Welcome to Club SAITO !


Hello RoKit, Not sure of a designated one for the FA170R3, but many that frequent this one have R3's (and more LOL) with lots of expertise. Welcome aboard ! I have a FA170R3,(bought used) but it has a CH Ignition conversion to include a Saito gas carb.
Here is a link to it running - Mike I have done the engine, here is a link of the engine running.
You will have to tune it bit more at your end.
You may not be able to go full throttle may go only 3/4 , use the trim to rich top rpm and leave it like that.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qh7z599g9u...00231.mp4?dl=0
T-man49 in Al
Saito 723
Here is a link to it running - Mike I have done the engine, here is a link of the engine running.
You will have to tune it bit more at your end.
You may not be able to go full throttle may go only 3/4 , use the trim to rich top rpm and leave it like that.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qh7z599g9u...00231.mp4?dl=0
T-man49 in Al
Saito 723
I've been doing both, throttle servo slow down and wot travel limiting for some time now on my gassers. Neither are my idea, both work great, especially slowing the throttle servo to match spool up time.


He is pretty deep in that water.

Hi Rob, welcome. There are several R3 R5 users that visit this thread from time to time. One of them runs all of his multicylinder Saitos on glow ignition with good results. Maybe he will chime in. One thing for sure, don't make any rash decisions about how your R3 runs until it's fully broken in, things change along the way.
I am the retro methanol man.
Light them plugs once and GO!
I Leave the little sparky boxes in chi-na.
I don't care for the " products" they send over here.
Especially the one they made up for us in Wuhan.



Hello RoKit, Not sure of a designated one for the FA170R3, but many that frequent this one have R3's (and more LOL) with lots of expertise. Welcome aboard ! I have a FA170R3,(bought used) but it has a CH Ignition conversion to include a Saito gas carb.
Here is a link to it running - Mike I have done the engine, here is a link of the engine running.
You will have to tune it bit more at your end.
You may not be able to go full throttle may go only 3/4 , use the trim to rich top rpm and leave it like that.
T-man49 in Al
Saito 723
Here is a link to it running - Mike I have done the engine, here is a link of the engine running.
You will have to tune it bit more at your end.
You may not be able to go full throttle may go only 3/4 , use the trim to rich top rpm and leave it like that.
T-man49 in Al
Saito 723
Thanks ! I have a FA90T as well,, lot of people warned me about it due to tuning,,
what I discovered is that the secret was in setting the valves very carefully it runs like a dream..

Hi Rob, welcome. There are several R3 R5 users that visit this thread from time to time. One of them runs all of his multicylinder Saitos on glow ignition with good results. Maybe he will chime in. One thing for sure, don't make any rash decisions about how your R3 runs until it's fully broken in, things change along the way.
Have been running the engine on a stand for about 1.5 liter fuel (5% nitro) about 1.5 hours +/-
this far it is tuned to about 1800---8700rpm with a 16x8 MAS prop. The peak rpm was 9300+ and then I opened the needle another 1/4 turn.
So all in all I am happy except for the temp diff I can feel touching the cylinders, no1 is like "normal hot" while 2 and 3 is less than warm.
I did order a Morris mini motors ignition last week, thinking that it will make the engine run smoother and prolong its life.
My plan is to mount the engine in a plane with ignition, monitor/log the temps and go from there.
Last edited by RoKit; 04-20-2021 at 08:47 AM.

My 120R3 runs like that too. The upper receives less fuel and oil than the lower two, so it runs hotter. It's a balancing act to provide a rich enough mixture for the top cylinder while still lean enough for a decent top end. I have been too busy with house and truck work to get the Corsair out and run up again. Last time I tried I found the fuel system setup didn't work well, the fill valve was damaged, so I took it all apart and made it a 3 line set up, and hopefully this time I can get fuel in the tank and get it running.
Senior Member

Good AM to my Saito buds, I have been tatoo'd with 1/16" black dots that will serve as targets for the radiology gun in a couple of days, then 8 weeks, 5 days per week of treatments. The Eligard shot I had reduces testosterone production to the extent that you are left sluggish and tire quickly. Not much macho in that.
Hey Mike, send me a couple of 65's to rebuild so I can have some easy fun. Thanks
Hey Mike, send me a couple of 65's to rebuild so I can have some easy fun. Thanks


Well Dave get a black texture pen and join all those tattoo dots together to fill time in in the waiting room, bit of imagination and you could have yourself a (cough) harley there hey! maybe even an fa125 

Just about on my way round aussie in the van so thought I'd brush up on the baking skills.

And a bit of Monty Python humour.


Just about on my way round aussie in the van so thought I'd brush up on the baking skills.

And a bit of Monty Python humour.

My 120R3 runs like that too. The upper receives less fuel and oil than the lower two, so it runs hotter. It's a balancing act to provide a rich enough mixture for the top cylinder while still lean enough for a decent top end. I have been too busy with house and truck work to get the Corsair out and run up again. Last time I tried I found the fuel system setup didn't work well, the fill valve was damaged, so I took it all apart and made it a 3 line set up, and hopefully this time I can get fuel in the tank and get it running.
Having a big difference in temps..
Not sure what it means in the long run.
Senior Member

Well Dave get a black texture pen and join all those tattoo dots together to fill time in in the waiting room, bit of imagination and you could have yourself a (cough) harley there hey! maybe even an fa125 

Just about on my way round aussie in the van so thought I'd brush up on the baking skills.

And a bit of Monty Python humour.


Just about on my way round aussie in the van so thought I'd brush up on the baking skills.

And a bit of Monty Python humour.
Trouble is, those dots are in a perfectly straight line, one low down on my abdomen and one on each hip.
If you fellers didn't check those useless temperatures you would not need to worry.
Last edited by 1200SportsterRider; 04-22-2021 at 02:50 AM.

Good AM to my Saito buds, I have been tatoo'd with 1/16" black dots that will serve as targets for the radiology gun in a couple of days, then 8 weeks, 5 days per week of treatments. The Eligard shot I had reduces testosterone production to the extent that you are left sluggish and tire quickly. Not much macho in that.
Hey Mike, send me a couple of 65's to rebuild so I can have some easy fun. Thanks
Hey Mike, send me a couple of 65's to rebuild so I can have some easy fun. Thanks

Senior Member

Last edited by 1200SportsterRider; 04-22-2021 at 04:05 AM. Reason: Add content.

Hah discovered another use for the laser. I cut and etched some 1/4" acrylic and found that I can melt pigment into the etchings with the laser. I just have to get some powder coat paint and give it a try. Just have to remember to turn the air assist off or there would be a cloud of dust instead of melted paint. Now to find what is used to bond acrylic to itself so I can make some motor stands for my Saito engines. These will be cool as cool can be too.
Senior Member

Horizon has the Saito FA 40-a in stock: https://www.horizonhobby.com/product.../SAIE040A.html
Their 10 x 4 prop recommendation is ridiculous. Here is my FA 40-a turning an 11 x 6.

Their 10 x 4 prop recommendation is ridiculous. Here is my FA 40-a turning an 11 x 6.

Last edited by 1200SportsterRider; 04-23-2021 at 12:58 PM.