Is there anyone else who has tuned your heli engine while running it. I have read something about tunning it while it is running but have it strapped down and up high so you can adjust both valves and wile strapped down test it out at full throttle. So set the idle speed until it idles smoothly, then set the high end valve so that it gets full throttle power. Someone tell me if this sounds good. I got an idea from someone here and also from the Ray's helicopter book. Let me know your thoughts.

Yes, tune the low end basically so you get a smooth reliable idle and the high end, in a heli, I'd tune it to just enough where you don't get the "gurgling" from being too rich and have a nice powerband, I'd definitely run it on the rich side though, your motor will last longer, run cooler and have less chance of in flight failure.

Ok good. I just wanted to make sure I was thinking right along the lines of tweeking and adjusting the engine. I always did it with the engine off. Not on.

Yes, the engine has to be running to tune it btw, do not run the motor at full throttle with no load, you will damage it, or at least not for too long. If you have no load or little load, just very brief full throttle if anything, maybe half a second to a second at most. Rule of thumb is to make sure you have plenty of smoke coming out of the exhaust.

Yeah see that is my problem. The whole two months I have had that helicoter, I have not had a lot of smoke come out of it. Just a little. So I know for a fact that I never had it right. So I will try adjusting the engine while running. Thanks for your help!

If you're using heli fuel and you're not getting much smoke, you're super lean [X(] Heli fuel has more oil and tends to let off a lot more smoke than say car fuel. Also, tune high end needle first, once you get it where you want, then tune the low end. The low end isn't a huge deal though as it would be in a car, as long as you get a decent idle, that's all you need since heli's pretty much run at nearly full throttle. Good Luck!

Yes I have 30% wild cat fuel heli mix. So I am sure I have the right fuel, I just need to adjust the engine. I need to get the propper amount of smoke coming out. I am just not getting that. Yet.

vallon, I'm going to get a few here that are going to flame me for this but: Do away with the 30%. I'm glad your using Wildcat, there isnt much better out there. Use Wildcat Premium Extra 15% nitro with 18% oil thats the 80/20 syth/castor blend. i have a Thunder Tiger 36 in my Caliber that over the last 4 yrs has been in 3 helis and drank more than 10 gallons of the Wildcat fuel and still runs like new. This is the only fuel i have ran all my engines on.All the Heli, car, boat and airplane motors, 2 and 4 stroke, I own have all used this fuel only since 93" and over the years only one traxxas TRX .12 car motor has had to be rebuilt and that was after 2 gals went thru it, thats a lot'a miles on a .12 I bet your now finding out that there is a lot to tuning and maintaining a gas helicopter and its engine and while a lot of people are using what you and have good results, many factors determine how well it works for them. Head shims added to the motor, elevation of where they fly, do they use a tuned pipe or a muffler and plug choice and some others im sure to have forgotten all factor in. Just stick with a milder nitro 18% oil fuel and you'll have a much easier time of tuning your engine while your also learning at the same time how to operate one. Slow and steady will win the race my friend. Mike

I will keep that in mind. I do have 15% fuel too. I guess what upset me is my heli would atleast take off and fly for a bit with 30%, but with 15% it would not even lift off of the ground. I would adjust the high end valve and still nothing at all. I am sure there is something I am doing wrong. I am sure both valves have to be in a certain spont and not off by a hair or it wont work right. I guess I will just keep tuning. I need to tune until I get smoke, because I am just not getting any smoke. I mean a little bit but not much.

Vallon, check your PM's....

a friend makes a great heli tuning stand.