I am going to try and make my own smoke system for my saito 180 using a windshield washer pump and a servo, I also am going to try and make a preheater for the oil by wrapping the muffler with some copper tubing for the oil to go thru before it enters the muffler.

I have a friend that tried it using an old fuel pump but it would only smoke for a few seconds and stop as the pressure from the exhaust was stronger than the pump could put out so it wouldn't pump anything other than at idle. How do the TME or any other pumps get around this? Are they just stronger or do they use a one way valve somewhere?

Anyone know where to get a inverted mount smoke muffler for a saito 180 cheap?

After years of fiddling with an old TME pump, I finally went out and plopped down the cold hard cash ($8) for a windshield washer replacement pump form Walmart.

It runs off of a separate 4.8 battery pack, and is turned on and off by a servo hitting a micro-switch ($1.98 - Radio Shack) and you will also need a check valve (Available at your LHS) and a flow restrictor, which you can make from a block of wood (or dowel) and a screw (See pic).

You also don't need a special muffler. Just add a pressure fitting to the muffler's header as close to the engine's hear as is practical. If you're not familiar with "Bernoulli's Principal", here it is in a nutshell (in regards to a smoke system):

"The fat part of the muffler has high pressure; the skinny part has low pressure."

That's why you want to tap the header and not the muffler.

Now, as far as preheating goes... Don't wrap your oil tubing around the muffler. One of the keys to good smoke is HEAT. If you're stealing heat from the muffler, you're essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul.

What you would be better off doing (if you want to preheat) is to wrap the tubing around the cylinder head, but I have found that I don't even have to do that. Instead, I wrapped my muffler with a little bit of Fiberglass insulation, then wrapped tin foil around that and held it in place with some copper wire.

Now, run your oil line from the pump, through the flow valve and the check valve, and into the header.

I have this system on a YS 91AC and I get incredible smoke

One more pic:

OK thanks, That is what I was going to try, just running it to the muffler before I tried winding any coils around it or messing with that.

MINN, did you need capacitors on your washer pump?

No, I didn't. I did get a few VERY minor jitters that had me a little concerned at first, but they proved to be nothing to worry about. I have been using the system for most of the Summer, and have not had ONE problem since switching to it.

Minn, how long does the battery last on this setup? also what type battery you using (mAh)?

I am using a standard 4-AA Cell 600mah battery pack, and I've never flown more than 3 flights per charge, so I can't say how long it will last, but it's plenty for me.

And an 8oz tank provides plenty of smoke time.

OK, got the muffler tapped and just have to go to the auto parts store to get a pump, I went to one store but they wre out and wal mart doesn't seem to carry them here.

Got another ?, How are you venting your tank so the pump can draw from it? I got another check valve and was just going to install it on a short piece of fuel line to the vent, and leave it in the fuse so no fuel could come out, but air could get in, I would also use it to fill the tank.

Has anyone heard of colored smoke oil? I was in my LHS today and the guy swears he saw it somewhere but couldn't remember where.

I use a 3 line system on the tank. One goes to the pump, the other 2 are just open, so I can fill with either one, and the other will vent out the air as I'm filling (This saves me from having to disconnect the pump each time I fill the tank).

And I have never heard of colored smoke, except for the pyrotechnic type.

So they are just open and no oil ever comes out of it?

Well, when I fill it, I have to stop the oil from siphoning out (Since the fill line comes out from the bottom). And of course, it I stand it on it's nose with a full tank, it will leak out. But that would happen with your fuel tank too, right?

LOOKS GOOD i have a few spare things around so ill try it. can you connect it via a t piece on the pressurwe line to the scilerner?

Not sure I follow what your saying, my fuel tank wont leak on my glo models if i point the nose down.


Anyway I fired it up a little bit ago, I forgot to add a thing to clamp the fuel line but it didnt seem to need it, tons of white smoke. Im using lamp oil from walmart, $2.97 a bottle

Well I flew it today, needs some bugs worked out.

I am using lamp oil from walmart as I heard that works well but the smoke trail dissipated about 20 feet after the plane so it didn't look too good. Also the line going into the muffler tap in the header for the oil would not stay on, I think it got to hot for the tygon tubing and was melting it so I will stick a piece of silicone on it to try tomorrow.

What did you use for smoke oil in that pic above to leave a trail like that?

Neoprene is about the only thing that will withstand the heat. You can also extend a piece of metal tubing (brass or copper) away from the muffler so when you put the flexible line on it it is relatively cool.

So you dont think silicone fuel tubing will take the heat?

No way, go with the black neoprene.
Also it sounds like you may need the restrictor. Too much oil will give little smoke as it produces a cooling effect. If the plane has a lot of oil residue on it you probably need to restrict it.

I use silicon tubing with no problem.

Ditto on you may be adding too much oil. Make a restrictor, it's easy, you'll get better smoke, and the oil will last much longer.

I heard that lamp oil is good too, although I've never tried it. I use Ultrasmoke. I don't have the phone number with me right now, but I'll post it tomorrow. I't $10 a gallon, but it's worth every penny. It makes great smoke, and it's not petroleum based, so it has no smell and won't stink up your car (Or house), and you can use any type of tubing.

Do i have to drill and tap the muffler, can i jst link it via a t piece on the pressure line??? or wil this suck the smoke into the tank???

Minn, the silicon may work with the Ultrsmaoke but I believe that petrol based smoke fluids (lamp oil) will cause it to swell and deteriorate. I know the Tygon won't hold up to the heat of a gasser and four strokes get pretty hot. I must admit I never tried silicon fuel tubing because of the different brews I use for smoke.

I used silicone and its holding up fine for now, if it swells Ill just replace it as I have no neoprene tubing.

I have a restrictor in line and thats not the problem, its just the lamp oil doesnt leave a good trail, I put in some transmission fluid with it and it works alot better now.

Minn, I have seen this very system used before with the only difference is that the pack was a transmitter pack and instead of a switch and servo, an electric motor speed controller was used and programmed with one of the knobs on the transmitter. I guess a good idea is hard to beat!

NOOOOOOO!!!

The pressure line is just that... PRESSURE! It is located on the High Pressure side of the muffler so the oil will just pump into your fuel tank instead of the muffler. NOT GOOD!

You must tap the muffler as close as possible to the engine's exhaust.

ah, ok

just im not too good (ah, well ive never done it) at tapping a hole. and as a new exaust costs valuable cash i dont to ruin one.

so i,ll take your word and tap it, but ill get someone else to do it. what fuel i readilly avalible (which i can get in the uk) and is cheap???

Thanks