Glow Plugs

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hey Guys

Which plugs do the experts reccommend for 2 stroke Stunt engines?  I've heard idle bar plugs are best. eg Thunderbolt RC plug with Idle Bar..

What are the following brands like?  Fox Miracle, Fox RC w/Idle Bar, Fireball, OS, Super Tigre.  Oh and before you ask what engine... I use OS 40 & 46 LAs, Super Tigre G21/46 & Fox 35 all with 10% nitro.

I've been using OS A3s and am not really very happy with them, they dont seem to last long.

Cheers

[Dennis Moritz]

We like Enya #3 in my club. Seem to keep the engines like yours lit. Good durability.

[Paul Allen]

Warren
          Thunderbolt R/C Long will work well in ST 46, ST 60 and the LA's
my ST 51 likes the Fox Miracle. DS 40 likes SIG R/C Longs, I think its a
matter of just trying different brands till you find one that works in your
motor.

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hi Paul

I must get onto Brian Eather so I can try some of those Thunderbolt plugs.  BTW  I found out what was wrong with my cranky Pathfinder/ST46 at the HVC.   The spary bar was rotated slightly out of line with the venturi.  Once I lined it up, it now runs steady and holds a setting (down here at sea level anyway).  Also the Strega is back together again... looks like new. Haven't flown it yet.

I'm currently tring to find a good setup for my Vector/LA 40.  Can't seem to get it right.  I had a Fox Std short Idle Bar plug in it and it was going OK, but then Kayla plugged the glowplug into 12V and ka-poof!  I didnt have another so I put in a OS A3 and it was all over the place.  I'm going to try an OS F (four stoke) plug next flight.  In the mean time I'm going to order a few different types to try out.

Cheers

[Joe Messinger]

Warren,

Take a look at Randy Smith's advice on glow plugs over in the "Engine" section of this forum.  It's at the top of the list when you click on it. 

Joe

[Steve Helmick]

Good tip, Joe! Gives me something else to try next time out (besides smashing mole piles).

As for what glowplug to screw into your donk, Thunderbolts rule! I normally carry 4 stroke and idle bar, tho there are other T-Bolts that will work. Dirt uses the "Regular", which seems out of character. The two seem to cover the bases just fine. I have been running the "free" OS A3's in my .25LA with no complaints. I did notice that they're kinda shorter than a long, and longer than a short. That might make them run a bit cooler than desired. I expect they'd otherwise be about as hot as a Thunderbolt 4 stroke, which is not fitted with the coil shroud like an OS "F".

Must say, I have a poor regard for Fox glowplugs, having seen too many instances where replacing one with a Thunderbolt made such a huge improvement. I believe Brodak carries "Merlin" glowplugs, and I'd suggest trying them, if that's easier for you, as a Brodak dealer in Oz. They have a very good reputation, but we don't get them out here on the West Coast, near as I can tell.  Steve

[wmiii]

 Why not order the Merlin's from Randy , he stocks them?

 Walter

[ash]

I got some Merlin 4-stroke plugs to try as an alternative to ASP and OS-F 4-stroke plugs, but wasn't thrilled with the results. Very much rougher running and more needle sensitive than the others and the OS-F yeilded an imediate 200rpm gain when tried immediately afterwards. I suspect the problem was due to the fact that the Merlin plug has a small diameter coil buried deeply in the plug body, while the other two has a fairly open coil near to the outside. On that particular engine it wasn't the answer, but I've seem them do well on others.

T-bolt RC Idle is a gem on LAs.
Fireballs are passable on sport engines, but very unreliable.
Fox plugs seem OK, but I haven't tried one since settling on T-bolts as my default choice.
ASP plugs seem pretty good.
OS No.8 are good if the shortish length is tolerable
OS-F seem very good also.

[Jim Thomerson]

I have run Fox 2-volt longs for years and see no reason to change.  I do try to remember to put in a new glow plug at the beginning of the flying season, but do not always remember. I did not have good results with the Fox 2-volt shorts in smaller engines, however. 

[Leo Mehl]

I run Thunderbolt plugs in all of my engines. So far they have worked in every engine I own. They cost more now but 4 bucks is ok. They kind of have a builtin warning that lets you know when they are getting old. as soon as you take bettery off the plug if the RPM goes down It is time to replace it. I have never hat one burn out while running a engine in the air, that's reliability!

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Joe, 

I had forgotten about Randy's engine tips article, thank you for reminding me. There's some very valuable advice there.  It has helped me before with choosing the right fuel.

I have now ordered a few different brands to try out including Thunderbolt idle bar and 4 stroke, Fox Miracle and Fox Std RC w/Idle Bar.

My experience with Std Short Fox plugs has been that they blow very easily.

Thanks guys.

[Bill Little]

Hi Warren,

We have settled in Thunderbolt and Sig plugs, all in the *hot* range.

Bill <><

[Brian Hampton]

Warren, I've come in a bit late but try a Taipan 4 stroke plug. I'm using one while running in my Enya 60-IIIB and with straight 75/25 castor there's no discernible drop in revs when I disconnect the power and it still holds a perfect 4 stroke even with the test stand tilted almost vertical near the end of the tank. It could be a while before I fly it and try it though.

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hi Brian

Where do you get Taipan Glow plugs from?  I remember they used to be pretty good but didnt they go out of business? Or is someone else making them now?

Cheers

[Garf]

Taipan glow plugs:

http://www.tnet.com.au/~lion/Taipan_Glow_Plugs.htm

[Brian Hampton]

Hi Warren
Garf's given the link to where they're made over near Perth somewhere and obviously they're not the original Taipans although they still use that neat colour coded insulator. My local hobby shop here in Adelaide (Model Mania) has them all in stock, the normal plugs anyway, not the special ones for Cox etc.

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Thanks guys, I had some better flights on the weekend using Fox Idle Bars and OS Type F plugs.  Still waiting on the other plugs to arrive.  I like the look of those hard wired Taipans. I might give them a try at some stage.

Brian, Do you fly with Pete Anglberger and/or the Adelaide crowd?

Cheers