I have owned somewhere between 15 to 25 Saito,s. That said, this Fa 220 is not your father's Saito. The tank is on the CG so it is equipped with a Perry VP20 pump. It gets plenty of Wildcat 20-20 fuel.

I primed it wet and sloppy and then applied glo-starter. I was surpised that my Hobbico 180 starter turned it over easily and it started right up. (needle valve open 3 turns). Throttled up to about 1/3 after letting it warm for a minute. Dropped back to high idle and removed glow. Engine died.

Restarted, throttled up to about 1/3 and removed glow. BACKFIRE! threw prop and spinner destroying both.

What do you think? Too rich? Too lean?

She be too rich... at least that's my thinking.

To keep it from killing your plane you should put it in a test stand and run it for about 40 minutes plus get the LS needle set, I have a proven procedure for both if interested.

I bought this one used with several flights on it. The claim was that it was broken in, basic break-in, at least, plus several flights.

It looks like it hasn't been run a lot, starts easy, and sounds good. What needle valve setting do you recomend for starting? I know that will vary with conditions such as pumped, non-pumped, fuel, etc.. I don't have a manual, just need to have a ballpark figure.

I have owned all sizes up to a 180, and have always started at 2 turns after break-in at sloppy rich. I have a 100 and a 125 now, never kicked back.

Begin with the HS needle at about 5 turns

Thanks, i'll give it a shot.

FG, when setting the LS needle make sure the HS needle is at peak

Thanks Hobbsy. I have been able to set up Saito's from .56's to 1.80's with no problems. My 180's have always idle like a Harley. I just never had one backfire like this.

I find this engine just a little intimidating with so much power and that backfire. I'll start over like it's new and track the top end in starting from 5 turns out. I should have left the glow igniter on till I had it dialed in on the top end I guess.

Sorry, I didn't know how much or how little "sperience" you have, I should have asked. You're right about the 2.20 being a little intimidating, it swings a big board pretty hard. I've had my Davis Diesel Jumbo Chicken Stick removed from my hand more than once. I installed a CH ignition on my 2.20 but so far haven't been able to equal the glow plugs power.

No offense taken, I just wanted you to understand my experience so that we could have a clearer conversation.

I used an electric starter. Do you use your chicken stick to back flip clockwise, or to pull counter-clockwise thru the power stroke?

On glow I do the backflip on ignition I forward flip, the CH SynchroSpark retards to 6 degrees BTDC at cranking speeds. It doesn't even offer to kick back.

I'm back to the Saito 220 after a little time off building a new heli. Today I ran it up to a steady 7350 with a zinger 20X8. Idled at 2000 for as long as I let it set there, (more than 1 minute). All of this was with glow on. I'm not sure it's really peaked yet but it's outpulling my former BME 44 and 50 already.

Only problem is transistion from idle. It will throw a big puff of smoke and die if you don't ease it up the first 1000 rpm increase. I think I may still be too rich on the top end. I've been a little timid because it is pulling that prop so fast already. Also, a sudden throttle back to high idle will cause it to throw a puff of smoke, but it usually doesn't die. Guess i'll lean it up until it starts losing R's. I have been backing it off about 250 R's from 7350.

Do you think it's still too rich? Should I just run it at peak with the perry pump?

I've decided to get an onboard glow system no matter how well I get it adjusted.

The idle is too rich

I have a Saito FA 220 Golden Knight Installed on Hangar 9 Cessna 182 ( the big one). The engine initially ran fine. Had 28 flights with no problems at all. My starter motor a Kavan from Hobby Lobby shorted due to age. I have tried the other Hobbico, and Hangar 9 normal starters and they do not have enough power to move the prop and slips the metal spinner. I have been tried to start the engine several times flipping the prop by hand with a glove which is painful no success. It is painful starting by hand and sometimes does not start. Please help me what brand starter is suitable to start easy my Saito FA 220 engine. I cannot afford the cost of the Megatech Starter. Thanks

I have several Sullivan Dynatrons and they seem to start the Saito 220 without any effort while using a big 12 volt battery.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...XFT88&P=ML

I start mine with a Hobbico 180 starter.

I have now installed a switch&glow which turns the glow off at high idle, and can be switched on and off by a transmitter switch for starting. I really like it.

I use a Hobbico 180 to start my 220, But I have to start the spin with the throttle closed. Once it starts spinning I advance the throttle and she fires up. Only problem is this requiers two people.

You might want to check your valve adjustment.