Request which forum; Old time spark ignition engines

[Hoss Cain]

Would someone direct me to the proper forum for several questions concerning spark ignition systems and a couple engine questions.

Thank you much.

[Bill Morell]

I would think that the OTS board would be a logical selection.

[Jim Kraft]

Hoss, I'm no expert, but I do run a lot of old sparkers. If you want to ask your questions here, I will try to answer them if I can.

[Hoss Cain]

Hoss, I'm no expert, but I do run a lot of old sparkers. If you want to ask your questions here, I will try to answer them if I can.

You gonna' be sorreee!  These are so basic that they are embarrassing, but it's been many years since I hooked up coils and condensers.

I have 6 or more old coils. Is there a + or - for the wires to the coil? I see no markings.

What is a good choice of boosters?  For inflight, I plan using either a box of 3 NIMH, or 2 regular AA in an emergency if the NIMH go down. Any better suggestions. My battery compartment is easily accessible and batts. quickly changed using RC type connectors.

I have read a number of postings in this forum about fuels.  I plan on starting with 3-1 mix of the 70 weight oil and Coleman fuel.  I notice a number of different fuel recommendations.
I have thought about using synthetic and some Castor like glow fuel, but using the coleman. What say you?

My first engine to start up, next week is planned, will be a Super Cyke that I run many many years ago on spark. It was also run some on glow, but still in good condition. It is well broken in but excellent compression.
It is in a Viking.

I have several NIB sparkers including one Sup. Cyke and two Anderson Spitfire .65s, plus a number of other small engines, 3 Arden .09s, one almost new Arden 19, a Bantam .19, and a couple rather well worn Anderson .60s.

I have an excellent condition Madewell .49. Many years ago, I flew one on glo. It was an excellent engine and very strong. I do not remember what happened to it, as my military time and needing funds, they all, ( I had 65 sparkers at one time) disappeared along the way. 

Any points on that engine. When I flew the old one on glo, I loved it.

[Jim Kraft]

The coils are not polarity sensitive. Some say they will spark better one way, but I have never noticed this. If you use the AA NIMH batteries, you will not need boosters. That is what I use. In fact, I have found that 2 AA NIMH batteries will give a better spark, than 2 AA regular batteries, even though the voltage is less. I do use 3 AA NIMH or nicads though.

If you can find 70 wt. oil, that will mix well with pump gas or Coleman fuel. That works well in most of the old engines, and I usually use between 25 and 33% oil. I also use pump gas with 25% castor oil. I have no problem with the castor staying mixed with the gas we get locally, but I know some have found it does not stay mixed in their neck of the woods. A little trick that usually works when it won't mix, is to add a little glow fuel to the mix.

You have some really nice engines there. I flew a Viking with a Super Cyke for a while, and it was a great combo. The Anderson Spitfire 65's, are among the best running, and most powerfull engines. I have a couple of those also. The Madewell is also a very fine engine, but are prone to breaking crankshafts, although, Jim Lee has been flying one on glow for years without problems.  Hope this helps, and if you need ign. diagrams or anything, I can scan them for you.

Running old sparkers is just to much fun. I seem to fly them more than all of my glow engines. I have 4 C/L planes with sparkers, and 2 old free flights with radios in them.

[Don Hutchinson AMA5402]

Oddly enough the coil Larry Davidson is now selling IS polarity sensitive and has the polarity marked on it. I tested one with the new module. I don't understand why but that is the way it is. Very noticeable difference in the spark if not right. With the old Aero Spark units one cannot tell the difference. If I still have Larry's here I will examine it and see if I can find out anything.
Hoss- If you would like a couple of the transistorized units we have been using for years, I can send them to you, comes with all the info you need to hook up and operate. Swap for one of the old Aero Spark coils??
Don

[Hoss Cain]

Don, Thanks a bunch, however right now please let me pass on your offer. I don't at this minute remember what all I have in the barn, and there are workers in the house.

I would like to try these old ways, and get some learning. Then Maybe ?

My big question that I forgot to ask is this:


Jim and Don:  Thanks so much for the help. I forgot the big question that was on my mind:

Does anyone use muffler pressure with GASOLINE fuel?  I am a bit shy on trying that. I  remember way back when I was flying a big ZILCH with a Hornet .60, no muffler of course. I loved to fly it in the late evning as the exhaust faced inward and I could see the blue flame about 1 to 2 inches long out of the exhaust. I thought that was SO NEAT or "COOL" in today's language.  Not a good thing into a fuel tank!!!
In addition I grew up in the country, and am  now back in the country. Sometimes I have to burn dead brush, limbes, etc.  A bit of gasoline to start and best stand way back when the match is thrown.

I know when I lived in the Chicago area, and we flew RC on very cold winter days, just mix a small container of gasoline and glow fuel, half and half, give a carb prime, and engines started like summer time. So gas catches quickly. Gas flash point is way below nitro and methanol flash points.

Thanks for your time and effort.

Horrace Cain

[Jim Kraft]

 Most do not have mufflers, so no muffler pressure. I run some of mine on uniflow tanks, and some on standard vent tanks. I generally use uniflow, and if it works better on standard vent, just plug the uniflow. Many of the guys run glow fuel in their sparkers on ign. Fox Super Fuel works well for this, or any fuel with at least 25% castor oil. I would not go over 5% nitro, except on Anderson Spitfires, that will run well on 10% nitro also. The only thing is, is that it takes about twice as much fuel as it does gasoline. I have also found that on Andersons, and a few others, they run better, and have better suction for C/L, with about 1/4 to 1/2 of the ventura blocked off with a piece of bass wood. I did that on my Super Cyke also, and it makes them run much better without hurting the power much, if at all.

Back to fuel; I have also run gasoline mixed with castor, and mixed that 1/2 and 1/2 with Fox Super fuel. I have found in cold weather, that gasoline seems to start a little easier. All of this is just stuff I have used and works for me. I know others that do things different, and their stuff works also.

Don's ign. modules are extremely well done, and eliminate a lot of the problems with spark ignition.

[FLOYD CARTER]

I have to second the idea of Jim's, that the Anderson Spitfire doesn't draw fuel well because the venturi is way too short!  Great for free flight, but in C/L, as soon as you get rolling, the ram air into the venturi kills the engine!  I added a short piece of brass tubing, I think 1/4" dia and 3/4" long.  J-B-Weld in the existing venturi and the fuel suction improved greatly.

Floyd