I have just acquired a fairly new ST 3250 and am attempting to run it. It has too much compression to turn over rapidly with my low duty electric starter. I started using a chicken stick and got it to fire every turn, but never more than that. I'm now wondering what the original needle settings should be at as I've played with them quite a bit. Any other suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks,

Peter Gordon

[email protected]

Peter,

Please see my thread below on the setting of SuperTigre carbs. It's pretty much the same for all of them.

As far as your engine's concerned, the high compression's a good thing. You can probably start your engine by flicking it against compression. On some of the S3250's, we've just applied some backwards pressure against compression and released the prop. Starts quickly at idle.

If the engine tends to run backwards, either flip it backwards, or see if it's flooded. A flooded engine, or even overly-rich one, will tend to start and run backwards.

We hope you find this information helpful. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at this email address. (Please be sure to copy all previous emails into any future questions.)

DID YOU KNOW that our web pages now all contain FAQs? (Frequently asked questions) Please drop by and take a look! We hope you'll find the information helpful and valuable to you.

Sincerely,

Bill Baxter, Manager
Hobby Services
1610 Interstate Dr.
Champaign, IL 61822
USA

Phone: 217 398-0007
Fax: 217 398-7721
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.bestrc.com

Bill,

Thanks for the reply, but I could not find the thread that you spoke of.

Please advise,

Peter

Pete,

First set your high speed needle to about 4 turns out then you can set your low speed needle. For the low speed needle, the manual says to have the carb barrel opened about the thickness of a sewing needle. I assumed this to be about .025". Connect a fuel line to the carb and blow into it. You'll want to close the low needle just until the airflow stops. Start the engine and it will be running really rough. Leave the glow igniter on it and open the throttle until you have it between a third and half open and then remove your glow source. Let the engine warm up a little. Next pinch the fuel feed line and see if the rpm increases. Do not pinch and hold, just a momemntary pinch and release. If the rpm does increase close the high speed needle about an 1/8th turn and let the engine run at least 30 seconds like this, then pinch again. Keep doing this until you no longer notice an increase in rpm. Once you pinch and release and do not notice any rpm increase you are at the max lean setting. (Remeber, this is with the carb opened about half, not full throttle). This setting is the leanest you should go with the needle so make note of how many turns out it is when you shut the engine down. I opened my needle about a 1/4 turn past (rich) the max lean setting. I then brought the idle down and leaned the low speed needle about 1/16th of a turn. Before you start this whole process, make sure your spray bar is pointed straight down. You can see this by looking through the bottom of the carb with the barrel wide open and you'll see a cat's eye cut in the bar. After your low and high speed needle are set you can rotate this bar by loosening the screws on the left side of the carb near the fuel inlet and this will allow you to adjust your mid-range transition. I did by a perry carb and it runs well, but i decided to give the factory carb another go after having many problems with it. Turned out that when I read and FOLLOWED the directions, the factory carb tuned right in with a real smooth transition. Good luck (PS Make sure you have the right fuel for a big tigre. 20% oil will make it run like crap. I am currently running 5% nitro and 10% oil, with an OS Four Stroke plug.)

I think I may have discovered the problem. From the replies here, it seems that people can start the 3250 by flipping it backwards. I was unable to do this cause I had very little compression on the backwards flip (it seemed to get bogged down and it'd just feel like mush). I took to head, front, back off and pulled the piston. The ring seemed to be stuck in the groove in one place, and not able to spring out. I removed the ring, cooked up some glycol in a small crock pot, cooked the top of the piston to remove some baked on goodness in the ring groove,, and reassembled. It seems to have more forward compression than it did, and it really bounces back now on the backwards flip. I'll try it tomorrow an let you know.

fingers crossed,

Peter

I have gone from a SuperTigre hater to a SuperTigre lover. This morning I just about had lift off of my black n' decker workmate and the 2x6 that the 3250 was screwed to. The gunk in the ring groove was causing the ring to stick too deep in the groove, allowing for blow-by and no compression. I removed the gunk, flipped the engine over at the settings above (Thanks Bill, I found the thread!), and the thing roared to life!

It's going in a Midwest Extra.

Thanks everyone.

Peter Gordon

Peter,

Glad to hear your engine's going well! We can easily forget that it doesn't take much 'junk' in the engine to cause untold difficulties.

We hope you find this information helpful. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at this email address. (Please be sure to copy all previous emails into any future questions.)

DID YOU KNOW that our web pages now all contain FAQs? (Frequently asked questions) Please drop by and take a look! We hope you'll find the information helpful and valuable to you.

Sincerely,

Bill Baxter, Manager
Hobby Services
1610 Interstate Dr.
Champaign, IL 61822
USA

Phone: 217 398-0007
Fax: 217 398-7721
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.bestrc.com