Stratus with OS91SZ leaking badly

[sookainian]

I have a Stratus with a OS91SZ+pump on it.

Since last 2 weeks, my Stratus base plate is soak in fuel. Even the crack case is dam oily ( the whole engine is dam oily too ).

I notice when i am idling, there is some fuel spiting out from the regulator hole which i dont know is it normal. The small hole is below the regulator.

Could it be during flight, it spit more fuel, but why ?

I notice i am running richer now around 1.2 turns out and engine still hot.

Last time less then 1 turn, engine warm :arggg:

Also today my engine quit while i was doing a figure 8 funnel . . . manage to auto, but it was a hard landing.

Someone please help me :(

[heliroller]

I've heard about some of the regulators that developed some leaks like that. You may have to replace the regulator!

[sookainian]

Any idea where sells just the regulator ?

Did a search, but found no result =(

But i was wondering is it safe to fly if it's leaking ?

[ATLProfessor]

I've been having almost the same problem minus it getting lean and running hot. The base plate is covered in black oily stuff. If anyone has an idea of what that could be please let me know.

Thanks, Evan

[heliroller]

I've been having almost the same problem minus it getting lean and running hot. The base plate is covered in black oily stuff. If anyone has an idea of what that could be please let me know.

Thanks, Evan

Make sure you don't have any loose bolts in the frame area where the fuel touches. Vibration will make the carbon rub and produce the blackish substance mixed with fuel residue. The extra fuel can come from several sources. Top main bearing around the fan. Fuel regulator. Loose carb. Leaky fuel lines. If you are using fuel valves check those.. I don't use those.

[sookainian]

Lets say if all those are tight and it is because of the regulator spiting fuel badly, why does it spit fuel out so much ? ( the 2 screw on the regulator are tight )

[heliroller]

Lets say if all those are tight and it is because of the regulator spiting fuel badly, why does it spit fuel out so much ? ( the 2 screw on the regulator are tight ) Dunno, I just know I've seen a regulator fail and it was just a bad reg that leaked.. It should be easy to determine if that is where the fuel is coming from.

[ttrip06]

You know my stratus has the same symptoms. Its been a couple of months since I ran it due to the weather, but my base plate was cover in fuel/oil also. I was just thinking cause it was still set on the rich side.

I have done several searches, and have not found the reg sold seperately.

[ATLProfessor]

If you want to find the regulator itself. Go to www.towerhobbies.com and type in 29181980 on the search bar. It should pop up.

[sookainian]

something not right about this engine. Today i was flying, then was doing a low inverted hovering when my engine just quit all of the sudden. Manage to flip back but it was a hard landing.

I am not sure what case the engine to quit. But if the 'fuel magnet' didnt get the fuel, the engine should goes lean before quiting right ? But it didnt, it just quit all of the sudden :arggg:

[heliroller]

something not right about this engine. Today i was flying, then was doing a low inverted hovering when my engine just quit all of the sudden. Manage to flip back but it was a hard landing.

I am not sure what case the engine to quit. But if the 'fuel magnet' didnt get the fuel, the engine should goes lean before quiting right ? But it didnt, it just quit all of the sudden :arggg:

Have you done anything to the heli lately? Replace the pipe? Change glow plugs.. I've seen glow plugs quit when they got silicon in them from a recently replaced pipe or muffler. Just something to think about. When it runs, does it have good power?

[sookainian]

Have you done anything to the heli lately? Replace the pipe? Change glow plugs.. I've seen glow plugs quit when they got silicon in them from a recently replaced pipe or muffler. Just something to think about. When it runs, does it have good power?

I changed new fuel tubbing all around and inside the tank.
Glow plug is brand new, i dont use the RTV silicon on the muffler coz now a days i am lazy =X So i dont think there will be silicon in the plug.
The power is not very consistent as compare to last time :arggg:

[heliroller]

Have you done anything to the heli lately? Replace the pipe? Change glow plugs.. I've seen glow plugs quit when they got silicon in them from a recently replaced pipe or muffler. Just something to think about. When it runs, does it have good power?

I changed new fuel tubbing all around and inside the tank.
Glow plug is brand new, i dont use the RTV silicon on the muffler coz now a days i am lazy =X So i dont think there will be silicon in the plug.
The power is not very consistent as compare to last time :arggg:

How much time on this motor?

[sookainian]

Something is not right. I just changed new regulator and pump. Did around 4 flights but every flight my engine is like soak in fuel. There is oil ( oil, the oil colour is like white-yellow not pink. I am using CoolPower 30% ) all over from the Fan shroud all the way down to the base plate.

I have done around 100 tanks each 5 mins on this engine. Haven change anything beside the engine bearing ( i forgot when i changed it )

Now a days i do more inverted. Some of my friend say the fuel is dripping out of the carb when i am inverted, which i am not sure is it true anot.

