Hi,

I have a problem with my OS .46 LA engine. It has been in storage for just over 2 years, practically brand new, ran a phew times before it went in. Anyway I pulled it out of storage, installed it onto my Duraplane Acrobat 40, put an 11x7 prop on and used a SIGGP003 long glow plug, recommended by HobbyTownUSA, ran 15% fuel with 18% oil.
The Air mixture screw is set about half way across the pin hole below carb, mixture set at 2 1/2" turns based on factory settings. I can get the engine to start, but as soon as I take the glow starter off, it runs for a while pops a bit then dies. It also seems to run extremely rich no matter what I do with adjustments. I took the noise baffle out of muffler today to see if it helped, but to no luck. Actually i spent all day trying to get this engine to run, it actually backfired on me. I tried 10% fuel, tried different glow plugs, tried all possible high needle settings, all possible air mixture settings, nothing worked.
If I leave the glow starter on it runs fine, high and low idle everything. The minute I remove the glow starter it dies after about a minute.
I am at a complete loss. One thing I did notice, after battling with it all day, when I gave up trying anymore and was cleaning the mess off myself and the plane, I noticed oil oozing out the muffler. It was rusty looking oil dripping from muffler. I am at the point of throwing this engine away, and looking for another engine, can anyone save my day here. I don't now if I mentioned, but engine runs rich (sprays fuel moisture from muffler) on every setting I tried.

Thanks
Anthony
[email protected]

Anthony:

While I don't have high regard for the LA engines, too many people have them running well for me to dismiss them entirely.

So, questions. Can you stop the engine by leaning it out while the glow heat is on? And does it run all its fuel out before quitting with the glow heat on?

If both are "Yes" you probably haven't found the right plug, or your fuel is contaminated - stored, got water in it.

If you can't stop it by going lean you have a carb problem, or the tank is too high. If it wont run the tank out with glow heat on I'd be looking at the fuel.

Hope this helps.

Bill.

I tried starting the engine real line (1 1/2 turns) from closed and it started. I did not try running it out with glow heat on. I did notice while engine was running with glow heat, and i adjusted the screw on carb, it did not seem to make much difference in idle speed.
I did try my friends fuel today which was 10% brand new, and definatly no contamination, did not run any better.

The first thing to try is a new plug. Try an O.S. #8 or #A3 plug. If the engine will run OK with the battery connected, but not when you remove the battery, then the plug is most certainly suspect, even if it's new.

Your needle settings are good starting places, so the engine should run from there, and allow you to gradually lean it.

You didn't say how you stored the engine or really what you did with it before you put in in storage.

I had a problem recently with an OS 65LA, seemed to run OK on the ground but dead sticked as soon as it got airborne. Also the needle seemed a bit unresponsive. Its a good job you can see there's a problem before you fly the plane.

Apparently, dirt can get stuck in the 'T' section of the remote needle valve. Take the needle out and remove all the fuel lines then blow through the needle valve area using a can of compressed air (dust remover from Radio Shack or similar). Just to be sure, remove the carb, wash it in alcohol and blow through the fuel inlet in the same way.

Make sure all your fuel lines are clean and have no splits before reassembling the whole kit and kaboodle.

Once you know your fuel supply is clean and unrestricted and you're using the correct plug (A3 or No 8) then you should be good to go...

Before storage, it did fly a phew times i think, can't remember know. I have replaced all fuel lines, but have not cleaned carb. or remote section of needle valve.
Who makes A3 or No 8 plugs?

Thanks

AS:

Referenced plugs are OS.

The carb bit is where I was talking about leaning to kill the engine.

Bill.

Don't know if this is related or not, but I have just had excellent service from our OS service centre over here in the UK. My OS46LA would be fine on the ground but die after 4-5mins of flight. A colleague at my local club had the same difficulty and sent his engine off for checking. Apparently (and this has never been confirmed) some LA series units suffer from an expansion differnetial between piston and liner causing the engine to stop after it has been running hot for a while. With this info I too sent my unit back to OS (actually looked after by Irvine who are th UK suppliers of OS engines). Within 4 days the motor was sent back with new piston and liner. The parts and labour came to £35 (approx. $50), but no charge was made. I thought this to be excellent service for an engine that had flown on and off for ~2 years. Also, check your clunk inthe fuel tank. Sometimes even the simple stuff bites us.

Chocky.

By all means, if you use good fuel, a good plug, and proper operating techniques and your engine still won't run correctly, please send it to the service center. Since you're in the U.S., send it to us for examination.

before you throw it away!!!

IF it were mine, I would tear it all down, clean and polish and restore it.

Then go at it again on a stand, (so I am not bending over) and get it figured out.

Some mods I have been successful with OS airbleeds are:
drilling out the air intake 'hole'
grinding the needle 'valve' screw to a fine point
OR just taking out the hole air screw assembly (had 1 run like that for a year)

Seriously I will pay for dead OS engines...

All the best

***Post deleted by Moderator. Not relevant to initial questions***