mike109

Yep - I put a 72 back together last night using some of RC bearings stock. As was said, I did not remove the piston from the cylinder. But when it was all back together there was no compression at all. Timing seemed right. Then I realised I had removed the glow plug. AAAAAAGH. Plug in - perfect compression. Phew.

The glow plug was the only thing (apart from a slightly dented valve pushrod tube which I straightened) to be damaged. The top of the glow plug had been broken off in the prang. The bearings were probably fine too after the prang but the owner was so disgusted with himself that he threw the wreckage including the engine into a damp shed and let it accumulate moisture and mud for six months. This did more damage than the prang had.

min$2crash

Just sharing a good trick I recently tried (during my 91's rebuild this spring):
The factory pushrod seals on my 91 wouldn't stay in place for long, sliding down the tube. I put black shrink tubing on the outside, which snugs them up enough to stay put now.
Just one of those quick and expedient fixes that I will probably repeat in the future: 40 flights later they haven't budged. I guess the tighten back up every time the engine gets hot!!??!!
Cheers.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

You can also use shrink tubing by itself

Or you can use fuel tubing

blw

My Feedback: (3)

Be sure to buy the good stuff, and not the cheap heat shrink tubing. The rubber feeling kind is the best.

larryjd

I have an older Saito 180 FS. The exhaust (RT) rocker bracket is broken and needs replacement. I have looked on Horizon Hobby website, but I can't find any parts for the 180. Does anyone know if that part is interchangeable with another Saito Engine? Any help would be appreciated!

SrTelemaster150

120/150/180/220 are all common. I just used some 150 rocker brackets on a 180 cylinder.

SrTelemaster150

Part #120S45 for standard model engine, part #150S45 for the GK version.

SrTelemaster150

You will find the (RT) rocker bracket you need [link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchCmd?searchKeyword=SAI120s45&searchType=productgrid]HERE[/link]

larryjd

Thank you! I am now ordering the parts. One more question. To se the valve lash, how do you know which TDC you should be on? Maybe this is a dumb question, but I'm always a bit confused on this issue

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

You want it at the top of the compression stroke, at the top of the exhaust stroke both valves are partway open.

blw

My Feedback: (3)

You can put a toothpick, or similar non metal stick in the glowplug hole and visually see TDC too.

SrTelemaster150

My FA91S has a ridge near the top of the pushrod tube that keeps the seal frrom slipping.

I bought the engine in 1998, have they changed since then?