YS170 Maintenance
 

I have an YS170 on a plane that has not been run for about one year. Before that the engine had about 80 flights on it and was very reliable.

What maintenance should I do before I run the engine again? Specifically, should I take the pump apart and clean it out. Also, should I lube the cam and valve lifters? I had been using Cool Power 30% Heli fuel.

What are the chances that I can just fuel it up and go?

RE: YS170 Maintenance
 

Frank,

As long as you have kept it in a controled environment you should be able to go. You might have to prime the pump, but I wouldn't take it apart. You can usually do this buy hooking your fuel pump up to the vent line after you fill the tank and then pumping fuel in that way, which forces fuel up to the pump. Try it without that first, but if it isn't drawing, you can just prime the pump and it should draw. One thing you may find is that your bearings will wear very quickly. No matter what fuel you use, if you let these motors sit for an extended time the bearings will start to rust. Unless you saturate the motor with oil when it is going to be sitting for any length of time you will get some rust in the rear bearings. Definitely try to run it first though and see how it does. My guess is that you will have to prime the pump, but once it starts it should run well.

Archie

RE: YS170 Maintenance
 

Thanks Archie,

I will try to run it before I take anything apart. I will not have a problem priming the pump because I use the tank pressurization trick for the first start of the day. I have a valve in the fuel line to the pump and a check valve in the vent line. After filling the tank and with the valve to the pump closed and after closing the vent line fuel dot, I make a few more turns on the fueling hand pump before closing the fueling fuel dot, causing the fuel tank to be pressurized. Then the starting routine, valve on, start glow driver delay, spin the engine with the starter, and it starts every time.

Frank