Would it make sense to use ignition on a methanol engine?
Is the methanol/air mixture ignitable by a spark, or only by compression/heat ?

I'd like to build an ignition system to use on my ASP 1.20 FS, and possibly lowering compression and running it on gas instead.
However one step at a time would be easier, so can this be done ?

(perhaps it's hard to lower the compression if the camshaft pushrods aren't long enough...)

/Anders

This has been done to run gas in them but they had less power, weighed more, and cost more. Also on gas, you have to run a 16:1 oil mix insted of the 32 or 50 to one that you do on a chainsaw engine. There wouldn't be any advantage to still run glow fuel in a ignition engine.

As a result, a lot of people have tried it (and BTW, you do not have to lower the compression) but the practice has not caught on so far.

You can run a C-H or RC ignition on one with little trouble. You just let the plug fire every revolution. It doesn't hurt anything. It will cost close to $150 to do the conversion with new parts.

Enjoy,

Jim

Anders,

I have been running a C&H ignition on my Saito 300 Twin for some time and love it! Lower idle, easy start, higher RPM, better transition ....... what's not to like. It is a standard twin unit and from talking to the folks at C&H, it has positive effects on four stroke engines from about 120 size and up! The bigger the engine gets, the harder it is to get consistent ignition with a glow plug! If you have ever flown a twin you know that sometimes the engines just don't run the same. It is often becauxe one plug runs a little colder than the other at differnt stages of ignition. Spark is simply more consistent and hotter. I don't think I have ever flipped this engine more than once and not had it crank at idle speed. I highly recomend it if you don't mind laying out the cash!

Convert to gas? They are not built the same. Buy a gas engine! Want more economical fuel? Spark will let you run on little or no nitro, with decent power!

Perry

Ok, going to gas sounds like more trouble than it's worth. It's the 15% nitro that make it expensive anyway.
I've had lots of grief trying to make the engine run reliably at a low idle... lots of nitro, on board glow, etc...
If a spark would also make starting easier, that sounds like the way to go.

Since I'm going to build the ignition myself, I only need the spark plug. Where can I find one that fits the same thread as my normal glow plugs ?

Hey AndersE! read the "gas fuel with glo plug, no ignition" tread you will find some data about running gasoline with a glo plug, but in your case being that is a glow plug engine the only changes requiered would probably be more oil content for lubication of the con rod, See the results that " wvarn1957" obtained on his O.S. 60 FP engine you will probably wet some ideas that will help you convert into gasoline