earlwb

if one is careful with a Saito engine, they can remove the cylinder/head and piston and rod as a unit and not disturb the piston ring in the process. The ring will stay put and the piston could still rotate within the cylinder OK. Now if the piston won't rotate, then the ring groove is clogged up with gunk and needs to be cleaned unfortunately. I did this a while back when I replaced the bearings in my old Saito .80 engine. it ran just as good afterwards as it did before I replaced the bearings.

Turqui

My Feedback: (139)

hi everybody, how can i get please the manual for a saito fa-90t mkII? thanks.

FNQFLYER

Vertical Drag Racing AKA LER is not for the faint hearted.  My YS 63 powered Feathermerchant (wing span 88 inches) is but a spec after a 25 second engine run,  To hear the YS shift up a gear prop unloading) after launch is something you don't forget.  BTB the win looks about 2 inches and an altimeter test shows we exceed 1000ft.  Consider this 30 seconds of heart pumping madness followed by several minutes of graceful gliding around the sky.
With the Saito 65 I use a 13 x 6 Bolly carbon fibre for Duration on 30% + and a 14 or 15 x 6 or 8 (depending on the day with 10% nitro and 20% synthetic oil.  Same engine and same 85% Bomber.
All good fun and no pretty babies in site 

Rudolph Hart

I knew you were short of oxygen mate

flycatch

My Feedback: (26)

I recently purchased a used Saito 1.8 FS. The seller stated that it had 2 gallons of fuel run through it. Please note I have a NIB Saito 1.8 FS and the compression of the new engine compared to the used engine is very differrent. I would say that the used engine appears to have the compression of the new engine. Is this normal or is the used engine defective?

earlwb

The used engine can very easily have more compression than a NIB engine, as the new engine's ring hasn't seated yet and the new valves can even leak more too.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Hey Earl, I'd like to add another thought to this, if the engine were last run on fuel with synthetic lube the cylinder is very likely dry.

earlwb

Is your wording correct? How does a dry cylinder have more compression than a wet one (has some oil)?

flycatch

My Feedback: (26)

I gave the wrong information. The used engine has about half the compression as the new engine. I should have read my post prior to posting.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Get some oil in the cylinder and see what it has?

It also may have a stuck valve. Listen at the exhaust and at the carb when you turn it over?

flycatch

My Feedback: (26)

Thanks for the information. I'll take your advice. If it has a stuck valve what is the corrective action?

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

If a squirt of oil in the glow plug hole does not clear it up . . . .

On an engine that has sat around for the last five yrs, it could be either valve. The fact that the engine has a little compression is a sign that there is probably something in the valve seat though it is probably just congealed castor oil.

I listen in the carb and the exhaust to figure which one is leaking. I pull that valve cover and put oil around the stem and in the port, then let the valve snap shut a few times and it usually clears up. It will also usually clear up if you put fuel in the engine and run it.

You can never go by what usage a person says. Two gallons through a Saito 180 and it is not broken in yet. But I've seen guys buy them used and the seller, who was apparently not the original owner, said that the engine had three or four gallons through it. Well, to pull the covers on the engine, it probably had 20 gallons of fuel through it.

Keep in mind on a used engine that the bearings are possibly bad - especially if it has sat around a few years. Feel of the bearings real carefully with the prop off the engine. Then after you run the engine some feel of the bearings with the prop off again. The crank should turn smooth with no gritty feel. Having the prop on the engine dampens out the gritty feel some.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Sorry Earl, I didn't buy it that the old engine had more compression, as my Dad used to say, I knew where of he mis-spoke.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

I was smelling around on this thread and read that into his post that he left out the word "not". I do this often myself.

earlwb

Oh OK I see now.  Anyway, a NIB engine can feel a little weak in compression compared to a engine that has been run in and the piston ring is seated nicely. But in his case he really meant that the used engine felt weak in compression. I think you guys answered it already though.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

While we are on this subject of comparing a new Saito with a used one . . .

A true NIB Saito doesn't feel so good. You can almost feel the hone marks on the cylinder wall when turning the engine over with a bare prop shaft.

I doesn't take much playing around with one at the workbench with some oil in the cylinder for a new never run engine to feel smooth. A Saito with a few gallons through it should have more compression than a virgin engine just out of the box.

clytle374

So that is normal. I kept oiling and oiling and turning and turning mine before I started it because it felt a bit 'gritty'. I was afraid that it had been setting in the hobby shop too long.

btw. I've got a 100 with a 15x6 prop. I've got a rc specialties 90 degree adapter into a 45 manifold connected to the stock muffler with one of those rubber deflectors on it for a neat install under the cowl of my edge. I ran 1 gallon of fuel through it for break in on the bench, so it isn't broke in yet. Anyway, after backing off 300rpm from peak, I'm getting about 8100rpm. Is this about right? Or am I loosing that much power due to the exhaust?

Thanks
Cory

clytle374

gritty probably isn't the best word. More like really fine emery cloth.

Cory

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Your 100 sounds about right for a 15 X 6. It will get better as you get another 3 or 4 gallons of fuel in it.

Fine Emory cloth sounds about right for the feel of a new Saito without a prop.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Jim, it takes less than one minute of running to get rid of that feeling on the newer Saitos, it took about an hour on the ones from the 80s.

Nikolas K

Me, bench running the Saito FA-30SH. Please watch the video and comment. Your commnets will be much appreciated. Read also my description. I refer to prop used, fuel, RPM figures etc...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFluHEh1vUs

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Looking good, I didn't see the prop, fuel listing etc, Thanks Dave

rowdog_14

My Feedback: (5)

Just a FYI. I had a hard time finding more than a few 3 blades post for the saito 100. So here is my findings. I purchased a 13x8 MAS(master air screw) 3 blade and I had it about 1.75 turns out and a little rich. The saito 100 was turning the 13x8 between 8800 and 9100 rpm.

Saito 100
MAS 13x8 3 blade 8800-9100 rpm
Coolpower 15%
Type F glow

mike early

I use a 13x8 3 blade MA prop on both of my Saito .91s. Favorite prop for that engine.

clytle374

Anyone dare to guess how much power this exhaust is costing me? This isn't mine, but the exhaust is the same.

Thanks
Cory