Hmm does bad engine bearing, cause this kind of leak ?? :dontknow

[Peter]

I've never seen it , but I imagine a no-longer sealing front bearing would leak like that ..... Cant explain the colour though!!!

[heliroller]

Something is not right. I just changed new regulator and pump. Did around 4 flights but every flight my engine is like soak in fuel. There is oil ( oil, the oil colour is like white-yellow not pink. I am using CoolPower 30% ) all over from the Fan shroud all the way down to the base plate.

I have done around 100 tanks each 5 mins on this engine. Haven change anything beside the engine bearing ( i forgot when i changed it )

Now a days i do more inverted. Some of my friend say the fuel is dripping out of the carb when i am inverted, which i am not sure is it true anot.

Hmm does bad engine bearing, cause this kind of leak ?? :dontknow

Are you sure it is just not way too rich??? You say it isn't running good? Just for grins, lean the thing out 1/2 turn and see what it sounds like. It's hard to tell without seeing it first hand.. Can you post a pic of this thing after a run close up?

[sookainian]

Here are the pictures, you can see how oily after 2 flights :arggg:

[heliroller]

Definitely oily! Is it this oily on the muffler side. I assume no leakage on the O-Rings on the muffler. Is the head tight? The bottom is definitely oily as well. Could something be leaking behind the reg plate? I'd lose the blue filter and replace it with something like a K&S sealed clear filter. I never could get the O-ring type filters to not leak.

[sookainian]

At first i also thought the muffler was causing the leak. But after changing brand new O-Rings and the rubber gromat, still the same.

I actually retighten the head on that day when i change a new pump and regulator. So it shouldn't be leaking on the head.

Talking about the pump and regulator, since both are brand new, it should not leak right ? unless it is screw up.

Well i am not sure could it be from the backplate. But what i am very sure that it's tight, because when i changed new pump, i did retighten it and after flight i also check it to make sure it was tight.

The Oring type filter does not seems to leak last time. But even it do, i dont think it will be so bad right ?

But i notice when i turn the engine fan, it feels abit notichy ( not sure how u spell )

[heliroller]

At first i also thought the muffler was causing the leak. But after changing brand new O-Rings and the rubber gromat, still the same.

I actually retighten the head on that day when i change a new pump and regulator. So it shouldn't be leaking on the head.

Talking about the pump and regulator, since both are brand new, it should not leak right ? unless it is screw up.

Well i am not sure could it be from the backplate. But what i am very sure that it's tight, because when i changed new pump, i did retighten it and after flight i also check it to make sure it was tight.

The Oring type filter does not seems to leak last time. But even it do, i dont think it will be so bad right ?

But i notice when i turn the engine fan, it feels abit notichy ( not sure how u spell )

I'd sure look at the front main motor bearing. It should not be notchy!

[sookainian]

All right then, tomorrow when i am free, i will strip the heli and take out the engine to check is it the bearing. Will keep you guys update !!

[sookainian]

I have just taken out the engine and engine bearings from my leaking engine.

Anyidea what's the different with the silver and blue bearing ?
( i am currently using the silver one )

I actually did a "test" on both of the bearings by using water. I fill some water on the back of the bearing and i notice the 'Blue' bearing hold the water in it. But the 'Silver' bearing, no matter how much water i pour in, it will drip out form the other side.

So i was wondering, could it be because of this cause my engine to leak so badly ?

[Peter]

It would seem the silver one is a " shielded " bearing, while the blue one is a " sealed " bearing....

[heliroller]

I have just taken out the engine and engine bearings from my leaking engine.

Anyidea what's the different with the silver and blue bearing ?
( i am currently using the silver one )

I actually did a "test" on both of the bearings by using water. I fill some water on the back of the bearing and i notice the 'Blue' bearing hold the water in it. But the 'Silver' bearing, no matter how much water i pour in, it will drip out form the other side.

So i was wondering, could it be because of this cause my engine to leak so badly ?

How do the bearings feel when turning the inside race? Are they rough? Are they notchy? Do they look brown inside or possible burnt? Pics are good but can't see up inside! The inside bearing actually looks pretty good. If the front bearing is allowing the fuel by it, yes it will be oily!

[DavidH]

How do the bearings feel when turning the inside race? Are they rough? Are they notchy?

did a "test" on both of the bearings by using water. I fill some water on the back of the bearing and i notice the 'Blue' bearing hold the water in it. But the 'Silver' bearing, no matter how much water i pour in, it will drip out form the other side.



I would think they both would feel notchy after water flowing thru them. Even if they were brand new bearings. The bearings need some lubrication even when new to feel completely smooth.

David