I have read several people saying their Saito 56 turns a 12x6 apc at 10,000 I got a couple gallons of fuel through mine and it rarely breaks 9,000 and usually have it richened/tuned to 8,600. Is it weak or is everyone full of it? I'm running 15% OS F plug at sea level I have even checked valves and there perfect.

The timing may be advanced 1 tooth?

I have three Saito 56's and they turn a APC 12/6 at 10,000 on 15% fuel

I used to get much more than that out of mine, but it is like 12 years ago, so I do not remember exactly what it was. I remember running my Saito 50's and getting about 10,000 with APC 11-7's on 15%.

The APC 12x6 is an excellent prop for the .56.

WOW!!! How insightful that can only come from experience, upon disassembly it looks like you are correct. It looked to be off by 1 tooth. I didn’t bother to figure out which direction. I have carefully reassembled and will try later today, I need to make a couple of valve cover gaskets first. I think in the end I will owe you a bunch of thanks, I will report back after a run. Thanks

You may could use some gasket sealer for the valve covers?

Do not use regular silicone or at least not let it get inside the valve covers. The Silcone RTV is not fuel proof inside an engine and will make a jelly mess.

You can try running it without the valve covers just to see how it runs?

I don’t quite get 10,000 it will now hit 9,600 9,700 and the motor runs and transitions better maybe just the hot, humid Florida weather. I am assuming the rpm's everyone is quoting is peak and not tunned to fly

That sounds like a reasonable assumption. My FIL has one and we settled on the 12x6 at about 10,500 peaked, backed off to about 10,000.

w8ye,
Again I would like to thank you for your post on the timing of my engine, I don't know if I would have ever figured that one out on my own. I was able to get out and fly it today and it runs better all around and less fuel/oil mess. It's mounted on a Sig Mayhem and it has now moved up on my favorite scale.

I will have to admit it was my fault. I purchased the plane complete less receiver and it had been sitting for a while although the motor was almost new, from sitting it had a stuck valve and ring, (dang castor oil) so I dissembled and cleaned up and reassembled. As I lowerd the cam assembly down on the motor it must have rotated on me. Any thanks again and keep up the good work.

Tripower222

For most people that own a Saito 56, it is one of their favorite engines

My first Saito and my first four stroke came on an old Hangar 9 80" Cub. I got the plane for an awesome deal. I was told it was RTF but the receiver crystal didn't match the transmitter. The reason I got it so cheap was that the hobby shop thought the bearings in the engine were bad and they just wanted to "unload" it. I removed the crankcase breather nipple and saturated the lower end with Marvel Air Tool oil, removed the rocker covers and did the same, removed the glow plug and shot a few drops in the cylinder and proceeded to turn it over slowly by hand and the soon thereafter it turned over smooth as silk. I installed a different receiver and changed out the aileron servos, put the fuel to it and it fired right up. This engine runs fantastic. I don't know how much run time the engine has seen and I know it has never been flown because I had to glue about 5 oz of lead to the motor mount and cowl to get it to balance. I just purchased another used Saito 56 so when it arrives I'll see how it runs. I Just took the Evolution 46 NX off of my PnP Cub that only has 2 tanks of fuel through it to replace it with a Saito 72. This whole Saito engine thing is starting to become addictive. I'm running a Zinger 12x6 wood prop on mine however I don't remember the tach readings. I may try to take some tonight if I have time.

Not all props are created equal. If you are using say a Top Flite prop your engine will probably not turn up as high as say a Master Airscrew black.

I have a an almost new .56 GK that turns a Graupner 12x6 at 10,100 even though the Graupner has those big wide blades. That is on WildCat 15% Premium Extra and a Fox Miracle plug.

saito 56 10000 on a zinger 12x6 wood martin

APC 12x6 and Omega 15% with a Saito SS plug: 10,400

If we ever had an idle rpm test, W8YE would win hands down. He has a .56 that you literally can't hear a few feet away. It sounds like it isn't turning 1500.