Received mine yesterday for a Ziroli Hellcat. Very happy with the craftsmanship of this engine.

Any thoughts on what would be the best size 3 blade prop?

How does this engine compare to the old Brison 5.8 95cc. I think the new ZDZ 90 looks like it has my eye so far for a big singles. This engine is a bargain if it is comparable in power. I like the Brison 5.8 with the side induction. It will mount in a shallow cowl. The rear intake engines sometimes present an issue necessitating moving the firewall back a Looong ways or punching the carb through the firewall into the fuselage which I don't care to do.

TB.... how did it do with the 22x10 - 4B prop?

I haven't ran the engine since the first test, I'm planning on getting it mounted and flying it for break in next month, then I will put it on and see!

TB

I finally finished my P-47 and got to run the engine for the first time in the frame and with the modified muffler. She started right up and ran nice and smooth. The muffler and exhaust sounds great. It is running pretty rich and I had a 26x10 Xoar prop on it and my RPM was 5600
I am planning on putting the 25x10 on next run up and see what the RPMs are . I need as much ground clearance as I can get. I also have the 22x10x4 prop that will be the running prop once the engine is broken in. I figure it will take 30-40 flights to break the engine in.

The temps after worm up, throttle up and a short taxi run up and down the runway was in the 180-190 with the cowl off and about the same + 10 degrees or so. It is running much cooler then my EME 120 does. More test to come and a maiden next week.

TB

A little correction. I was messing with my radio and realized I had set two throttle curves, one at full and one limiting the tip end for when I use the 25x10 prop. So when I did the run-up test with the 26x10 I was only getting 5600 rpms. so next time I will go will try both mixes. Man there is a lot to remember with this bird. It will have a very evolved pre flight routine I need to start training with.

TB

will this be a good motor for my Ziroli Stuka ? It's 100" wing at 25lb.

Yes it would. Physical size may require some removal of the Stuka cowl.

Today a ran the 25X10 Xoar prop and set my throttle curve at 6200 RPM next time I will put the 26X10 and run it with mix one full throw on the throttle to check the RPMs before I maiden. I want to fly with the 26x10 but I only have about 2" of clearance at level. These birds tend to lean forward on take off so I will have to watch it for prop strikes.


TB

TB, how about a 3 blade prop? Is that too much prop for a new engine?

I think so, I have a 22x10 four blade for after break in. I want to use the 2 blade for the test flight to insure a higher success. I will decide next time I am at the field when I do final balance to what prop I will use. I also need to do a thrust test too. I'm ready to open this bird up in the air.

TB

Thank's for the input. I'm going to down load the measurements and check the fit for my cowl.

Fella's, the Ziroli Hellcat that i am building that the DLE-85 will go in is actually a bit restricted to fuel tank size. There is plenty of width and length available but the distance from the fuel tank box to the top of the wing is under 3". I was planning to use a Dubro 32 ounce tank but finding that it will interfere with the top of the wing. Would a 24 ounce tank enough and provide 10 minutes of run time with a bit of a safety factor? Thanks.

I had the same dilemma with my P-47. I initially wanted to put a 240z in but I tested one out on my EME 120 in my Sback and in normal flight on a 10 min flight I had less then a 1/4 tank left. While flying 3D I do not burn as much fuel as I would on a war bird so I stuffed a 1000cc tank in there and I should have enough for a 8-10 min flight with a good reserve. I like to land with at least 1/3 left in the tank. I would be worried with only 24oz, that is what I use on a 50cc.


TB

Thanks Tony. After studying this a bit further and not finding another tank in the 30+ ounce size range that will fit is to install the tank on its side and cut some sheeting out of the wing center section, the tank will then fit between the two center ribs, there is no actual center rib on this design.

Better to have more then less on these warbirds. Good chose and solution.

TB

BTW, the other day I tuned the engine a bit to 6600 rpm on the 24x10 Xoar prop, I measured the thrust with a digital fish scale....39lb static thrust.


TB

Why not consider using two tanks side-by-side or in any configuration? The jet jocks do it all the time and it eliminates some of the "slosh" you get in a big single tank. I have done it on several models with no problems. You will need a slight knowledge of "plumbing" but it is quite simple when thought out.

I just got my from Tower Hobby and have a question how to connect the fuel line, it has 2 90 degrees fitting on the cab one on the bottom and one on the side which fitting is connect to the tank? and what the other fitting for? and on the muffler there is small tube welded to the muffler is that for smoke oil or it is a pressure tube to connect to the other fitting on the cab?

Thanks Tom

Give Tower a call!!

Tom, the fitting on the side of the carburetor is the fuel pick up, the other fitting is merely a "breather" you don't need to connect any thing to that. The fitting on the muffler is for smoke if you so desire. Enjoy!

I have 10 flights on my engine now. I am using a 26x10 prop and getting around 5800 rpms The engine is running good, although this has been the only DLE that has given me trouble on starts, flooding. I have done tests to see what the starting procedure is and on a normal first day start I chock then flip, she pops after a few, then no chock and she starts after a few flips. Warm starts are without the choke. Additional cold starts of the day are with the choke. But a couple of times the first start of the day she would flood with the choke. So she is a little finicky. Not sure if it has to do with setup or what.

Otherwise this engine is pulling my 37lb plane around really nicely. After 15 more flights I will try the 4 blade prop.

TB

Tony, i am yet to start mine but i was talking to another fellow this past summer, the method he uses in general, not necessarily on this engine, he flips it backwards 10 times with the choke on, takes the choke off then flips forward to start. Seems to work well for him. Perhaps a procedure similar to this would work.

Steve, interesting you mentioned this procedure. A flying bud told me to turn the engine 3 or 4 times counter clockwise with the choke on, ignition off then flip it as normal. He said the bouncing back and forth from the initial flips would flood it. So I tried it, 4 turns forward (counter clockwise) not back wards and it flooded. So you are saying to turn the prop clockwise or to flip it clockwise? when flipping it, it bounces back and forth after every flip. If you just rotate it, it will not bounce back and forth. The bouncing is what I was told is a problem on flooding. On all my other DLE they start like clockwork.


TB