Thai-fly

I recently aquired a Giant Scale Tiger Moth powered by a Zenoah G62 with reduction drive. The kit and power train came from Toni Clark. I am very familiar with large scale models and petrol engines but this is my first experience with the reduction drive. Once started it sounds awesome and flys beautifully but.......it is very hard to start. The engine starts perfectly when removed from the reduction drive unit but once it is all back together it is difficult to get a decent flick of the prop to get the engine to fire. Does anyone have any experience with this setup or a few tips on starting?

Lifer

My Feedback: (1)

Try to find some youtube videos. Use their search engine and type in the name of the drive manufacturer.

spaceworm

Here is a link to a distributer for Toni Clark and a description of the plane and engine combi you have. Maybe contact them about the starting issue? Does it have the spring recoil starter? Could it be fitted with and electric starter? With this engine is it important to locate the flywheel way off of TDC to get the flywheel magnets properly over the coil? Good luck.

http://www.vogelsang-aeroscale.com/sopwithpup.html

Sincerely, Richard

Thai-fly

Thanks Richard. I will check with the supplier to see if they can help with a few tips. It isnt possible to fit a spring recoil starter as the lower gear pulley is attached to the back of the crank shaft and it is just too tight a fit for an electric starter to be installed. We have already changed the flywheel for a heavier version to try to get the engine to tun over with a little more momentum and it helped.Maybe an even heavier one is an option we might try?

spaceworm

Is the engine fitted with CDI? If not, maybe that would help. My G23 with CDI starts very easily with just an easy flip after priming. Good luck,
Sincerely, Richard

Thai-fly

Yes, it is fitted with CDI which has been checked and is working correctly

wildbills21

I use this same set up on my 1/3 scale BUSA Fokker D VII. Full throttle full choke. Flip it until it pops, it is a very suttle pop. It's not like the engine fires like without the reduction drive, just a pop. return the throttle to idle and turn off the choke. 3 or 4 flips later the engine will fire. In terms of flipping, this set up needs a flipped aggressively, much more than a gasser without the reduction drive. Since this motor will have 2.5 compression strokes per revolution the compression stokes change. I found you can get a really good flip when the prop is at the 9 or 10 o clock position and flip down. Hope this helps.

Wild Bill

wildbills21

I guess I did not read close enough, you are talking about the Toni clark reduction, mine is the Schludnt. I believe the Toni clark reduction is a 1.75 to 1.
Wild Bill

spaceworm

Have you tried an off-board electric starter, like a Sullivan? With the reduction drive, it should not be that hard to turn over. Maybe even a standard starter. If not, a 24 volt one or a heavy duty one. Even an electric drill-motor might do it. Just what I would try. Good luck. Over and out.

Sincerely, Richard

dirtybird

My Feedback: (5)

Try this:
http://www.millerrcproducts.com/pers...reduction.html

Thai-fly

Thankyou all for your input and apologies for the delay. A combination off all of your suggestions has almost fixed the problem!