Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

Guys, I have a Hangar 9 Twist .60 with an FA 100 Saito. The engine is mounted upright with the muffler and exhaust extention facing up and out because if the exhaust in lowered , it wets the aileron servos. The engine was used but starts easily, runs great, has great transition and will go up 400 ft and idle pleasently whilel I try to tear the wings off with Kamikaze spins then land without so much as a hiccup. Now the problem....as soon as I start it up it smokes like a freight train.. literally.. As I am walking it to the runway, it actually puffs giant clouds of smoke... It seems to be really noticable because the pipe is facing up.Wish I had video of it.. I have a long vent tube, 9 in., so the oil would go out by the Landing Gear. The other thing is that this Saito is not tuned like My others.. I have an 82, 2-100's and a 125. The HS needle is 3/4 from closed and won't run any where else, and the LS needle is 3-1/2 turns from closed, transitions fast and idles at 2000 rpm all day long.
I was thinking maybe the crankcase vent tube was to long. or maybe a broken ring??? Any help please.. Thanks, TJ

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

It sounds like the LS needle is still too rich, you can't relate the number of turns in or out from one engine to the next.

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

Hobbsy, I will try that tomorrow. Thanks.

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

Some Saitos just smoke more than others no matter how you set the needles.

It may have something to do with the ring end gap? A smoking one seems to run as good as a non smoking one.

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

What W8ye says. I have a 100 Saito and it smokes too... doesnt affect performance though. Every Saito Ive seen smokes.

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

keep the mosketos away.

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

Does the smoke reduce after you run it for a while like after you land or is it smoking just as much?

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

Guitarman52, I've had 6 Saitos. They all smoke a bit. I am talking about as I'm walking the plane out and goose the throttle, a column
of smoke as tall as me and and two feet wide.. It looks like an oversized toy train. The amount is about like two Saito 125's running together.And as I said ,it seems to have no bearing on performance.And the HSN is only open 3/4 of a turn from closed. I can never remember having that small amout on any engine I've ever owned.All the other Saitos HSN are at least 1-1/2 turn from closed.
 Mr67Stang,no it doesn't reduce. It stays the same..Makes a great smoke trail in the air for all to see..lol. Hot or cold, slow and fast.. It stays the same.
 Hobbsy, I tried the LSN... dies if leaned out any more. Thanks Guys. May just have to live with it or take it apart and look for a broken ring. TJ

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

Good luck. Hope you resolve the problem

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

Thanks Guitarman, it doesn't seem detrimental to the performance ,so I'll probably just live with it.
 Brad47, hey man, the mosquitoes here are so big, I had one try to mate with My 40 Funtana!!!!!! They drink RAID and carry knives..  Later, TJ

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

i also have a saito 100. it smokes pretty good but runs great. my os 48 is the smokeyist 4 stroke iv'e ever seen. runs great too. if you got um......smoke um...............RON

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

Try using the needle from another Saito 100, could be the taper is not the same.

Happy flying, Oscar

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

oskartek, I'll give that a try as I have another FA 100 that I bought used and am waiting for parts. Thanks, TJ

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

Well, I doubt it's the needle because you say it does not effect the performance of the engine. I would guess it has more to do with the orientation of your exhaust. With the pipe turned up as you describe it is allowing the oil to pool in the pipe a but instead of getting blown right out and it is burning in the header/muffler assembly. To test that simply reorientate your muffler to point down and see if it changes. I understand you orientated your muffler to keep oil off the aileron servo but if you move it long enough to check it out then at least you will know.

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

oskartek, i tried the needle change.. no diff, but thanks for the help. I tried Mr67Stangs advise... cleaned right up!! So now I know. Thanks!!!! TJ

RE: Excessive smoking on Saito 100
 

Good on ya.

Happy flying, Oscar