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Hi Jessy. Ya It's leaking at the head. It has the brass.round disc. It's fine. The problem is ar the intake nut. It's leaking for sure. I ordered from Horizon 120S but the intake and exhaust seals metal ring is to small. For it to work on my fat head. Today I found out I got Termites. All ahead stop on my Saitos. My 180 also needs an overhaul. Single it has the venturi. I run caster and she needs to go into the sonic cleaner. Never had it apart. Vintage. I bought it in maybe 94 the hobby shop had it for years and it never sold. Several Saito 150 parts fit the 180. Gaskets are no problem but the O ring on the carb just might be an issue. My 120 is a D series. Don't recall my zeros one 180. I've been powering my Sig 1/4 cub. Might put it on my AA Industries Champ it's also 1/4 scale. Never inverted a Saito. AJ.

AJ, AFAIK the intake and exhaust ports on 120,150 & 180 engines have 14mm threading. HH may have sent you the wrong parts? I'll check my Fathead for thread sizing tomorrow and report back.
Check the seal of the complete intake tract, with carb removed, by applying vacuum to the intake pipe. If it leaks down it could be a bad aluminum intake washer, a cracked intake tube or a leaky intake valve. The junction between the carb and intake tube uses an oring. If it's in good condition, properly sized and tightened it won't leak.
In a pinch an easily fabricated thin paper washer/gasket on the intake tube/head junction can be used. It's a low heat area.
Check the seal of the complete intake tract, with carb removed, by applying vacuum to the intake pipe. If it leaks down it could be a bad aluminum intake washer, a cracked intake tube or a leaky intake valve. The junction between the carb and intake tube uses an oring. If it's in good condition, properly sized and tightened it won't leak.
In a pinch an easily fabricated thin paper washer/gasket on the intake tube/head junction can be used. It's a low heat area.
Last edited by Glowgeek; 09-22-2023 at 06:52 PM.
Senior Member

Hey Glowgeek thanks for the post I ordered the metal gaskets for the 180. I thought I ordered for the 150. Checked the numbers, I was able to file the outside circumstances and that fixed that. The plastic piston retainers worked just fine. Having lots of rodent issues now so I had to back off my RC stuff. Been rebuilding my left wing on my Champ. So all that stuff is on hold. Maybe doing a sale of all my stuff I just don’t use any more. Been cleaning and repairingAJ.
Senior Member

Hey Glowgeek thanks for the post I ordered the metal gaskets for the 180. I thought I ordered for the 150. Checked the numbers, I was able to file the outside circumstances and that fixed that. The plastic piston retainers worked just fine. Having lots of rodent issues now so I had to back off my RC stuff. Been rebuilding my left wing on my Champ. So all that stuff is on hold. Maybe doing a sale of all my stuff I just don’t use any more. Been cleaning and repairingAJ.

Senior Member

A brief flight, the one above has 12 SO 62-V's on it.
The full scale one was powered by: Powerplant: 12 × Siemens Jupiter 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 391 kW (525 hp) each, they were prone to, to overheating. Only three were built.
Last edited by 1200SportsterRider; 09-27-2023 at 10:50 AM. Reason: Add content.

My Feedback: (6)

The model could be built like my Sopwith Baby project, it looks like a float/boat airplane but it's strictly designed to take off and land on land. My Sopwith Baby project will use a three wheel dolly for take off and land on the float in grass. The floats are NOT water tight or have any type of material inside to add to buoyancy.



Senior Member

That is a great looking plane,someday I want to build biplane, now that I almost have three FA 30-s (H)'s I can.
Below are two shots of the Saito 30 cylinder after about two minutes of Soda Blast. The thing is a real soda eater but made the job easy.



The Bristol Spadport from OSMW
Below are two shots of the Saito 30 cylinder after about two minutes of Soda Blast. The thing is a real soda eater but made the job easy.



The Bristol Spadport from OSMW
Last edited by 1200SportsterRider; 09-30-2023 at 08:08 AM. Reason: Add images
Senior Member

The Soda Blaster is the "nomical" model but did a great job, the brass slug kept the cylinder from blowing away, even as precisely as the slug fit in the cylinder, soda still got inside the cylinder. I could not use the fitting that came with the blaster, but I had one that was perfect.




Last edited by 1200SportsterRider; 09-30-2023 at 08:41 AM. Reason: Add image

My Feedback: (6)

I built the original Ken Willard design but I have been thinking about buying this kit for sometime. I finally found to TF GE Bonanza kit I have been dreaming about. Should be here in about a week. It will either get a Super Tigre .75 with in cowl muffler or a Saito 100. I have the ST already so I will have to find the Saito if I go that way.
That is a great looking plane,someday I want to build biplane, now that I almost have three FA 30-s (H)'s I can.
Below are two shots of the Saito 30 cylinder after about two minutes of Soda Blast. The thing is a real soda eater but made the job easy.

The Bristol Spadport from OSMW
Below are two shots of the Saito 30 cylinder after about two minutes of Soda Blast. The thing is a real soda eater but made the job easy.

The Bristol Spadport from OSMW
Senior Member

I guess you can go on E Bay to find a Saito. Prices on a new model is pretty high. Can't really afford it. A used model can bring as much as a new engine. Some have never had a run usually out of a pawn shop or a hobby shop floor model. Some parts are hard to come buy. Still waiting on parts for my early 120 D case. Always been a nice running fat head and parts are still out their. I use a sonic cleaner on my over hauls. Got it at harbor freight. Nice unit, parts really come clean the ad stains usually take three cycles. AJ

Looks good, Dave. I'm a little surprised that the soda basting didn't remove the dark gray oxidation spots. Hmmmm
I'll bet a light coat of clear gloss lacquer would make the cylinder and case sheens match closer.
I'll bet a light coat of clear gloss lacquer would make the cylinder and case sheens match closer.
Senior Member

Thanks all, I made those little brass plugs on the lathe, the exhaust plug even is threaded at 9mm x .75, the intake plug is a slightly draggy slip fit into the pipe hole and the actual intake port. Fun can be had in the most unexpected places.
Those coatings sure look nice.
PS: there is actually a place in Fredericksburg that is licensed to to Cerakote: https://www.ssgtactical.com/
Those coatings sure look nice.
PS: there is actually a place in Fredericksburg that is licensed to to Cerakote: https://www.ssgtactical.com/
Last edited by 1200SportsterRider; 10-01-2023 at 02:41 AM.
Senior Member

I can't see any oxidation spots myself.
Last edited by 1200SportsterRider; 10-02-2023 at 04:27 PM.