically for the cost of a set of bearings and the conversion (ignition, solenoid-stuff and telemetry stuff) they had this very nice summer-evening-flyer.
From first start on gas to adjusted curve took them about 20 minutes of runtime.
Prop is an APC 11 x 6, initially engine peaked at 8100 RPM and was tuned down rich by about 300~400 RPM, so 7700~7800 on the ground.
After about 30 minutes of flying and groundrunning and general messing about, the engine all by itself gained allready 200 RPM and was hitting 8K on the ground despite its rich pre-flight setting.
Absolutely not bad for this old girl, and plenty power for the 60" winspan, 4.6 lbs trainer.... Yup, that is right, This plane, despite the "complicated and heavy conversion" weighs exactly what my own Charter back in 1982 weighed with a .25 glow engine in the nose...
Last edited by 1967brutus; 03-17-2023 at 09:57 AM.
#1528

Nice old design, Bert. Flies great, sounds great. There's something to be said for relaxing Sunday flyers. No adrenaline, no knee knocking and trembling hands, just smooth sailing and sweet aero-bliss.
I've always been a push it to the edge kind of flyer. Never really understood the attraction to slow floaty flying, until I built this a couple of years ago.

1938 Sal Taibi Powerhouse, 88", 4.2 lbs, Saito 56, Osaka Silk
I've always been a push it to the edge kind of flyer. Never really understood the attraction to slow floaty flying, until I built this a couple of years ago.

1938 Sal Taibi Powerhouse, 88", 4.2 lbs, Saito 56, Osaka Silk
Last edited by Glowgeek; 03-17-2023 at 10:22 AM.
#1529
Senior Member
Thread Starter

As you have figured out yourself, judging by the shiny Saito on the nose of that Taibbi design, the appeal of a slow flying plane gets greatly enhanced by the sound of a fourstroke...
#1530


By the way, that Powerhouse won at the FF nats powered by a "complicated and heavy" gasser. Lol
Last edited by Glowgeek; 03-17-2023 at 12:24 PM.
#1532

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Nice old design, Bert. Flies great, sounds great. There's something to be said for relaxing Sunday flyers. No adrenaline, no knee knocking and trembling hands, just smooth sailing and sweet aero-bliss.
I've always been a push it to the edge kind of flyer. Never really understood the attraction to slow floaty flying, until I built this a couple of years ago.
I've always been a push it to the edge kind of flyer. Never really understood the attraction to slow floaty flying, until I built this a couple of years ago.
Meanwhile, in the Netherlands:
Clubmate Rob and his dad inherited an old long time unused OS FS40 (one of OS' first fourstrokes smaller than .60, so really an oldie, according to OS' timeline introduced in '81).
They also picked up an old unused Robbe Charter for free, so basically for the cost of a set of bearings and the conversion (ignition, solenoid-stuff and telemetry stuff) they had this very nice summer-evening-flyer.
Clubmate Rob and his dad inherited an old long time unused OS FS40 (one of OS' first fourstrokes smaller than .60, so really an oldie, according to OS' timeline introduced in '81).
They also picked up an old unused Robbe Charter for free, so basically for the cost of a set of bearings and the conversion (ignition, solenoid-stuff and telemetry stuff) they had this very nice summer-evening-flyer.

#1533

well with dremel carefully applied to the throttle barrel this brilliant twin cylinder was so easy to find a lose setting to get up and running..im amazed how easy the engine was to get started..and will hand start after stopping it
#1534
Senior Member
Thread Starter

Dang, Dan! You're getting the hang of it a lot quicker than I did back then. Runs beautiful!
And indeed, they start extremely easy.
Keep an eye on temperatures when on the testbench, because cooling is significantly less than in flight. 5500~6000 RPM continuous with an 18 x 6 is about the max (but of course you can run it half a minute WOT, as long as you give it enough time at lower RPM to cool down a bit inbetween).
In flight, it will only run hot under really extreme use, use that this engine was anyway never intended for, as they never were built as aerobatic performance engines.
And indeed, they start extremely easy.
Keep an eye on temperatures when on the testbench, because cooling is significantly less than in flight. 5500~6000 RPM continuous with an 18 x 6 is about the max (but of course you can run it half a minute WOT, as long as you give it enough time at lower RPM to cool down a bit inbetween).
In flight, it will only run hot under really extreme use, use that this engine was anyway never intended for, as they never were built as aerobatic performance engines.
Last edited by 1967brutus; 03-17-2023 at 10:16 PM.
#1535

