How are conversion engines in the winter?
 

How do converted enginesin the like 31-54cc range work in the cold? I only have experience with my glow motors in the colder months(like 35-45 degrees). For example I would say 2 stroke glow motor work pretty well,and my 4-strokes dont like the cold unless they have onboard glow and even then,I dont fly them until it warms up a bit.

So basically what I'm asking is how do these converted gas engines work "compared" to my glow engines?

Thanks guys....

RE: How are conversion engines in the winter?
 

They work fine, just need a little more choke, and a little more time to warm up. If you think about it, chainsaws, snowmobiles, etc. all run two stroke gas engines in the winter.

In the summer, you can usually get away with flipping the prop with the choke on 'till it starts and then stops. Then you can take the choke off, and after a couple of flips or so it will be running. In the winter, you may have to leave the choke half to 3/4 shut for that second step, until the engine warms up a bit. Then choke off, let it warm up completely, and fly as normal.

Just don't let anyone talk you into using ether (starting fluid). It is very dry, and can cause piston damage in two stroke engines due to lack of lubricant.

AV8TOR

RE: How are conversion engines in the winter?
 

I think you will be okay in the temp range you listed, I would mak sure it warmed up good , it seems I heard of a 4 cycle weedeater that cracked a case flying in really cold temps though. I am not sure how much testing of this has been done, I think alot of people hang it up when it hits anything below 60 !!! Now that I think of it..there is a guy on the GP super stearman thread that only flies gas off a frozen lake all winter long...pretty sure he was using a 41 cc engine. If you look it up it seems like he had a thousand flights , or some crazy high number on his first stearmen before he lost it...

RE: How are conversion engines in the winter?
 

G38 powered Cub doing touch and goes off the clubhouse roof a few winters ago.:D:D

RE: How are conversion engines in the winter?
 

This was taken many years ago...did a lot of winter flying back then! Capt,n:D