w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Good report -Thanks

mschulz531

I've just been given a Saito FA-72 (in pieces)...the previous owner said that he sent the engine to Horizon and they told him he needed new bearings...so he got new bearings, but was unable to get the old ones out, and gave up in frustration. After I took the pieces out of the bag (the engine is fully disassembled except for the front and rear bearings) I rotated the rear bearing and I can definitely feel the grinding that indicates the bearing is shot.

I'm fairly new to four strokes but the FA-115 that I've got on my Twist 60 is a real powerhouse. I would love to add another Saito to one of my planes!!

Hopefully I canpull the old bearings out of this FA-72 and put in the replacement set. I've got a Great Planes P51 kit that I think would be a great home for this engine! Only problem is, I have no idea how to get the old bearings out of the engineand install the new bearings. I've read through this voluminous thread and found bits and pieces of conversations that mention that bearings need to changed, etc., but not a specific post that says "here's how you replace the bearings in a Saito small to medium four stroke". If the information is in a previous post, then I've missed it. Can anyone give me a link to an old post, or just a quick howto on how to replace the bearings in the FA-72?

Thanks again for all the helpful information that I've read by the knowledgeable contributors to this thread.

Regards,
Mike

FNQFLYER

Good luck with the bearing change I have just done one on my 65. A few points
1/ I had an Allan key (1/4 inch I think) that had the short end of the "L" shortened and ground down to a "spade" shape. Thus was used to dis lodge the inner bearing and worked a treat
2/ The front bearing was then removed using a brass punch (rod) of a slightly larger diameter that the crankshaft.
3/ I didn't take the pushrods out before I removed the camshafts but instead removed them with the cylinder. I then replaced then on the rebuild by removing the push rod adjusters from the rockers.
4/ I locked the cam by putting a 3/32 drill down the cam follower hole and and then inserted the crank, otherwise no worries.

If you can get theSaito book by RCM use thesame process they outlinefor the 65 all will be good.

When you are putting the bearings back lots of heat (from covering heat gun) around the rear bearing, insert the front bearing (not seated as a guide for the crank, put the rearbearing on the crank (while housing is hot (to hot to touch with naked hand)insert the crank and bearing and tap home with hammer and drift gently, rest is a piece of cake

chunkyplunker

I am running a 18X6-10 prop on a Saito 1.80 and it seems to be overloading the engine. I'm getting around 6800 -7K RPM with this prop but it just sounds like it's overloading the engine.

Any recomedations on a smaller prop? I have been thinking about a 17x6 or 8, any thoughts on this.

I'm pretty new to the four stroke scene and thought maybe it may be just me being use to 2 strokes.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

The 18 X 6-10 does overload them

The standard prop is the 18 X 8

But they do well with 17 X 8 or 16 X 10

A 6" pitch is not recommended unless you have a plane that flies very slow

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

The 18 X 6-10 does overload them

The standard prop is the 18 X 8

But they do well with 17 X 8 or 16 X 10

A 6" pitch is not recommended unless you have a plane that flies very slow

Rudolph Hart

To avoid some confusion WHAT is an 18x6 to 10 prop? does the poster have a variable pitch hub??

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

The prop is supposed to have characteristics of a 6 inch pitch in some situations and those of a 10 inch pitch in others

I cannot stand them for they pull on the engine like a 10" pitch and fly like a 6" pitch.

The pitch varies along the prop blade. They are not very popular but 10 years ago they were to be the greatest invention since sliced bread

Michaelh

My Feedback: (4)

Here just read this . http://www.zingerpropeller.com/Dual%20Pitch.htm

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

That's fine and dandy but the outer part of the prop is the one that does the work and the prop,loads the engine like a 10" pitch and not a 8" pitch.

I've never seen anyone have success with one unless they needed a 10" pitch to begin with.

chunkyplunker

Thanks for the info. I'll pick up both a 17X8 and 18X8 and try them both. I'm must agree about the 6-10 prop, it seems to be a 10 when you need a 6, and a 6 when you need a 10. If it hadn,t already been on the palne when I got it, I would have never had one.

