Nitro engine questions

[Holmquist]

So yesterday I went out to start my OS 50 and without any hesitation it fired up easily a few times. Now today I have been trying to start it but its just not havin it. The fuel is good, the glow is there and it will pop every once and a while. But just wont fire up. The thing I can't figure out is when its flooded or not getting enough fuel. When priming how do you keep from flooding it? Also I know the best way to clear out a flooded engine is too remove the glow and crank it a few times but unfortunately for me my glow plug extension is kind of a REAL PIA to remove and install so I'd rather not have to take the plug out. So is there another way to remove the excess fuel from a flooded engine? Thanks

Austin

[outhouse]

you can try tilting towards the exhaust with the fuel line pinched and then turn it over.


i never prime and my 50 fires up clean. i think i would not prime

[Holmquist]

So you just unclip the fuel line, unplug the exhaust, apply glow and then just crank? Does it take a little longer for you to get fuel to the carb?

Austin

[JAGNZ]

You do not prime a heli engine (prime = flooding). Yes, unclip, check for hydrolock, hit glow and crank. I do not run my fuel out of the engine at the end of the day and my engines always start in a few cranks unless something is wrong. Good advice - tip the heli over on the pipe side and clip the fuel line off and try and start the engine. If she is real flooded you'll have to remove the glowplug, yes. And re-arrange your ship so you can get at the glow plug easily! They do have to be changed from time to time anyway.

[fixnfly70]

Originally Posted by JAGNZ

You do not prime a heli engine (prime = flooding). Yes, unclip, check for hydrolock, hit glow and crank. I do not run my fuel out of the engine at the end of the day and my engines always start in a few cranks unless something is wrong. Good advice - tip the heli over on the pipe side and clip the fuel line off and try and start the engine. If she is real flooded you'll have to remove the glowplug, yes. And re-arrange your ship so you can get at the glow plug easily! They do have to be changed from time to time anyway.

+1 And always clamp off the fuel feed line when not in use or fueling. Only unclamp to start/run and never prime. Clamp again on shutdown......Turning it over with clamp off & glow lighter on will usually start without flooding/hydrolock..If engine is dry and not firing at all, remove glow lighter;place finger over exhaust exit to plug; turn over ONLY a couple times (10 revolutions max) then apply glow lighter and start. If flodded, engine will be hard to crank and can be tipped sideways and purge by cranking.....If engine flodded bad, it hydrolocks (won't turn) and glow plug probably needs to be removed to purge excess fuel by spinning @ wide open throttle/feed line clamped. then reinstall plug/power & start normally...

P.S. - and when purging a hydrolocked engine with glow plug removed, do not stand in front of glow plug hole, as when all the fuel/oil shoots out, it loves to splash on you, so face the head of the motor away from ya.......I only done this twice.....or 3 times..............no more than 4 though!

[Holmquist]

How do you check for hydrolock?

Austin

[fixnfly70]

If hydrolocked, engine will not turn over under normal starter torque....It may not turn at all or may turn real slow.....if slow, tipping over @ 45 degrees+ in the direction of muffler and spinning can remove excess fuel, just clamp feedline/remove glow battery/open throttle and crank till rpm's increase.....then start normally.......no turn at all under normal starter torque, remove glow plug and perfrom actions listed above, not standing in front of the head, cause that crap shoots out 2 feet or more...

[outhouse]

Originally Posted by Holmquist

So you just unclip the fuel line, unplug the exhaust, apply glow and then just crank? Does it take a little longer for you to get fuel to the carb?

Austin

fires rite up bud

[outhouse]

Originally Posted by Holmquist

How do you check for hydrolock?

Austin

as stated when she wont turn over

[Geardaddy]

+1 for "No prime".. Fuel up, unclamp, few seconds on the starter... heli's in "bidness"

[TheBum]

Originally Posted by Geardaddy

+1 for "No prime".. Fuel up, unclamp, few seconds on the starter... heli's in "bidness"

I've found that it depends on the engine. On my OS 50, I never primed and only had to crank the starter for a few seconds. On my OS 55, if I didn't prime, it would take 20 seconds or more of cranking on the first start of the day, so I always primed it.

[chris6414]

I always check my glow starter first also. I take it for granted and forget to charge it. I hydro-locked my Hawk twice and snapped the fan both times.

[McCracken]

The same thing happened to me. The first couple starts of the OS 50 went perfect, then one day I spent 30 minutes trying to start it and got nothing. I took the engine out and removed the head. To my surprise there was a hole in the piston I was getting a lot of smoke so it wasn't running lean at all. I sent the engine back and they said they were not going to cover it. I bought a Redline 53 and have not had one issue since.
If you still have trouble getting it started I would say take it out and open up the engine just to make sure.

[Bob O]

Originally Posted by TheBum

SNIP On my OS 55, if I didn't prime, it would take 20 seconds or more of cranking on the first start of the day, so I always primed it.

+1

It was very humid out the other day and I found I had to lean out the idle screw to get a good start and reliable idle.

Also, if it doesn't fire with the throttle stick at idle, the next time I crank it I open the throttle a little so it can get some air.

Good luck!