Glowgeek

Due to the lower rpm range that these big Saito singles run at you'll need a 10" prop pitch to provide the speed needed to fly a warbird. I would try a 19x10. If peak rpm on the ground exceeds 8000, try a 20x10.

1200SportsterRider

Continuing on from Sunday PM, yesterday I made an adapter to pull the rear bearing into an FA 40a.

Jesse Open

Nice job Dave.. They work pretty well with an arbor press too.

1200SportsterRider

I need to look into one of those, Thanks

Jesse Open

Check out Harbor Freight for a nice arbor press,

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Hey David what do you think? I thought I would try the muffler on for size.

Vincent

My Feedback: (61)

ty!!! i ordered a few 19x10 props to start.

1200SportsterRider

Let us know what you think of the sounds, Thanks. I'll take a crack at another muffler in a couple of days.

I made another bearing press for 65's and 80's.

A correction is needed, the 80's front bearing is not metric, it measures: .38" x .88" x .28.

the Wasp

My Feedback: (1)

Garry,
well, I didn't know it was yours, I don't remember you ever talking about it or if you posted a photo of it. and I like that plane a lot. that's all

Jim

Jesse Open

Jim,

Yea, had one before this one. It had a Saito FA-130T. This one first had an FA-125 then I used an FG-20 that I converted to methanol but kept the sparky ignition.
I had posted several pics a couple years ago when I was making th 5/8" 90 degree, 6" long aluminum swept pipe exhaust. Posted that video about the same time.







The swept tube exhaust 5/8\" OD mandrel bent hard tube with 9mm outlet in Dragonlady . Aluminum clad firewall.
They look great in the air smoothly sweeping thru the old pattern type maneuvers. I would like to scale it up to run my old Gemini.



Gary


The pipe tryout, It was fitted with a reducer to 9mm before it was installed in the plane.

Glowgeek

Are the triangle blocks for mounting the cowl? Or maybe vibration damping?

the Wasp

My Feedback: (1)

Garry, you say you had the 130 in it, what is the span on it, it must be a larger plane than my friends, as I remember my friends was a 60 size plane ?????

thanks for the video, I love the popping these engines make

Jim
ps hey guys, I hate to say, it was a sad day today, Dusty Hill bass guitarist of ZZTop has passed at 72

triumphman49

My Feedback: (149)

They did offer that bird in 2 sizes

Jesse Open

Yep, the larger being the "60 two stroke / 120 four stroke " size. I had figured the FA-130T would work well. It was actually a struggle from start to finish. Dual elevator servos tail mounted and a custom brass tailwheel mount helped balance the Saito brick. The Dragonfly gear were long enough to utilize a 15 inch prop. The plane came out quite heavy for the 68 or so inch wing.

Obviously too much! The next Dragonlady found a better match with the FA-125 Saito .
The only other Dragonlady I have seen at our field had a Saito 150; too much imho but he was happy!

My one and only FA-130T

No mine





Gary

Glowgeek

Gary, did the cam driven air pump work good enough to keep the crankcase evacuated of excess oil on the 130T?

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

I got to say the twin are gorgeous to look at but I can't see one in my collection anytime soon. I do have a 1/4 scale Globe Swift that was designed for a FA-230 I think. I was leaning toward a large bore single cylinder to keep the costs down.

the Wasp

My Feedback: (1)

mm I don't remember the span being that long, never the less a good size

Jim

Jesse Open

Well, I was going by memory, so just to be sure, since we are being held to avery high standard,
I looked it up in the official instructions.
The span is not 68 or 69, it is considerably less, 66 inches is more like it.
"The plane came out quite heavy for the 68 or so inch wing."
Of course there was also the far more commonly seen 40 size Dragonlady, it had an even smaller wing. I wont bother to guess how much smaller. (52")


Major error, good catch. Certainly 66" is not close to 68"
The larger Dragon Lady has a 66” wingspan, requires a .60 to .90 2 stroke or .80 to 1.2 4 stroke and requires 4 channels to operate.


Gary

Glowgeek

The FA-220 36cc (Zeus) may be a good choice for it, with a 3 blade prop for ground clearance. 50cc 2 stroke gassers have been used in the 1/4 scale Globe Swift but that's overkill for scale flying a 20-22 lb plane imo. For scale flying a 35-40cc 2 stroke gasser would be my choice of engine for it because I tend to shy away from large high dollar 4 strokes.

Hyjinx

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ivpEApLp7M6JVkwX9These sound a little better Lonnie. Drags around a 24 pound bipe faster than it can think. Just off idle fly byes with a mas 24/10. " like a sharp dressed man"

Jesse Open

Nice one, Saito FA-450 R3


Sure beats a stinky weedwhacker!
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...U5QVk4STJsRGhn

Jesse Open

Ready to go for Sunday or Monday!

Curtis P-40, 86" wing, 16 pounds RTF, Rohm Air retracts. Taking along 3 gallons fresh homebrew 14% nitromethane /12% Klotz Super Techniplate. Hope to convert at least 2 gallons of marvelous methanol to much needed CO2.



Saito FA-180, on methanol fuel
. Doing our share to grow more balsa


Gary

RichardGee

My Feedback: (156)

I recently purchased a Saito FG-20 online. It was reportedly N.I.B. and when I received it, I concurred, it had not been previously run.
I mixed up a gallon of 20:1 using Amsoil Dominator and 95 octane methanol-free gas. 16x6 prop.
After several short burps of HAND starting the engine and having it burn out the prime, it finally kept running.
Throttle was set to approx. 3000 rpm.

Although I wasn't timing it, probably 20 seconds of running, and the engine STOPPED abruptly.
Attempting to restart by hand, the engine would NOT TURN OVER a complete revolution. It was binding and also making a troublesome metal on metal sound
Pulling the back plate revealed the bottom end of the rod was "egg shaped." It had been pounded out by the crankpin and also had contacted the insides of the crankcase.
I sent the engine in to Horizon for assessment and repairs. While I know Saito offers a 3-year warranty, I was well-aware this applies ONLY to the original purchaser.
I was also painfully aware the engine was older than 3 years and now OUT of production.

I accompanied the engine with a complete description of what happened, also mentioning that I have NEVER encountered such a problem with ANY engine (and I have run HUNDREDS over 50 years) and that my Saito glow and gas engines had been particularly wonderful performers. My most recent Saito gas engines (purchased new from Horizon) have been a 61cc twin and 90cc radial, BOTH superb running engines.

To my shock and amazement, Horizon chose to WARRANTY replace my engine with a new FG-21!
They did say this was a "one time thing"... but that's OK.
Now THAT is GREAT customer service

Jesse Open

Good on you Some folks are plain freebie magnets!

Glowgeek

Horizon Hobby was under no obligation to help but took care of you anyway? Great hear Richard! Some people have all the luck.

The FG21 has a better carb too......bonus! I heard the FG21 was upgraded to bronze valve seats as well but I haven't verified that on my three FG21's.