Thread: raptor 30

had the raptor out today and some numpty left the glow stick in while it was flying !!!!!! only realised there was something wrong when the revs rose on the motor and when i got it down on ground it shut off , question is do i put new glow end in and try it or would it of wrecked motor ???? any help would be gratefully recieved , thanks

I would think about changing the glow, but even that probably isnt necessary.

The glow plug is just a catalyst which 'burns' the methanol in nitro/glow fuel, the glow starter/stick just provides this glow electrically until the thing is started. Some fixed wing planes have a glow driver, which keeps the plug nice and hot at low rpm, but this is seldom used in helis.

It wont have done the engine any damage at all.

If you dont replace the glow you may be forever worrying about it, so its up to you.

it was with the engine revs rising on there own before cutting out that bothered me more than owt

You have hot plugs and cold plugs and medium plugs.....

The plug is likely to be running hotter than it should be with fuel being catalysed and the electrical heating effect. This is going to make your engine run rough.

The reason for glow drivers only working on low throttle is exactly this. On my planes where I have a glow driver fitted, I program it to come on at less than 15% usually (I make my own, so I can taylor them to my own needs). If the glow is active at higher rpm you actually lose performance, quite significantly.


The engine rpm rising before it cut doesnt really mean anything in this context... I am surprised that you managed to get enough power out of it to fly it properly though!

was only hovering it as am still learning with it , only had it in air a couple of mins , then revs started getting higher on there own so put it down on ground as it cut out , wouldnt start after that

well if it wont start, you probably will need to change your glow

It does sound like it leaned out before it cut though, and thats unlikely to have anything to do with the glow stick still being attached.

Take the glowplug out, hold it with some pliers and attach your glow stick (carefully) to see if its still working.

Check your carb to make sure that its not come loose. Check to make sure that the carb barrel screw is still insitu (I learnt this this week!). Check that your throttle control is really operating the lever on the carb. Consider replacing all of your fuel lines including the clunk line if it has been laid up for a while.

jimmy ur a superstar !!!!! checked the glow plug all okay ,then i checked the carb and the screws are missing that holds it to motor !!!! should there be one each side as its nt got any and is all loose so big thanks to you matey

what engine is it?..

irvine matey

were would i get screws from ????