OK, I bought a new Enya SS 40BB yesterday and the guy at the hobby shop told me to break it in by running it slobbery rich, 4-cycling for 2 tanks. He also said it's an ABC engine. IN november 2001 issue of MAN, Dave Gierke says that a ABC engine has to be break-in in short runs periods with cooling periods between them....and that an ABC wngine shold never be runned 4-cycling....I got consfused. What's the best type of break-in for this engine??? Also anyone knows the power rating of it???

Many thanks in advance,

The hobby shop person was trying to over simplify for you. Being an ABC engine, running that rich will not get it up to temp and cause premature wear in the TDC position.

Rather, run it rich, but not quite so rich that it 4 cycles. In other words, do not lean it out fully. Get it breifly 4 cycling and then just barely lean it into a 2 cycle mode. Do this for a few quick short runs with cooling in between. Then run a tank or two through it still in a rich 2 cycle. Enya's are very tight and long lasting engines, so be patient with your break in.

Ernie

That one probaly should be broken in with a rich 4 stroke. I am pretty sure thats a cast iron piston in a steel sleeve model. The Enya site does not advertise this as an ABC model, though others are.

Thanks for the head's up sport pilot. He MUST determine if it is a cast iron piston type OR ABC.

Ernie

If it's the cast iron piston then it needs a very special running in procedure. It seems strange that the hobby shop guy mentioned slobbery rich and then ABC though. I have to wonder just how many of these engines have been ruined from not knowing how to run them in properly

The following link gives the best explanation I've seen as to why they need to be run in properly and then how to do it. Although it's written for small diesel engines the principle is exactly the same for a glow (same metallurgy). Oil type and content should be the same for a glow but even after it's run in I wouldn't use less than about 22% oil and half of that castor. Then it'll last forever

http://www3.telus.net/dieselcombat/breakin.htm

I think Sport is right. Enya favors cast iron/lapped pistons (and so do I!!)

Slobbin rich....cool downs, over and over. Takes awhile to get 'em settled down but they'll go for just shy of an eternity.

Enya 40SS has a iron piston, it's not an ABC engine. Not having a ring sometimes get people thinking is't ABC, but it's not.
Cast iron piston requires break-in more like a ringed engine.
Run it rich, almost 2 cycling in a series of shorts runs ( 1minute), then leting it cool down between runs. Then progressively increase run time (2 min, 3 min, 4 min) and then start running it less rich.
Takes more time to break in than an ABC but if done properly the piston/sleeve fit will be very good.
Enys engines are known to take more time to break in, but if you do it rigth, it will last a loooong time. I have one, very reliable engine. 5 years of use and it's running like new.

I know that ABC engines have that characteristic "lock" at TDC with the glow plug removed, and the engine seems to slightly "lock" at TDC with the glow plug removed...... The guy at the hobby shop said it's ABC because the piston doesn't have a ring.....The piston has the appearance like it's made out of stanless steel...Here's a pic of it

Now with the piston at TDC.

Those ridges on the piston tell me it is cast iron. The instruction manual should identify it. Also the top of the new piston will be darker.

Sure looks like cast iron to me with that darker relieved area near the bottom of the piston. Get a small magnet and touch it on the piston.

Then I should follow the procedures for breaking in a non-ABC engine .......Thanks alot again

The SS40 is a plain, cast iron piston with a steel liner, and should be broken in as such. You guys are right in the fact that ABC engines need to be brought up to temp for proper break-in, and that too rich of a break-in will cause unnecessary wear. However, this is not the case with the SS40. It should be broken in with a slightly rich setting, just about breaking into a 4 cycle. Alternate between 3/4 throttle and idle. Then, after the 2nd to 3rd tank start to lean it out a click or two at a time. After about an hour of running, turn the needle in until you hear the peak RPM at full throttle, then back it off about 1/4 turn. The first 2 to 3 tanks I would do on the ground, after that you can put it in the air.
Enya engines are made to very tight tolerances, proper break-in is critical. Many people are impatient when it comes to breaking these engines in, and they break connecting rods. If you are patient, the result is an engine that makes good power and will last a very long time. I hope this helps.

Thanks Tim, it was great to have you respond. Three cheers for MRC/Altech!

It would be great if there was a way to educate people to this fact about the Enya engines. More information on the website or in the directions as to the engine type would be helpful.

Ernie

Tim is correct and a big help on my enya engine woes. I just saw a Enya 40 ss throw a rod on it's 6th flight just last sunday. It just went (pop) I have a couple of these little guys around, and they do real well, and have good power. I hope they do last for eternity, as they run very nice for a 40 size engine. Good luck on break in. I saw what happens first hand. Be patient, I had never seen that in over twenty years of this hobby..............Dave

Refer to the Enya Support post regarding impatience.

That's the culprit in MANY engine woes.... Never enough time to do it right, but LOADS of time to do it over (and over, ad infinitum)

You read it here first.

'Race