Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

Hi Gang, I recently picked a older Saito FA 45. I need to replace the bearings, have it stripped down but can't get the prop driver to budge so I can remove the crankshaft. There is no Woodruff key, just seems to be some kind of brass or bronze sleeve type insert between thr Prop Driver and shaft. I heated the whole area pretty well and tried a gear puller...still wouldn't budge...this thing has probaly been on there 10-15 yrs.

See Detail Pics

This is my firts Saito attempt and I can't find any help on Youtube..or any forum help so far.

any tips would be apreciated..Thanks !

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

It's probably been there more than 20 years

I use a bearing separator in the grove of the collar then I pull on the bearing separator.

Stubborn ones like yours, I heat the collar up with a Monokote gun and tap on the end of the puller with a hammer.

It takes a robust puller. You cannot get it off with a faucet lever puller or battery terminal puller.

You are correct. there is only a tapered split brass sleeve in there holding it all together.

http://images.rcuniverse.com/gallery...4/lg-28792.jpg

http://images.rcuniverse.com/gallery...4/lg-28793.jpg

You can get these more economically at Harbor Freight

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

Since you are going to replace the bearings. You can heat up the crankcase and thrust washer with a heat gun or propane torch or oven.
Then tap the crankshaft down, after the crank moves down a little, the thrust washer pops off, continuing will drop the crankshaft out too,
usually the bearings will still be in there, but not always. So I use a brass rod with a lip on one edge (where it has been wacked a lot with a hammer.
I heat up the crankcase again. Then I stick in the rod to catch the bearing race and then tap it out, I repeat for the other bearing as needed too. I work the rod around the edge tapping the bearing out, Usually the Saito engines seem to have the bearings in there real snug so they don't just pop out like the videos show.

Here is a video showing how it is done. Same methods apply to a 4 stroke engine too.
http://www.rcmodelreviews.com/bearings.shtml

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

Thanks guys, I will try out your ideas and report back soon...

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

this is directed to w8ye , this question has nothing to do with the topic above but you have helped me before hope you can again . installed brand new futaba 3010 servos in a new super sky bolt and the aileron servos buzz , if I tap the aileron stick it stops cant find anything that could be making them buzz even diconected the linkages and let them run without any load but still buzz any ideas hope to hear from you soon Bob A club saito 705

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

The buzz is a problem within the servo electronics itself. The dead band at the zero point of the servo is set too close and the servo is trying to go both directions at once.

The neutral pont needs to be programmed out a bit with a servo programmer?

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

thanks for the quick reply W8ye , how and where do I get the servos reprogramed , never had this problem before . If you can give me some guidence , as usual I would apperciate it very much thanks again Bob A Saito #705

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

In your case, I would contact Hobby Services (Tower) and ask about getting them repaired if they are still under warranty.

If not you may want to call a repair outfit like Tony Stillman and explain your problem.

Some five or six years ago, the guys at the field had a Hitec programmer that the shared between themselves. I know they changed some Hitec servos but I don't know if the programmer worked on other brands? I've never seen a Futaba programmer.

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

http://www.futaba-rc.com/servos/sbus.html

There are only 8 programmable servos for Futaba. The 3010 is not on the list.

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

Hi Guys thanks for all the help , I called hobby services ( futaba) and they helped me out , seems as though I had to adjust the sub trim a bit and that stopped the buzzing ,, but thanks for all the quick replys and your input , Have a great day Bob A Saito # 705

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

I use a battery terminal puller and heat.I've never had the puller itself remove the alum. drive washer,but pressure from the puller,and then applying heat from a heat gun or a propane torch ususlly pops it off in about a minute.

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

After a long search of 4 stores for a bettery terminal puller, I finally found a faucet puller with enough chuck length to get around the prop driver. I had to modify the hook radius to get maximum mating force on the very thin back lip of the driver. I tightend it all up, turned the handle and it popped off without any heat !.....I was all set to get my torch actually , thinking it not best to put too much pressure on that alu piece alone...when it popped.
Now to get the crank and bearings out...will heat up and start tapping....so far so good

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

Ok Guys... I have the new bearings installed and all went well... a little heat, a few deft smacks and things removed niceley beforehand.

I am now putting it all back together and am not certain that I can get the valve timing gears back to the original tooth location.

I made a mark on the valve cam gear when I dismantled it and marked the Main drive shaft position at the same time, in the hopes that I the valve drive gears will mesh at the correct tooth location upon reassembly , but It could still be off by one tooth either way by chance.

The attached pics show the timing marks on the valve drive gear for this Saito FA 45.....Does anybody know how to set this up correctly before I attempt to reassemble?

There is also a pin on the drive gear on the crank that may play a roll also?...see pic

Thanks, Eric

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

The correct timing position is with the crankshaft at top dead center and the mark on the cam straight down.

Double check after assembly that the rocker arms are parrallel with each other at both top dead center positions of the crankshaft. (Compression & overlap)

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

W8ye..Thanks for that info..

putting together this evening and will test run Sat.

Is this the timing sequence for all Saito single cylinder engines in general?

Eric

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

yes

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

Put it all back together and it runs like a swiss sewing machine now!
Thanks again, learned lots on this little job!

RE: Saito FA 45 Prop Driver Removal - Help
 

Time to go to the Club Saito thread and get a member number.

And, buy another Saito or two.