Geyserflyer

This may be the place i'm looking for. I own several Saito's I had 56 on my Sig LT-40 for a long time then I used the plane to break-in and tune (2) 72's for a Seaplane they worked so well when I got the Seaplane going I replaced them with an 82, (I now have the fastest trainer in the club).

But, The real reason for contacting this forum is I was recently given a FA-90T that had been crashed (or run over by a garbage truck) and I am wondering since Saito has gone to a FA-90TS are there any parts available for this one. It needs a Cylinder, piston coouple of push rods, pushrod tubes, and various gaskets and seals.

I couldn't resist listing the rest of my Saitos, they include (2) 56's, (2) 72's (on the Sea Twin) a 100, a 1.80, a 2.20( on a Top-Flight Stinson SR-9 100") and a 3.25R5

Real Planes have round engines

Michaelh

My Feedback: (4)

I think the Vess props are like that and many gas guys love those props . I can see a good demand for it in the 3d market .

BTW Im definitely not recommending one for a 180 . I actually run an 18x6 zinger on my 11.5 pound Yak with the 180 . But then prop selection
can be quite subjective .Especially from one brand to the next .

Mike,

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

The 100T is the engine more common to the 90T

blw

My Feedback: (3)

That's okay if you know about that particular line of props, but industry rates the pitch at 75% of the span measured from the hub.

The hub needs more pitch because it travels the slowest and has thickness for structure. The hub is almost all drag and no lift.

Rudolph Hart

Many thanks

mike early

Considering trying to use a plastic spinner on my Saito .40. Crashed my Combat P-47, thinking about trying the Combat Spitfire. There really is no correct-shaped aluminum spinner available that I can find.

Might it work?

JNorton

My Feedback: (2)

I've used plastic spinners with aluminum backplates with no problems.
John

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

I have used plastic spinners on the Saito 56 and OS 52 without any problem. But I draw the line with the attachment screw cannot be of a sheet metal design. The attachment screw must thread into a self locking steel nut or else be the Great Planes design with a aluminum back plate.

blw

My Feedback: (3)

All of my spinners are the Great Pains plastic spinners with aluminum back plates.

mike early

The aluminum-backed spinners are great for sport planes or P-40s or P-38's but the shape is no good for other warbirds. I have a few of them and love them. The plastic cones on them hold up great to electric starters. All mine still look brand new.

The Dubro nylon spinners have machine screws that thread into a metal anchor.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Most of the spinners that come with ARF's shuld be thrown away

mike early

I've thrown away a few.

It seems that Dubro and Great Planes share the same stuff sometimes. But in spinners, it may be that the Dubro, that looks exactly the same but cost a few cents more, has the metal fasteners verses GP spinners that may be sheet metal screws into plastic. I am not certain. I'll try a 2.25" Dubro spinner on my combat spitfire and saito .40 and see what happens. The arf comes with a Great Planes spinner so I'll be able to test my theory soon

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

You will be happy with the 2 1/4" Dubro

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

The previous few posts about plastic spinners and four strokes sort of goes against previous preaching in this thread.

But the smaller four strokes when run by an experienced four stroke almost never back fire.

I've set up maybe a half dozen spinners since the first of the year and they were Tru Turn, Great Planes, and Dave Brown all spun aluminum ones. They were on various engines from a Saito 62 on up to a Saito FG 36.

But for a few years I ran the Dubro plastic spinners on a Saito 56 and a Saito 91. Never any trouble with either. But there were no back fires either.

I have a Saito 72 that I remember being new back in 2001 and it had a Tru-Turn spinner. It was inverted and I let it back fire. It ruined the spinner. Spread it out and the prop went underneath it. So bad things can happen.

I remember BLW running a Saito 56 with the aluminum backed Great Planes plastic spinner and he never had any trouble.