RCER88

My Feedback: (25)

I have Rossi's and they love FAI fuel. They also love that old junk fuel that has been sitting around for years. (the kind of stuff NOTHING else will run on). I run the fireball glow plugs at about $35.00 for a card of twelve. You can get different heat ranges so you can get something in the heat range you need.

I have never mixed my own fuel but have burned many different brands and ages of fuel. With the FAI in the Rossi's there is NO difference in performance and engine settings. If I use 10% nitro I have to change glow plug and retune. My old ST 40 runs fine on FAI. My Fox 40 runs but does not idle well. Fox's like nitro. So normally I carry two types of fuel. I add a capful of castor oil to EVERY gallon of fuel I open.

Some smoke and goop is a good exchange for burning up bearings and pistons.

KeroPower

Cool, I do some Googling for fireball glow plugs.

I have a Fox .40 too. I run it on my Klean Strip brew and an OS #6. It idles ok. Top end is very good. Maybe the ethanol helps it idle?

KeroPower

Here is my only BIG glow engine:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXqBYO-ApsI&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL[/youtube]

1QwkSport2.5r

Did you mean spark ignition? Looks like a gasser run on alcohol to me. Sounds good, though.

KeroPower

Yeah it still uses the stock ignition, but it runs on glow fuel, so I call it glow.

Thanks, I like the sound too.

TCraft Lover

My Feedback: (1)

1Qwksport
I have to go in to Plymouth or Brooklyn Park. I try to support them as much as possible. I got my plugs @ Hobbytown in Brooklyn Park this morning.

TCraft Lover

My Feedback: (1)

My St .45 runs very nicely on 10% with 18% oil

KeroPower

TCraft, have you fired it up yet?

TCraft Lover

My Feedback: (1)

Not yet. I just got the new glow plug installed and then plumbed a new fuel tank pump for the special brew. Probably in about 2 hrs I'll have some kind of info.

KeroPower

Okay, good luck.

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that the denatured alcohol is perfectly safe on glow fuel pumps, lines, stoppers, etc.

TCraft Lover

My Feedback: (1)

OK, Just got done with the test run. I give the overall performance an "A". Here's the dope bearing in mind I only had 10oz of fuel.
Temp. 70 Degr.
Humidity 67%
Dew Point 58Degr.
Klean Strip S-L-X 8oz. 2oz humaningestible castor. (or 20% oil)
First time running this prop so no benchmark RPM.

WITH OS#6 PLUG:
Peak RPM - 7700
90 Sec. Idle RPM - 1700-1800

WITH OS "F" PLUG
Same peak RPM
Idle RPM 2300 died after about 20 sec.

Notes:
-Seemed to be a little harder to start thanwith nitro blend.
-Very smokey
-Ran Great
-Dang it now I gotta get a big Cub for this bad boy.

Jim Dross

My Feedback: (1)

I have used this mix for well over 30 years;
In a clean 5 gallon can add 2 qts. Nitro Methane, 1 qt. Castor Oil, 3 qts. Klotz KL-200 Oil and 3-1/2 gallons Methanol. This will give you 10% Nitro 20% Oil blend. Add 5 drops per gallon Armoral to avoid foaming.
I use this mix in all of my glow engines both 2 and 4 stroke and have yet to have any corrosion issues or bearing problems plus my glow plugs last for years.

KeroPower

Great job! Excellent photos too. Very clear.

Yes this fuel for some reason is very smokey. You can see in my video that mine smokes a lot. Looks like an RC helicopter. I'm not sure why it is so smokey. Probably because of the higher oil content. Possibly the ethanol in the S-L-X. But hey at least you went "green" with the ethanol.

How about the carb? Did you have to lean the needles a wee bit? When you switch to all methanol FAI fuel the settings should bethe same. Possibly on;y need to richen it a click or two.

Yeah the OS #6 is the plug to use with this fuel and with FAI fuel.

Did you notice that the exhaust kind of smells like rotten eggs/sulfur?

