I bought a Saito FA-80A the other day really, really cheap (it's a Golden Knight, too). It's missing the high speed needle. Is this a generic item, does one size fit all, or are they specific to a series, or a specific carb model? This engine is almost new; it's in the original box, has the old style billet muffler and elbow header, all the valve adjusting tools, etc. From the looks of the finish, it's had very little run time. I can't find a series letter on the mount flange like all my other Saitos have; it's an old enough model that it still has the choke plate, but new enough that it is not an air-bleed low-end carb. I know this engine has been replaced by the .82, but for $105, I wouldn't pass it up just because it's discontinued. I like the longer stroke brass sleeved Saitos, anyway. What can anybody tell me about the needle?

You may very well have an early high compression one, some guys fuss about the high compression but I like it, you just have to respect it. As for the needle I'll compare my .80 needle to a couple of others and see what i can see.

Thanks, Hobbsy. This is my 4th Saito, I also have a .56, .65, and a .72. My favorite of those three is the .65, which like the .80 is the older design (larger case, brass cylinder liner, longer stroke vs. bore diameter. It too, has a lot of compression, but runs great on 15% nitro, as do the other ones. I don't really have a plane in mind for the .80. I may try to trade it at a LHS with some cash for a ZDZ 40 that I do have a plane in mind for. I just wanted to get a needle so I could run it and make sure it was in good shape, which I am sure it is.

All your Saitos use the same needle valve. You may find a slight difference while examining the ones you own but they should actually interchange.

A frind obtained a 45 with no needle. I used one from my 91 in it until his new one came. His new needle looked like the one in my 91.

Enjoy,

Jim

Thanks Jim. I sorta thought that might be the case, what's the point in having a different needle for every engine, except to drive your inventory up

I am not knowledgeable about Saito engines.

But I measured needle taper again today from 40/45 two-stroke engines (OS, Royal, Magnum) and found only minor differences but four different tapers. The difference in taper on two Royal needles was .004” measured .040” from the sharp end. The minor physical difference resulted in large operational differences on the two engines tested. Just be careful or you might end up trouble shooting yourself silly.

Bill