Thoughts on using Bekra 20% fuel \ tuning \ using head loaders

[clarkee]

Hi all,

I am a recent beginner who bought a second hand Sceudu 30 heli which has been used since new approximately 18 months ago with modeltechnics fuel (cant remember now which exact one).

Anyway my questions are around changing the fuel from one type to another - I have been recommended by my heli instructor to use Bekra 20%.

Does anyone have any thoughts on using Bekra? Any views on changing over the fuels as I have an understanding that I will need to retune the engine if I change.
Does anyone have any recommendations on tuning (its a os32hyper engine)? Is there are good information that I can use to facilitate engine tuning. I have been recommended to use head loaders for this tuning exercise - would this be best practise?

Is there an instruction manual for using head loaders? daft question maybe but there again Im a beginner so do not know anything better!

Thanks.

[ChrisB]

Headloaders would be OK but most fliers just tune them by flying,your instructor should be perfectly capable of doing this,Why are you using so much Nitro for learning?.

[marktigere1]

Hi

I used to use Model Technics Contest 10 (10% Nitro) with an Enya 3 plug.

I now use Magnum 12 (12% Nitro) with the same Enya 3 plug.

Not had to do anything major to use a different fuel.

I would also think that 20% was a high percentage for a beginner.

I find 10-12 is enough.

Cheers

Mark

[Ade_Law]

I have had lots of trouble with model technics fuel especially the yellow duraglow. Engines just dont run consistantly on it in my experience.

20% nitro is more nitro that is needed for learning to hover on. Bekra is also quite expensive.

i have been using magnum for over a year, engines run well on it and last a long time.

I do not use headloaders, they are not an accurate method of setting up a heli.

Ade

[Raptorite]

I have been using Bekra for the last two or three years, before that I used to run contest 10, which was fine but due to the 2% castor and the fact that it is what I would call a "thick" fuel, getting the needle settings right was a bit of an art. Since changing to Bekra, I found it much easier to set the needles for a nice consistent smooth run, being thinner than contest 10 it flows more easily.

The other thing I like about Bekra is it comes in a proper UK gallon of 4.55 litres rather than an american 3.78 litre bottle. It might seem a little more expensive than other fuels but when you consider you are getting around three quarters of a litre more each time it actually doesnt work out to bad.

I did try a few fuels in my 90 a while ago, as I usually run it on 30% Bekra, I was given a gallon of 30% curtis youngblood brew wildcat to try. I found that my c spec ran smoother, smoked less and had no discernible difference in power or torque on Bekra than it did on wildcat. Of the engines I have been running on Bekra 16% for the last two or three years, I took the back plate off one a while ago to find it was like new inside, so as a lubricant it is working just fine.

Finally, another big plus for Model Technics for me is they are a British company!

All in all, I really like Bekra fuel, it would therefore take something very special for me to consider changing to anything else.

I would agree that 20% for learning to hover is a bit on the excessive side, you may want to consider either 16% or better still 10% for hovering around.

Cheers,
Pete.

[Ade_Law]

how much is contest 10 and bekra 10/16?

magnum 12% is £13.45 us gallon which works out to be 16.15 for a uk gallon.

Ade

[Raptorite]

Bekra 10% is £16.20 per gallon and 16% is £19 per gallon. Contest 10 is £15.85 per gallon

Cheers,
Pete.

[Ade_Law]

magnum 20 equates to 19.81 so def a bit cheaper

Ade

[Raptorite]

Yes Ade, I'll give you that one, Bekra 20% is £20.90 per gallon.

Cheers,
Pete.

[ChrisB]

I used Model Technics Helimix 10 for 2 1/2 yrs with no problems but thier model car fuels are poor from my experience.

Helimix 10 was £15.85 a UK Gallon but i have now started using Magnum 12

Thats priced at £13.75 for a slightly lesser amount though but has more nitro.

I found my engine seems to develop more power than i would expect from an extra 2% nitro so i will be sticking to Magnum from now on.

I also like the nice smoke trail the heli makes when barrelling thru the air

[clarkee]

Thanks for the replies.

Is there a recommended way of tuning the engine when changing the fuel?

Theres a couple of comments regarding not needing head loaders. I am puzzled as to how to do it without the head loaders as I understand the headloaders stop the helicopter from taking off whilst high throttle as part of the tuning process.

Please correct me if I am thinking wrong!

Cheers for your help.

[Ade_Law]

The art of all tuning is to start rich and lean carefully. Start from manufacturers recomended settings.

Helis are constant speed variable load. This means you can be at high speed and very low throttle.

Head loaders are a constant load variable speed which means you loose the low to mid throttle high speed setting.

Also the chances of them being exactly the same load as your blades at the headspeed your going to be running isnt great either.

either of those are reasons enough not to use head loaders.

the only way to get accurate tuning is by trial and error by flying it.

Ade