What do you advise as best technique to break in an LA 46?

Fuel
Prop
Needle Setting
Length of run

I've also posed this question to a couple of local engine experts. 

Thanks,

Peter

  If you have the paper work that came with the engine, it has a factory recommended break in process. What Brett mentions works also. I don't like to use a "flying prop" and use something smaller and less pitch, basically just something to start it with on a test stand, and use what fuel you will be flying with.  One of the best a;ll around engine guys I ever knew taught me that you break any engine in at a normal operating temperature and at a normal load. On test stands you need to approximate that. Short runs of a couple of minutes each in a high four stroke to a wet two stroke, and pinching the fuel line now and then to lean it out and see how it comes back to the needle setting. This doesn't take very many runs so let it cool between runs. If it gets to a point where it starts easy by hand, needles easy, and "pinches" well, then put it in the intended model to "fly in" the rest of the way.  My limited experience with the LA.46 tells me that some a r wee bit tighter than others and take just a tiny bit more running in. If there is any mistake that I see guys making with these engines is running them on too small and light of an airplane and running the engines too soft. That's hard on rod ends over time, and the engine doesn't heat up enough for all the parts to expand. The engine has a peak point in it's power band where it makes best power, and if you baby it too much you never get there, and taking it too easy on the engine is actually hurting it. The engine is designed to do work, so make it work!
  Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

I thought id be a smart ass and use 15 % nitro to get ' expansion ' on the linner , for the first flights . it didnt seem to mind .

   Unnecessary, but causes no harm.

   There is no particular need to baby these engines with light loads or low nitro, at least not at any speed or setting we are likely to run them. Also no particular concern about getting them up to temperature fast to avoid binding - not enough taper to matter.

     I guarantee that the RC guys using them never gave a thought to breaking them in, they fire them up with the flying prop, screw the needle to a helpless scream, and off they go.

     Brett