Dang, I am just playing hell trying to get my DLE 30 tuned. It is as if it is not playing by the rules. My 20 and DL 50 work perfectly. It is like I am just chasing the needles around with this one.
right now it runs really great, but I can not get it to idle reliably. It is like it will not tune out in the low 1/4th of the throttle. Right now it will idle, but after a few minutes it starts to miss and stutter and then die. I cannot tell if this is rich or lean. Could someone throw me some tips on symptoms and cures? I would appreciate it. I am beginning to regret replacing the Saito 180 I had in this plane.
Yes, I do have a CM6 plug, 32-1 fuel, Bel rey oil. The plug is gapped to .024.

When you adjust the needles, just move them in small increments.

Check for vacuum leaks and leaky reed valve.

I can understand your frustation,
What i would do in your situation is go back to the factory settings , run the bottom end a little rich , Black smokeshould come out of the muffler .
I tend to lean the top end only to get the most out of the motor with the bottom end slightly on the rich side
This should stabilise the idle ,then go from there , too lean will make the idle very unreliableis what Ihave found with this motor
Graeme

Thanks GSK, I will try that. I am finding going back to the factory settings does get me closer. One thing for sure, if it is lean on the low end, starting is almost impossible.

Hope it works out ok, lets know how it goes .

Vert. Grimace. I have a DLE 30 that was doing the same thing. Chased needle everywhere, could not tune. Start out ok ran worse as it warmed. Finally quit while tuning on the ground. NO SPARK. After ignition cooled, spark came back.Sent ignition back to tower, they replaced it. Now it will idle all day at 1600 and runs much better. Still doesnt turn as high RPM as other 2 dle 30s but at least it runs and doesnt die.

I also have sent my DLE30's ignition back to Tower. Was producing only in intermittant spark. Swapped in the EI from my DLE 20 and the DLE30 runs fine. Am awaiting the verdict from Tower - am expecting they'll replace the ignition.

Not a drop....
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After spending quite a bit of time with my 30 tonight, I could not get it to work. I am going to try another ignition to see whats up, and most likely will send it back to Valley view to have it looked at. I am beginning to think it is ignition related.
By the way, is there another option for a plug cap? Are the RCxcel caps different than the stock DLE ignition caps? It seems that the little coil wire inside these caps is so fragile, I am not confident it is making good contact all the time.

That's probably the best plan; Jody will figure it out!

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Vertical - just a thought - maybe it has to do with the cooler weather \ denser air? You've tried re-tuning, right?

Look for black soot on the plug cap, shows a bad connection and arching. Have you checked the timing?

Ok guys I need your help. I have a new DLE 30 that is driving me crazy. Engine runs great on the ground, from low idle all the way to wot. However, it keeps deadsticking everytime I try to fly it (less than 3 minutes into a flight). Engine sags when you give it throttle and then quits. Should I try richening the high end? I have not done this as it does not sag like this when test running on the ground.

Any troubleshootings suggestions would be appreciated.

It definitely sounds like your high end is too lean. Engines run leaner in the air than on the ground, which may be why you are not seeing this condition on the ground. Richen your high end just a bit (small changes on the needles!) and give that a try.
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Once the model begins to move the propeller is relieved of its load slightly so the engine gains in RPM. With higher RPM there is more air moving thru the carb so the mixture must be enriched to compensate.
I hope you learn this quickly or you are going to go thru engines at a rapid rate.

I know how to tune a gas engine and only asked the question because I encountered an issue that was new to me and had not been able to determine the root cause. However, thanks for honoring me with your insight.

Oh by the way there are a number of other issues that will result in a deadstick - bad ignition, bubbles in gas line, clunk falls off inside the tank, defective carb, etc., etc., etc.

This is not my first time at the dance.

I am not having any issues with my other gassers. Not to say I am not doing anything wrong, but I am done messing around. Off to VV RC with my 30!

Yes there are other issues that can cause a deadstick but not with the symptoms or consistency that you described.

You are going to the right spot. I had a similar problem with my dle 30, when doing a blender I would push down elevator and come up on the throttle when the flame out would happen like clockwork. The engine ran fine on the ground good transtion from low to high. Jody told me to richen the low end while other people said to tap and run the breather line inside the fuse, well the low end trick worked no more deadsticks. Jody told me that if you have to run the breather line inside the fuse you have an airflow issue with your cowl.

I sent mine in to VV last night. So I will know if there is anything wrong or if it is just me.

To be honest, I prefer a magneto. They have proven themselves to be less hassle and more reliable. Less variables. I am beginning construction of a new competition scale model and it is getting a G62 mag engine. Any downsides it may have with power etc will be more than offset in reliability and piece of mind. Probably get flamed for this but oh well. Now that gas engines are becoming so popular, maybe we will see some other offerings in the way of ignitions. There are not enough options here I do not believe.

vertical g - I have not owned a magneto-gas engine, and was not aware that the produce less power per cc, compared to EI engnines. Arent' they also quite a bit heavier?

I agree with you VG, mageto for me from now on! Every ARF I have purchased lately was VERY tail heavy
with the "new" engines. The engines are powerfull and light but that is wiped out with having to add weight
to balance. Purchased 4 new DLE's and new LiFe (A123) batteries and have to end up adding 2Lbs of lead
for balance. Have to replace the spark plugs and put up with defective IGN modules ete, etc. Replaced it
with one of my old Quadra's with a spring starter and now a Happy Flyer! Only DLE I am happy with is
my two DLE20"s.

I'm sure there are people on this thread who would be happy to buy your DLE-30(s) from you at a bargain price.
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I will buy one at $150.00 right now.

Cmptrguy

I'm still waiting to hear of the guys with problems, who checked their timing and where was it set?