I've been in the RC airplane sport for about a year, started with a Firebird. I'm having trouble with the reliability of the accessories needed for this sport. This stuff ain't cheap to begin with, it would be nice if equipment lasted longer. My servo failure rate to this point has been about one in ten. I've had two ESC's (for electric flight) fail, one cost me a plane. So far, my receivers have been reliable with no failures but today, my JR radio malfunctioned. Thankfully, it happened while the plane was on the ground. I have the 662 with memory for 6 planes, it stopped working on memory number 2. My glow engines have been OK so far(Irvine, V-mar and Thunder Tiger) but the Irvine has been very difficult to adjust. Oh, I almost forgot, I've gone through at least a dozen glow plugs this year at about 5 bucks a pop. I've had flying friends tell me they fly all year on one or two. I follow the rules and take care of my equipment. Am I snake-bit or what? And to top it all off, my less than one year old MRC Brain charger has suddenly developed Alcheimers! Is my experience unsual or common?

You mentioned you take care of your equipment so I would say you are having a run of bad luck. As far as burning out glo plugs.... the self contained Glo Starters, (no wires type), should be no problem. If you are using the power panel with the leads conected to it, you could possibly have the setting too high and be burning the element out. Other than that, I have no explanation..... only wishes for some good luck!!!! ...lownslo...

Let's see..... In eight years of flying glow:

I have replaced a number of receiver battery packs. (They were getting old, and although they still seemed to cycle okay, why risk it?) A couple of transmitter packs for the same reason.

I've lost a few planes to careless thumbs. And had two receivers repaired as a result.

I replaced my 12 volt battery twice.

I had to buy a new (manual) fuel pump last year.

I'm pretty sure that's it. No, wait. I had a prop nut spin off a plane while in the air. Lost the nut, prop, and thrust washer.

(This is the truth, by the way.)
Dennis-

Your run of bad luck sucks indeed! I would agree that the power panel glow starter has burned a few plugs out on me for sure!

I started in this about 3 years ago and after a small crash with my trainer - have not crashed a plane since. Until a few weeks ago......I lost my AT6 when I lost power and snapped it into the ground! then went out 2 weeks later.....DUMB THUMBS!! In the wrecks I lost an 8 ch. JR Rec., 3 servo's, pitts muffler and all the time and effort put into my planes.

Hang in there. It will get better.

RB

That's HORRIBLE!

The closest I've ever come to something like that is I had a twin Speed 400 plane and the battery fell apart in flight and caused it to go down

My only thought is if you buy cheaper equipt, you will have trouble, but if you are buying $5 plugs, it doesn't sound like you are buying junk. That sux. You may be running really lean, that will smoke plugs. Servos dying, check vibration and the battery connected to them. Not good. Noone needs that headache.

From the sound of it, I'm just having a run of bad luck. Turns out my radio is OK. Somehow, I changed the frequency on memory 2, the very helpful guy at service at Horizon Hobby helped me figure that out. So, my radio's(I have a JR 442 and 662) and recieivers have not given me any problems. Maybe I'm just using up my bad luck early and I'll be fine for the next several years. By the way, I use the self contained glow starters and not a panel. I've had several flying friends comment that I go through way too many glow plugs. Can you buy them by the pound?

I can't say about the electrics, but if you are burning out a lot of plugs and you kicked off the prop nut in the air, it's a good bet you are running too lean. It is common for someone who does not have too much time with glow engines to set them too lean. Well, it happens to experienced fliers, too. I have a friend who can't resist tweaking the needle every flight. He wonders why he burns out plugs and fries engines.

Glow plugs don't mormally burn out unless the engine is set wrong for conditions. I live in the Florida panhandle so I'm in the heat in the summer like you are in Georgia. Run 10% fuel. I use Omega 10%. Peak your engine, then back it off 500 rpm. If you're not sure open the needle a quarter turn or setit just into a 2-cycle. You ought to see a smoke trail in flight. If you don't, you are too lean. Set correctly, the smoke trail will diminish and go away during the last part of the flight. Engines get leaner and leaner throughout the flight.

As for the Irvine, I don't own one, but they have the reputation for being very easy to set.

Order some Thunderbolt #3's from Hobby People. Or try a K&B 1L. These are good alternatives to the OS #8.

well i have found the eating glow thing to have one of the following causes:
1) Too Lean engine setting.
2) Too small, or big of a prop causing over-heating
3) Cowling not cut out enough for suficiant cooling.
4) Too high voltage.
5) Corrosion due to something.. haven't figured out what, but i've seen it happen.
6) They don't last forever.

if you go cheap, it will cost you more later. get the better stuff to begin with

Been flying 16 years.

Replaced- 1 starter battery ( it was 15 yrs. old)
3 servo failures (one brand new heavy duty Hobbico, two JR's) Maybe 10 glowplugs, though maybe not that many, I use low nitro, and run rich with 22 % oil.
1 GWS Rx, ( accidentally crushed it with a pair of pliers-don't ask!)
A worn out engine or three.
Worn out squeeze bulb (needed to get a fuel pump anyway it just took 15 yrs. to wear it out!)
1 bad battery pack in a Hitec Tx (bad cell)
Planes to numerous to mention It's been awhile but this one really broke! (see crash pictures- ouch!)
Lots of fuel jugs (empty)
That's about it. Hope your luck changes soon. The quality of R/C stuff is pretty good from where I'm sitting, but you can get a hold of some real junk, in any hobby.

Jetts