I wish it was 70 hear in Maryland. It was 80 and a bit humid. Maryland is always humid. [:'(]

KeroPower

Yeah this mix is the way to go. It works great.

TCraft Lover

My Feedback: (1)

Yes I forgot to mention that I did indeed lean the HS needle. I looked up my original tach checks using a 16-8 MAS with 10/18 Byrons two years ago. My peak than was 8500 rpm. I've learned two things this evening with my 10 oz test. 1-This motor loves no nitro fuel. 2- It will turn a very large prop with authority. I bought his engine in 2009 for $133 out the door new. I had (still don't)no model to use it on. But I'm really glad I bought it. It is a real powerhouse for not much money and it runs great (thanks to you guys) on cheap fuel.

1QwkSport2.5r

Glad to hear the SLX mix worked, albeit a performance hit. Nonetheless, it's good to know one can use hardware store/drug store materials and make a model engine run. I look forward to running my ST S90K on FAI. I don't think my TT .46Pro will take to it as well, but that's my speed engine so I'll keep it on a nitro diet. I love the fact all castor keeps the inside of the engine looking so nice, and it doesn't get that foul smell in the crankcase like low castor fuel often produces. ( I equate that smell with something similar to skunky beer. )

When I'm back in town I'll do some testing with videos to post. My Airboats are dying to "go fast".

On a side note, I might be going looking for my first trainer to learn to fly planes. My TT .46 is the powerplant of choice. I get 16,800 on a 9x7 APC, and 15,800 on a 10x5 APC on my 5% nitro 20% castor brew. I'm motivated to do more experimentation though I need another gallon of castor pretty soon.

TCraft - where do you fly? I need to find a club to come hang with so I can learn to fly. Any suggestions?

TCraft Lover

My Feedback: (1)

I fly in Monticello at Wright flyers Club. I think that really there is no performance loss using this Faux FAI blend. My 8500 rpm was achieved with a 16-8. The 7700 rpm was with an 18-6 which is a hugh hunch of lumber compared to a 16" I think I should now test the brew using my 16-8 to really compare apples to apples.Good luck finding a club. Check out Texas Rc Planes for a cheap trainer that's very agile. Would be perfect for your TT .46.

1QwkSport2.5r

Monticello is up there; I've done work up there in the past. I'll see if there is anything local to me.

I would definitely swing the 16x8 on the same fuel and compare numbers. Something you might also want to try is adding acetone to your FAI mix. This will add a little more volatility to the fuel for faster starts and better ignition. I don't think it would add much extra power but it should start better and maybe be a little less smokey. Seems the going rate is 1-3% Acetone.

Iflyglow

My Feedback: (79)

Don't you guys have any dirt oval racers around. I have 99.9% methanol available at the pump at several places within 10 miles of my house. Late Model dirt oval cars, Sprint Cars & Midgets, Go Karts and IMCA Mods all burn methanol. It runs about $2.50 a gallon currently. I bought a Methanol race jug, and just refill when I need some.

TCraft Lover

My Feedback: (1)

Yeah I've been reading about the use of acetone and there seems to be some confusion as to what dose is correct. There seems to be agreement though that it enhances idle and starting. You might check the AMA site for flying clubs near you.

KeroPower

Perhaps some gasoline might help too? 5%?

TCraft Lover

My Feedback: (1)

Kero,
Do you mean that gasoline may be an aid to starting and idling?

KeroPower

Yes. It would make the fuel more volitile. This will definately help make cold starts easier since gasoline vaporizes much more easily than alcohol. Idling...not sure if it would help.

I think I'll try the acetone first though which will also make the fuel more volitile.

TCraft Lover

My Feedback: (1)

I don't know squat about it except that I've read some people don't even say gasoline and glow engines in the same breath!

KeroPower

Ok I just flew my .25LA with some acetone added to the Klean Strip brew. It started up no problems. Idle was definately better. I mean before the acetone I could hear the engine drop a few RPM at idle when the igniter was removed. Not anymore though. Also I think it was a little less smokey.