SrTelemaster150

Yes by all means take your time & avoid excessive heat, but if an engine is run too long W/O sufficient cylinder pressure, the cylinder wall will glaze before the ring is seated.

That makes me suspect of replacing a ring W/O using some scotchbrite or something to slightly roughen up the cylinder wall.

I have read that the chrome plating, when it is new, does have minute cracks in the surface from the electroplating that allow the ring to seat.

One would likely never notice excessive blow by in our engines like you would in an automotive engine. Our engines have a lot of blowby (for their size)compared a large automobile engine. There would however be a loss in power.

W/the high compression engines I modify that would likely result in a much more significant drop in performance.

Speaking of performance. Some say that the Saito minimum valve lash spec of .04mm results in a loss of power.

My 13:1 CR FA180HC CDI/BBC engine W/the valve lash set W/a .0015" feeler gauge developed 8550 RPM W/a Dynathrust 18 X 8 propeller. That's right @ 4HP, over 2.2HP per cu in. The minimal valve lash setting certainly doesn't seem to diminish power in my engines.

Rudolph Hart

Live and let live my man

Hrannar

Is the club still accepting members?
Just got my first Saito, a FA-100 that will be the powerplant for a Top Flite P-51, guess I have to read through all the 966 pages for tips and tricks, but anyway, ain't she a beauty

Rudolph Hart

I hope so,we need to replace one we're gonna lose shortly.Do you get a summer or winter up there and how's that go with building or flying??

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Note that BMEP is purely theoretical and has nothing to do with actual cylinder pressures. It is simply a tool to evaluate the efficiency of a given engine at producing torque from a given displacement.

BMEP is not even a real concept, it is a theory, totally unrelated to breaking in an engine. We could do this forever and only confuse people which you already have. Sticking to a plan is never a bad thing when it is reasonable, convenient, predictable and repeatable, as long at it gets the desired results. Popular Mechanics has never broken in a Saito and the issues here do not directly translate.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

We surely are, BLW, Barry, will give you one as soon as he sees your request. Mine is 5 so I've been doing this a while. Welcome to the Club

PS, that's a great shot of "trial" so there won't be any error. Measure twice cut once as they say.

Rudolph Hart

Trial??over here we call that cheating pal,mind you we already have by being lazy and flying an arf,much harder to fit an engine like that when this guy just cheats by laying the engine on a plan..i mean..does he want it any easier?

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

OF, flying the plan is about as light as you can get, he could fly it with a Saito .05

SrTelemaster150

Popular Mechanics was not the only link I posted. Are you saying that Saito engines are imune to the laws of physics as they apply to ringed piston engine break in?

If you want some literature that cites chrome lined bores, perhaps the following link can shed some light. Note that except for a very brief start up/check cycle, they do not advocate minimal load break in @ reduced RPM either.

http://www.avweb.com/news/maint/182895-1.html

Here is a page on breaking in Continental aircraft engines. Again, except for a very brief start/check cycle, they warn against no/low load break in & the resultant glazing of the cylinder walls.

http://www.bowersflybaby.com/tech/fenton.htm#Break-In

The following is a link to the "Lycoming Flyer" manual. On page 2 it warns to NOT break in an engine @ low power settings. They recommend 75% power for break in.

http://www.lycoming.com/support/tips...Operations.pdf

Seems like the "old wives tales" have some credible people that still advocate them.

Evolution & gravity have been refered to as "theories".

Could you kindly cite some credible literature that supports your "theory"?

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

OF and others, here is picture of Bill Robison, (WR), he was a good friend that I never met in person, he drove a Grand Mercedes 600 that he said got 5 mpg because he had modified it to 500 hp from the stock 350hp. He spent his life as a teacher, mechanic, racer, motorcycle enthusiast, historian and all around gearhead. Many of us here spent hours with him on the phone.

Bill loved Saitos for their high quality and uniqueness. As I've mentioned previously WR borrowed this Saito .30 for his Saito notes and colored the cylinder black, it is a treasured possession because of that. What ever he colored it with is tough because I haven't managed to knock any of it off.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

OF and others, here is picture of Bill Robison, (WR), he was a good friend that I never met in person, he drove a Grand Mercedes 600 that he said got 5 mpg because he had modified it to 500 hp from the stock 350hp. He spent his life as a teacher, mechanic, racer, motorcycle enthusiast, historian and all around gearhead. Many of us here spent hours with him on the phone.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

OF and others, here is picture of Bill Robison, (WR), he was a good friend that I never met in person, he drove a Grand Mercedes 600 that he said got 5 mpg because he had modified it to 500 hp from the stock 350hp. He spent his life as a teacher, mechanic, racer, motorcycle enthusiast, historian and all around gearhead. Many of us here spent hours with him on the phone.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

OF and others, here is picture of Bill Robison, (WR), he was a good friend that I never met in person, he drove a Grand Mercedes 600 that he said got 5 mpg because he had modified it to 500 hp from the stock 350hp. He spent his life as a teacher, mechanic, racer, motorcycle enthusiast, historian and all around gearhead. Many of us here spent hours with him on the phone.

nitroairplane

i have only one saito.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Nit, the .50, the .56 and the .62 are all three real sweetheart engines. It should turn a 12x6 at 9,500+ That'll get you Saito Club # if you want it.

nitroairplane

I would love my #

VictoryRoll

My Feedback: (2)

Thank you all for helping me define how to break-in my new FA-100...  I will use a mix of Hobbsy's, SrTelemaster150's (Robinson) and BLW's methods... I have to think about it a bit and wait for this dang cold, crappy weather to relinquish to Springtime... man, I gotta move to FL !!!

blw

My Feedback: (3)

It was easy to get off topic with Bill because he knew a lot about the cars and motorcycles I was brought up around. My dad had a Lotus 11 among other things, and Bill knew a lot about it and the engine. He always brought back the memories of being raised in a crazy car/bike/boat/airplane family. Good off topic talks about BSAs, Triumphs, and Norton Commandos.

SrTelemaster150

Ah, the BSA motorcycle.

B****** Siezed Already!

After spending about 5 years learning the quirks, in the early '70s, I would still love to have a restored '67 Lightning. (I had a Thunderbolt)

Rudolph Hart

I was researching whatever at the time and stumbled across a photo of Will Robison on what looked like an egli vincent,whatever it was i'd have given a months pay for a hours ride on it.

SrTelemaster150

hsukaria

I took out my FA-82 and ran it on the bench. I installed an APC 14x6, used 20% nitro, 20% synth oil. I used an electric starter this time and it started easily. I got around 9000 rpm, quite impressive to me. I am looking forward to using it this coming flying season.

Before running it, I sprayed penetrant oil at the valves with the intake and exhaust manifold removed as was suggested. Then I re-adjusted the valve gaps, it turns out that they were much wider than Saito recommends.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

HS, if you want a tenacious lube for the rockers try some Power Steering fluid, that stuff has staying power like you would not believe.

blw

My Feedback: (3)

Dave- are you saying that the 1.25 should be set to .004? I've been adjusting the lash at .003. Makes a difference?

SrTelemaster150

Spec's in the FA125 manual say .002" to .004".

All opening up the lash will do is increase wear & diminish power.

It might make the idle a little smoother.