Dang, Dan! You're getting the hang of it a lot quicker than I did back then. Runs beautiful!
And indeed, they start extremely easy.
Keep an eye on temperatures when on the testbench, because cooling is significantly less than in flight.
In flight, it will only run hot under really extreme use (more than 90 sec WOT).
And indeed, they start extremely easy.
Keep an eye on temperatures when on the testbench, because cooling is significantly less than in flight.
In flight, it will only run hot under really extreme use (more than 90 sec WOT).
yeah must say i got lucky..well it doesn't even hesitate from idle to mid or even a quick idle to full throttle..im amazed , i set it a tad rich on idle and 1 click at a time to get it up in rpm for full throttle..but ive only let it idle and a little 3k rpm..and cooling in-between short runs..its like 35 c again today..
it does seem to run a bit rich on the right cylinder..well it should come good..
what would you recommend for a prop on this engine?
Im running a 16x7 at present..i have to search for a aircraft aswell to fit the engine..
#1536
Senior Member
Thread Starter

thanks bert.
yeah must say i got lucky..well it doesn't even hesitate from idle to mid or even a quick idle to full throttle..im amazed , i set it a tad rich on idle and 1 click at a time to get it up in rpm for full throttle..but ive only let it idle and a little 3k rpm..and cooling in-between short runs..its like 35 c again today..
it does seem to run a bit rich on the right cylinder..well it should come good..
what would you recommend for a prop on this engine?
Im running a 16x7 at present..i have to search for a aircraft aswell to fit the engine..
yeah must say i got lucky..well it doesn't even hesitate from idle to mid or even a quick idle to full throttle..im amazed , i set it a tad rich on idle and 1 click at a time to get it up in rpm for full throttle..but ive only let it idle and a little 3k rpm..and cooling in-between short runs..its like 35 c again today..
it does seem to run a bit rich on the right cylinder..well it should come good..
what would you recommend for a prop on this engine?
Im running a 16x7 at present..i have to search for a aircraft aswell to fit the engine..
Any prop that allows the engine to spin up to about 7500 on the ground (peaked) is OK.
I myself run the APC 18 x 6W, which is a fairly heavy turning prop, and with that it peaks to 7700 on the ground. I tune for 7200~7300 to allow for unloading in flight, In the air it spins up to 8200 easily with that prop and mixture setting.
In all fairness, although I like the particular behaviour of the combo, the prop is not a perfect match, because airspeed drops a bit too much under towing conditions. I probably could do with a 17 x 8W (if that size exists).
16 x 7 is too light, the engine will probably exceed 9K even on gasoline, and that is bad
Last edited by 1967brutus; 03-18-2023 at 12:06 AM.
#1537

In all fairness, although I like the particular behaviour of the combo, the prop is not a perfect match, because airspeed drops a bit too much under towing conditions. I probably could do with a 17 x 8W (if that size exists).
16 x 7 is too light, the engine will probably exceed 9K even on gasoline,
got that loud and clear 😆
I knew that prop was too light ..onlone i had worth drilling a 12mm hole in its guts..il definitely source a more suitable prop..you knowcwhat its like blowing bucks on a prop that is useless!! well i. Happy with today's accomplishment..il set this brilliant engine aside ready for what? Airframe i may find for it..
time to figure the asp fs91 carb problem, see if i can get it usable
16 x 7 is too light, the engine will probably exceed 9K even on gasoline,
got that loud and clear 😆
I knew that prop was too light ..onlone i had worth drilling a 12mm hole in its guts..il definitely source a more suitable prop..you knowcwhat its like blowing bucks on a prop that is useless!! well i. Happy with today's accomplishment..il set this brilliant engine aside ready for what? Airframe i may find for it..
time to figure the asp fs91 carb problem, see if i can get it usable
#1538
Senior Member
Thread Starter

