Even though I ordered a new Saito FA-40a last week, I still haven’t given up on making my gimme FA-40 work. I hurt my shoulder last week and it hurts to move it, so I was looking for something to play with while I can’t really work on any projects. I decided to finally clean up the FA-40 that’s been sitting on a gimme trainer plane for a couple of years and weigh it.
I know I’m on my own setting this up, but I see three ways to run this engine.
1) Just wire open the throttle, put a layer of RTV around the barrel to prevent any variable air leaks, and adjust the needle very slightly rich.
2) Wire open the throttle, put a layer of RTV around the barrel to prevent any leaks, and use the slide choke aperture to choke down the inlet in a semblance of Bob Reeves’ nylon choke screw.
3) Since the intake tube is a press fit into the carb, replace the carb with a delrin block drilled through on one side to fit the intake tube and the other for venturi flow, then cross drill for a fuel spigot on one side and the nylon screw on the other.
When I get this engine cleaned up I’ll put it on a stand and try Method 2 and see if it’ll give a steady 8100 RPM on a couple of props. It’s a shame I don’t have a plane I can try it on, even with my limited abilities.
So, what do Y’all think my chances are?