I know that with an Enya that the timing can be changed to allow the engine to run clockwise. I am putting together a twin and using two Saito's for power. These are only the third and fourth Satio's that I have owned ( and I love them too) Any info on reversing the directions on the Satio?

To my knowledge, there are no reverse cams available purpose built for the single Saitos.

Enjoy,

Jim

The Saito 100 and 200 Vee twins have left cams in the front half of the engine. Some of the flat twins use left handed cams. But I'm not so sure this will work?

But to make the engine look like a mirror image, you have to use the reverse cylinder like is on the front of the V-twins or the left side of the flat twins. They have the intake and exhaust reversed. But you get into a problem mounting the carb.

I don't see it as a cost effective alternative to change the cylinder. In other words, it'll cost more than you will want to spend if you want the engines to look like opposites.

Enjoy,

Jim

Thanks for info, this is more or less what I expected. Not that the reversed engine will be necessary but thought if the Satio could run clockwise it might add a touch to the plane.

Walkers:

Jim is wrong on this one. Reverse rotation cams are available for almost all Saito engines. Some can be reversed without changing the cams also.

Which ones do you have?

Bill.

Bill I have two 56 4cy that I am putting on a P38. It is not mandatory that one runs reversed but thought it would add something to the plane. I know that with Enya engines all that is required is to reposition the cams to change the timing to make this work. New cams never entered my feeble mind.
Thanks

Ron

Ron:

If you want to reverse the FA-56 engine's rotation the part to order is SAI130T34. This is less than $15 from Horizon. I'd suggest changing the tappets at the same time, as they tend to seat on the cam, a new cam with old tappets can have a very short life. I alsoglike to change the valve springs if they have any amount of time on them. Tappets and a set of springs will add $13.75 to the bill.

Bill.

Bill,

Could you elaborate with the rest of us why this left handed cam will make a Saito 56 run backwards?

Have you actually accomplish this feat?

In the 100T the left cam turns the same direction as the right cam. The only difference is the exhaust lobe is on the front instead of the rear?

Enjoy,

Jim

Does anyone know if this is possible with an OS 70 Surpass 1?

This is not possible on the OS 70 Surpass I. The OS 160 twin engine uses a different firing order and just one cam with lobes for both cylinders on it.

Enjoy,

Jim

W8YE:

Looking at the FA-100T flat twin you see while the intake ports are at the upper side of both cylinders, the intake push rod on the right cylinder is the forward one and the left cylinder has the rear push rod going to the intake. If we were to switch the cams from one side to the other we would then shift the relative positions of the cam lobes. In normal rotation the inlet valve would lead the exhaust, to get it to run we would have to cranks the engine "Backwards." Using the left cam from the FA-100 twin in the FA-56 single we have done the same thing, although only on one cylinder. Think it through, you'll see how it works.

Most of the "Big Block" Saitos have both the intake and exhaust mounted with similar gland nuts, reversing one of them merely requires switching the intake and exhaust side to side. This has another nice thing about it - on a twin you can mount both engines with the cylinders on the fuselage side of the nacelles, and still have both exhaust stacks on the bottom.

Yes, I have done both the cam change and the intake/exhaust switching with no problems. There is a thread [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/saito_reversing_the_cam%3F%3F%2F/m_2784714/tm.htm]here[/link] where another user has installed the reverse cam in a Saito.

Evil Homer:

I don't know if a reverse rotation cam is available for the OS engines, I've never checked into it. OS has supplied reverse rotation crank shafts for some of their two stroke engines. A quick call to Tower should tell you if the cams are available.

Bill.

Bill thanks for the info on the part number. Already have it located at Horizon site and will order it today. The Satio 56's I have are brand spanking new. I had planned on using two Satio 70's for the plane but it called for two 52's and a trusted hobbyshop owner was more than willing to sell me two more engines but assured me the 56's would be more than enough power. Like I said the rotation is not a must but it would be another bell to add to the P38.