Guys,

As an experiment, I just converted my electric powered profile Roadrunner back to glow power to see if there were balance issues causing it to hunt. Long story short: the answer is "Yes". The plane flies steady as a brick on a string with the glow power and I'm not sure I want to take it back to the AXI electric.

I swapped the AXI for an OS LA46 because 1) the Ehlen motor mounts are drilled the same as the OS LA/FP series engines, and 2) I had one laying around.

Personally, I have NEVER been able to get one of these POS engines to run right and will open the discussion up to other ideas.

Would an FP 35 be enough to handle a 610 square inch, 47 ounce stunter? (I have one of those laying around, also.)

Many engines don't perform right on their side. How about the PA engines?

Open your minds. I need help. 

Ron

Ron, no reason the LA 46 shouldn't run fine.. If it was an LA 40 I would have my doubts but the 46 is a different animal. Use an APC 12.5 X 4.5 prop with 1/4 inch taken off the tips and 10-20 or 22 50/50 fuel. Have had and seen many of them run great on profiles set up this way...

Sorry was going from memory and screwed up.. you are right 12.25 x 3.75 cliped.. Yes it runs in a rich two but it's solid, realiable and will not run away...

Hey if you need someone to break in that Double Star and see how it stacks up against a good ST 46 I have just the airplane... If it works I will buy you a new one and break it in or send yours back all ready for whatever you want to put it in 

Ron, if you aren't sure of what you are hearing, get a tach.  Even the cheapy Hobbico ones work well enough.  Let the engine warm up for 30 sec or so.  Run it up to peak rpm, then back of a specific amount.  On one of my LA 25's richening it up 1000 rpm does the trick.  Other engines may vary.   A tach is a bit more reliable than the ears. 

Certain engines are fun to set by ear.  The Brodak 40 hits that really deep, throaty 4 stroke, that is hard to miss.  The ST 46 is similar.  They usually have a very easy to spot 4 stroke setting that will usually work well in the air.

Ron, if you aren't sure of what you are hearing, get a tach.  Even the cheapy Hobbico ones work well enough.  Let the engine warm up for 30 sec or so.  Run it up to peak rpm, then back of a specific amount.  On one of my LA 25's richening it up 1000 rpm does the trick.  Other engines may vary.   A tach is a bit more reliable than the ears. 

Certain engines are fun to set by ear.  The Brodak 40 hits that really deep, throaty 4 stroke, that is hard to miss.  The ST 46 is similar.  They usually have a very easy to spot 4 stroke setting that will usually work well in the air.

Phil,

I agree and actually I use a TNC tach when I'm running my engines. The problem is the ground setting on the LA 46 doesn't equate to an "air" setting that I'm used to hearing. Right now, the engine starts and seems to set easily, then speeds up soon after launch. I think it's running too fast, but maybe it's in that "wet two stroke" mode of operation and I'm just missing it. I see a trail of blue smoke, but I'm just not sure about the run. If that's what it's supposed to do, I'll just put on longer lines and learn to live with it.

I also like those throaty four stroke sounding engines. They are easy for me to set and fly. I tried to swear off dealing with converted RC engines (like the OS LA series), but the challenge is too tempting. If I had any brains, I would convert this LA 46 into an artificial reef in the aquarium and would stick to "real" CLPA engines. 

Thanks,

Ron

I just don't have the time to "chase" an engine run and still get ANY practice in.  AND, I have found what a real stunt engine run is supposed to be.  I got a feeling that way too many have not. 

Bill <><

Amen to that, Bill.

I also think I know how the engine should run and this one is (was) driving me to distraction. Last year, I told Dave Reyes he could break my arm if I tried to play with RC conversions again. Unfortunately, he could not drive over here fast enough to keep me from wasting a whole week on this nonsense.  

The issue with the profile Roadrunner has now been settled. After much discussion between me and my cats, I bit the bullet, sawed off 1/8" of the nose, and plopped a nice Brodak 40 in the nose. Not only do I have a "for real" CLPA engine up front, I saved over an ounce of weight.

My 47 ounce profile Cardinal flies great with a Brodak 40 up front. I have no doubts a 610 square inch 46 ounce profile Roadrunner will do likewise.  

I am a Happy Camper again. 

Ron

Amen to that, Bill.

I also think I know how the engine should run and this one is (was) driving me to distraction. Last year, I told Dave Reyes he could break my arm if I tried to play with RC conversions again. Unfortunately, he could not drive over here fast enough to keep me from wasting a whole week on this nonsense. 

The issue with the profile Roadrunner has now been settled. After much discussion between me and my cats, I bit the bullet, sawed off 1/8" of the nose, and plopped a nice Brodak 40 in the nose. Not only do I have a "for real" CLPA engine up front, I saved over an ounce of weight.

My 47 ounce profile Cardinal flies great with a Brodak 40 up front. I have no doubts a 610 square inch 46 ounce profile Roadrunner will do likewise.   

I am a Happy Camper again.

Ron

Hi Ron,

I believe that the Road Runner will be even better with the B-40.  I don't believe it is as "draggy" as the Cardinal.

Bill <><