In all fairness, although I like the particular behaviour of the combo, the prop is not a perfect match, because airspeed drops a bit too much under towing conditions. I probably could do with a 17 x 8W (if that size exists).
16 x 7 is too light, the engine will probably exceed 9K even on gasoline,
got that loud and clear 😆
I knew that prop was too light ..onlone i had worth drilling a 12mm hole in its guts..il definitely source a more suitable prop..you knowcwhat its like blowing bucks on a prop that is useless!! well i. Happy with today's accomplishment..il set this brilliant engine aside ready for what? Airframe i may find for it..
time to figure the asp fs91 carb problem, see if i can get it usable
16 x 7 is too light, the engine will probably exceed 9K even on gasoline,
got that loud and clear 😆
I knew that prop was too light ..onlone i had worth drilling a 12mm hole in its guts..il definitely source a more suitable prop..you knowcwhat its like blowing bucks on a prop that is useless!! well i. Happy with today's accomplishment..il set this brilliant engine aside ready for what? Airframe i may find for it..
time to figure the asp fs91 carb problem, see if i can get it usable
Funny enough, on the Twin the carb remains cold enough even without isolator.
Last edited by 1967brutus; 03-18-2023 at 07:52 AM.
#1539

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THIS JUST IN !!!!
Breaking news from Northern Canada as sources say there have been reports of a sweet sounding T4 rotary valve Webra running on gas!!!
Busy day today but just had to try this - all stock except for the ignition setup - 11x7 Graupner 3 blade - fuel mix a conservative 8:1- stock carb -
Runs awesome except (as expected) the mid range is thick.. but High and low end are very good - 8700 rpm with conservative needle setting - sub 2000 rpm idle. Very smooth and Quiet with a unique sound.
This was a 2 minute setup - just a quick set of the high and low needles - not electronic magic yet. Big smiles as I think this is going to be a sweet "Put-Put" style motor for the right plane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqcx...ature=youtu.be
Breaking news from Northern Canada as sources say there have been reports of a sweet sounding T4 rotary valve Webra running on gas!!!
Busy day today but just had to try this - all stock except for the ignition setup - 11x7 Graupner 3 blade - fuel mix a conservative 8:1- stock carb -
Runs awesome except (as expected) the mid range is thick.. but High and low end are very good - 8700 rpm with conservative needle setting - sub 2000 rpm idle. Very smooth and Quiet with a unique sound.
This was a 2 minute setup - just a quick set of the high and low needles - not electronic magic yet. Big smiles as I think this is going to be a sweet "Put-Put" style motor for the right plane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqcx...ature=youtu.be
#1542
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#1543

If you can't get the Saito carb working: the original ASP 91 carb also responds pretty good to the Dremel treatment. But it is necessary to place an isolator between head and header, and also between carb and engine body. I personally always "sandwich" the carb between two isolators (longer bolts needed) and wrap the part of the thread that is in the carb in teflon tape, to also eliminate the heat transferred through the bolts. It makes a significant difference. (this also goes for the solenoid-solution by the way),
Funny enough, on the Twin the carb remains cold enough even without isolator.
Funny enough, on the Twin the carb remains cold enough even without isolator.
but when i tried the 91 stock carb it just wouldn't work..well i think there was some form of blockage and the hs needle takes a couple of turns from closed before it lets any fuel through..so i will now try that again 😉
#1545
Senior Member
Thread Starter

ohh the saito carb runs perfectly on the 91 now ..
but when i tried the 91 stock carb it just wouldn't work..well i think there was some form of blockage and the hs needle takes a couple of turns from closed before it lets any fuel through..so i will now try that again 😉
but when i tried the 91 stock carb it just wouldn't work..well i think there was some form of blockage and the hs needle takes a couple of turns from closed before it lets any fuel through..so i will now try that again 😉
#1549
#1550

I picked up a Saito 120 fathead, the one with that splended air bleed carb that has a midrange adjustment. I'm going to play with it to see if I can widen the throttle range that it runs well with gas.