I have a question about this setup. I have ordered the conversion parts from Pete at Wackerengines and I was wondering if I should install an electronic ignition from CH ignitions. Will the engine have enough power to fly the plane with authority with the magneto system? I was thinking the weight might keep down the performance. The engine weighs 4 lbs with the standard magneto system and only 3 lbs with the electronic ignition.

Thanks

Hi,

Personally, I convert all my engines to electronic ignition, and highly recommend it. Lighter weight, easier starting, and you can also fine tune the timing and gain some power. It adds to the cost of a conversion, and isn't strictly necessary, but it's what I like to do for the benefits. You can always use the ignition on future engines, so it can be a "one time buy" from that aspect.

Good luck,
AV8TOR

Hi Jim.I'd spring for the ignition system and lose the extra pound up front if you can afford it.Problem is,sometimes these older WW1 warbirds need the extra weight up front to get them to balance right.Check and see whether this will affect your Cof G or not.Wouldn't make a lot of sense to switch to an electronic ignition system to lose the weight just to have to put it back on again.However,some versions of electronic ignitions allow for much easier hand starting than with your present standard ignition.Most of these smaller engines using a magneto system have to be usually spinning a minimum of about 200 r.p.m before the ignitions kick in.If you aint flipping the engine over quick enough,it just isn't going to generate sufficient electrical current to spark the plug.Some brands of engines seem to be a bit harder to start than others.The guy to ask here in this forum would be Ralph otherwise known as RCIGN1.He can help to answer any questions you may have about electronic ignitions and how to set them up.He makes them.There are also a few others in here as well that also offer similiar ignition devices.There names escape me at this moment unfortunately.Maybe they will read this thread and chime in to offer you some assistance as well.Good luck in your endeavours Jim.

I have the same Eindecker 90 from Balsa USA. I have a 23.6 CC Echo engine on it. Also have all my engines on CH systems. My Echo engine weighs at least 1.5 pounds less than you are getting and mine balanced perfect. Radio gear in the middle right under the wing. Batteries and all. Ignition box is right behind the firewall. I did add another firewall but only to meet my requirements and I wanted a solid ring to mount the cowl to instead of the screw blocks. Flying is a dream, 7300 with a MA 16/6. In anything else it may be under powered but not in this. Only thing you may want to watch is your ignition battery. Had a 700ma in there and maybe 3 flights. But the flights are 20 minutes then I get tired of standing there flying slow. Even then there is still a third of a tank left out of a 14 ounce tank. Need to fly at at least 3/4 throttle so the system uses a third of the juice per flight. Using 1500ma now and no problem. Tried other prop sizes but this one works best for me. By the way I am using the Syncrospark with Bosch cap, but, you can easily use the standard ignition from them or Ralph. Less $$$ too!

Hi Tim,
Thats a great looking plane and good looking kids too! I thik that the ECHO trimmer engines will run as strong as Homelite if they had the same timing. The ports on mine are a little opening.

Enjoy, Dave

Dave, I looked at changing port timing as Keith at BME suggested in another thread. But decided against it as I have plenty of power for the plane. I could turn more RPM's but the plane will not fly right which is big and slow. I rebuilt the engine as in all bearings, gaskets, and seals. Just got the new rings for it finally, and will pull it apart to change them. May get a little more compression now which will be good. These engines are a lot of enjoyment to build. Just got my short blocks for the 44 and 50 CC Echos. Also will try and tear down the 3 26cc engines this weekend. Will let you know what I end up with. May take all 3 to make one real good one.

Thanks for all of the help guy's It looks like I will try this with the stock engine and if that does not work to my satisfaction I will get a CH Ignition. Buy the way what is needed to do a full electronic conversion? I read the wed page a I get confused[] There seems to be more than one way to do an electronic ignition.

Thanks

Hi,

Save yourself a lot of grief and use either CH Ignitions or Ralph's. (RCIgn1) He does a lot of posts here. Either of those are proven, easy to install, and the sellers offer great support if you have problems or questions. Also a lot of support here in the forum also, so don't worry about that.

Good luck,
AV8TOR

Hi Tim,
Thanks for the update. Sounds like you got a real good deal on thoses short blocks. You're going to have to build some more big planes. Be safe, there is a storm heading for gulf coast.

Dave

Jim
Great big wonking engines need the Syncro Spark, great big woking planes with light wing loadings (J-3 types) often need the Syncro Sparks to let the engine idle slow enough to land. Weedies in normal sized aerobatic planes and biplanes do just fine on fixed timing.

I have a BalsaUSA Eindecker 80" and am using a bone stock Weedeater(brand) featherlite leafblower 25cc. Stock muffler, carb, etc etc. The only thing I had to do to this was trim off the plastic, put on a prop spacer and fly it. It flies my Eindecker with authority, very scale but enough power to pull myself out. Here are a couple of pictures from a Warbirds event a couple of weeks ago. Had a great time, and had many compliments on the planes flight. You dont have to spend alot of money on these planes or engines. Mine cost me 37.50 (poulan factory store) and an easy to make prop spacer (just a spacer, dont need threading etc) I havent ground down the flywheel or anything. I love those cheap little motors. By the way, I had the cowl mounted crooked, forgot to check it when I put it back together, didnt notice until I saw that picture of it in flight.

And another. Thanks to Don R for taking all the pictures at the show for all of us. The plane balanced perfectly by putting the rudder servo near the tail.

Hi,
How is your vibration level? Mine had considerable vibration running in the leaf blower. Very nice job. Thanks.

Dave

Vibrations?! We dont need no stinkin Vibrations!
No, really, it hardly vibrates at all. You might have an unbalanced squirl cage in your leaf blower. The motor itself runs very smooth.

I had a Weed Eater 21 that was a string trimmer. I made a model engine out of it. It ran rather smooth.

Enjoy,

Jim