I have an OS 160 FT that is giving me problems. I keep loosing the right cylinder, looking at it from the rear. I have an onboard glow driver which works fine but if I disconnect the glow at idle I loose a cylinder at idle.The low end is adjusted and the high end is just fine. I don't understand why I keep loosing the right cylinder and never the left. I replaced the plug twice. ANy ideas?

Sporty:

Do a careful check, be sure none of the rubber intake seals are dry, cracked, displaced, or leaking for any other reason. Also check the valve clearance, adjust all valves in a consistent manner so they are all as close to the same as you can get them.

Most flat twins, with all the adjustments right, run well.

If you still have an imbalance (that's what makes you lose one consistently) get an infrared thermometer and check the cylinder temps. Again, check each cylinder in the same spot, as nearly as you can. On the Saito twins cylinder balance can usually be reached by playing with the valve settings, set the cold cylinder to minimum clearance and the hot cylinder to maximum. This may be too much, but you will get the idea and can work from there.

But do be sure there's no other fault - you can chase it forever with adjustments when you have an air leak.

Bill.

Thanks Bill, I was hoping you would answer. I'll check the seals and valves.

Don't know what got into me. Imagine, ME trying to help an OS user! What's the world coming to? Dang!

Haw.

Hope it helps.

Bill.

If it makes it any better this my only OS, all my other glow motors are Saito. Thanks again

How long have you been running this engine? I am gonna convert my asp twin to cd ignition with one of C&H's units, The plugs are $15 a pop, but should last in excess of 75 hours on glow fuel, the batteries for the ignition can be smaller and will last longer than with on board glow. With synchro spark the engine will idle better and according to tkg(dude from c&h) it will reliable burn richer and leaner mixes. It may be expensive but I am confident it is worthwhile

My twin will drop the left hand cylinder on a low idle, but comes back to life when I throttle up, it is really wierd, I used my IR thermometer (Bill's advice) to check them, when both cylinders are firing they are within 30oF of each other (but only just), through-out the throttle range.

I have about 8 flights on this engine. Before then I ran 2 tanks of fuel through it. Total run time about 1 1/2 hours, just barely broken in.

Rupurt:

On the colder cylinder, decrease the intake valve clearance just a hair. At 30F difference you're pretty close, but you might get it better.

Sporty:

With that low time you may not yet have gotten full compression on one side, the imbalance could get better all by itself as you run it more.

Bill.