Maiden

[pgkevet]

OK, I've built my Carbon Predator NX and I'm finalising set-up and electronic placement. So then comes the big day.

I'm looking for sage advice, pitfalls to avoid and cautions. I'm planning on firing it up using Castrol TT 25:1 with cheapest Unleaded (This is an available low ash mineral 2-stroke oil).

I'll borrow some experienced nitro pilot's assistance but no gasser owners about. assume I'm a Tyro...

[lperagallo]

pgkevet,

I'd be real careful getting advice from any NItro guys on engine tuning. These engines are not tuned like Nitro. Make your preliminary setting at 1 3/8 on both Hi and Low settings if you have a G-26. Running 25:1 is a bit heavy on the oil, I'd go to 32:1. First couple of flights be sure to let the engine cool down all way after a flight. Don't run a governor until the engine is broken in. During the first couple of tanks the tail will kick around because the engine should be running rich and is being broken in. Do not listen to the nitro guys that say to lean it out. Be patient and wait until you have that first gallon through it.

Just remember to be safe.

Lou

[pgkevet]

<<Do not listen to the nitro guys that say to lean it out. Be patient and wait until you have that first gallon through it.>>

Reason for Nitro guys is that there's no gasser folk and I'm never fired up an IC heli.. some help better than none .. and caution is way high on the priority ... hence the question here.

I've got the same question running on RR.. but wanted to widen the audience and assistance. The Gasser forums here wouldn't be so quiet if folk discussed..

[Trizz]

Run it rich for at least 2 gal of fuel don't lean it out or you will overheat the engine and fry it, think of it like a race engine in a bike or a car run it rich also i think i would run a tank thru it on the ground at idle up to seat any engine prts - rings - seals - so-on

[pgkevet]

<< i think i would run a tank thru it on the ground at idle up >>
Sorry to ask.. do you mean that? As in high RPM or did you really mean idling at low throttle below the hover in idle down?

[Trizz]

i would let the heli run for about qrt tank low rpm than bring up the idle center stick high rpm for the rest of the tank,on the second tank i would very the blade pitch for the purpose of placing a small amount of load to the blades then just hover the heli for a few tanks before you really load up the heli with pitch excessive load on a new motor is not good premature engine failure gassers are not like nitro its all in the proper brake in procedure

[pgkevet]

Thank you

[Trizz]

also remember that after you brake in the motor after a few tanks you will need to adjust the fuel to air ratio take it slow do it right and you'll see the engine come to life and purr like a kitten

[pgkevet]

Just a short update..I like the layout of this forum but there's more posts RR so reluctantly using that for more discussion..

You folk need to get more active here!

Anyway back to heli:

'Chuffing!' is the best word.. one choked pull and started on the first open pull..lovely sound.. really just ran engine for a couple of minutes, shut down and finally started gtting a grasp of IC.. never the same to read about stuff until you actually do it!:lol:

Only build issues were a tank bung leak (my fault) and a daft error in recognising leading edge blade control and then stupidly setting reverse ccpm because of that.. Not a biggie but explained why I wasn't getting lift-off on the second start:oops::oops::oops:

Sorted that out and first hover.. what a beauty..just sorta sits there! Blades were spot on from bench setup (nice)..

So spent the time just happily trolling about and then sent it downrange.. Wow again:woohoo .. had to hold the beast back.. it just wanted to go.. ya hardly notice the acceleration at my skill level then it hits ya!

All in all an almost perfect set of maidens.

Then next day out I'm in my first lift-of and just feeling the bird at about 20 feet when engine revs shoot up and I lose all power to blades.. and again got very lucky for my skill level in bringing it down without damage..it almost floats.. and survived the kee-high weeds that were my only choice.

Short story is that the pinion thead into the clutch bell failed.. and I've been chasing about for a replacement which is now in the mail system.

Meanwhile I have the freshly built bird back in bits - positive vibes say that this is an opportunity, now that I understand it more, to carry out some checks and improvements .. just a shame 'cos I wanna fly it and it wants to be flown (sits there wimpering and giving me doleful looks - there, there;))

..hope to be back in the air soon...