need some tips please

[gram]

hi chaps & chappesses,
thought i'd better ask as i've never had a nitro before, but can someone give me a step by step guide regarding fueling, priming, and how to look after the engine in general, after flight care etc, i've still got a few bits to do before her maiden voyage but i've heard someone briefly mention about this and it's troubling me a bit, the engine is an OS90 SZ max pumped, i've bought a manual pump and glow start fyi.
thanks in advance, gram.

[challis349]

have you not got a club that you can go to, nothing like first hand advice mate

[gram]

have you not got a club that you can go to, nothing like first hand advice mate

yes and no really, been along to a local one twice now but weather and work make it awkward sometimes, a guy at the local model shop went through the set up with me but it was too windy to fly, trim, and track, plus the shop is only open in working hours, so i'm tempted to just try it out on my field some time soon.
Sounds a bit foolish i know but i managed it with my leccy helis, there's just a bit more to learn with nitro, i keep hearing some horror stories of engines melting and bearings seizing, through poor maintenence and aftercare, so i'm just looking for help mate.

[trillian]

I'll take a quick shot, I might forget something but here goes;

First of all, make sure the throttle is setup correctly on the TX, specifically that it is going the right way
and also that you have complete shutoff with the stick at the bottom and throttle trim lowered.
The arm on the engine will go clockwise to shut off and anticlockwise to open. The point being
that you want to make sure you don't start it wide open and that you can shut it off with the
trim. (and obviously that nothing is binding at high and low etc. there's more to the setup than this but
that's the essentials)

When fueling make sure you have a clamp on the fuel line where it goes into the carb and that
it is shut off. Make sure any bung in the exhaust is removed so the tank can 'breath'.

With that done you can fill the tank.

To start it, open the fuel clamp into the engine, make sure the RX and TX are powered up
and everything is responding as it should (if you're going to fly then you should have already
done a range check before starting, make sure your RX battery is fully charged etc.).

To prime the engine, do not connect the glow lighter yet, open the throttle to mid-stick or more
attach the starter and while plugging the exhaust, spin the engine over a couple seconds till
you see fuel flowing in (the sound will usually change slightly as well when it starts getting fuel
inside).

Then, lower the throttle stick to an approximate idle position, connect the glow lighter and
attach the starter and it should start very quickly in just a few cranks. It may take a few times
if you're not yet certain where on the trim setting should be but you don't want it open
more than just a high idle. As soon as it starts and is idling remove the glow starter.

Things I always do like a ritual almost is double check the flight mode is in normal and not
idle-up and that the TH switch is off (you can start in throttle hold as well it's just that
you won't be able to adjust the speed at all unless you switch TH off, so maybe after
you know exactly where your TH is set that might be an easy way of doing it).

With helis like the Freya (my Robbes are the same way) that do not have a one-way bearing
in the start adaptor, you have to remove the starter as soon as you hear the engine kick in
because the starter is extra drag on the engine when it's trying to idle (your starter MUST
have a one-way bearing in it BTW, so it can freewheel when the engine starts). This is probably more
relevant on the .50 engines than the bigger ones.

[electricsceadu]

my advice is always start in throttle hold (it must be correctly set)
because if any of the flight mode switches or the throttle have been knocked the engine wont rev up to a high speed in hold
and always hold the rotor head whilst starting the heli

[trillian]

my advice is always start in throttle hold (it must be correctly set)
because if any of the flight mode switches or the throttle have been knocked the engine wont rev up to a high speed in hold
and always hold the rotor head whilst starting the heli

Ah, I knew I would forget something Yes, you must be holding the rotorhead at all times
while the engine is running until the heli is on the flightline ready to go.

I should have also said, you always want the TX to be within easy reach when starting
so you know exactly what the position of all switches and throttle stick are and can
easily change something if you need to.

As someone else said, it might be very worthwhile to get a helping hand from an experienced
nitro flyer at least the first time you start it. Eventually you get used to the routine and it's
really not difficult but in the beginning it's all too easy to overlook something.

[gram]

thanks guys, the heli has already been set up and everything works as it should, although we didn't get a chance to fire her up i know a chap who's fairly local who needs some shooting lessons, we've arranged a deal whereby i coach him in exchange for a bit of help with flying lessons, i'm still waiting for my starter to turn up so i won't be heading out just yet though.

[trillian]

thanks guys, the heli has already been set up and everything works as it should, although we didn't get a chance to fire her up i know a chap who's fairly local who needs some shooting lessons, we've arranged a deal whereby i coach him in exchange for a bit of help with flying lessons, i'm still waiting for my starter to turn up so i won't be heading out just yet though.

What kind of starter are you getting?

I have an OS91SZ non pumped version and an SX C-spec with a pump. The SZ runs very well and is easy to
work with, the pumped engine has been a bit trickier but I think that is specific to the SX.

Regarding the after-flight routine, you'll get a number of opinions on this. The effectiveness of one approach
over another partly depends on the nitro content of the fuel and how often you fly, how humid is the area
the heli is stored etc.

I have found what works fine for me is that after my last flight of the day I clamp off the fuel line
going to the carb and let the engine sit for a little while as the engine cools down. I then make sure
the throttle is fully closed and using the starting wand I turn the engine by hand to where the piston
is approx at top dead centre. I put the bung in the exhaust and that's it.

Some people run the engine dry by clamping the fuel line and start it, letting it run briefly on whatever
is in the crankcase.

I tend to think any fuel in the crankcase is going to evaporate fairly soon while the engine is
hot (maybe I'll test this theory next tme out and see if there's enough for it to start after
it has sat for a few minutes).

In any case this was worked for me but I should mention that I am using 15% nitro fuel
and all my helis are stored indoors in a dry place.

[dentman]

Hi gram , I fly 6 miles north of Norwich, you are more than welcome to come to our field and we'll try and point you in the right direction. I'm guessing our local shop on catton grove road have helped you out to date .

[rob12770]

its called pegasus models..

[gram]

hi dentman, thanks for the invite, yep it was that shop, they're a good bunch lol! where exactly do you fly? i've been down to easton a couple of times, but that's about it, what with the weather and work i just haven't been able.

Hi trillian, thanks for the extra advice, as for the starter i've ordered a dynatron, i don't know where i'll end up keeping it, i don't want to leave it in the shed because of the cold and damp, so i'll probably leave it round my fathers place, that's where i do most of my flying/crashing, either that or i'll have to make a case for it.

[dentman]

We fly at Oxnead which is part of the club which has the use of RAF Coltishall, but we arent allowed to fly helis there because the site is owned by the ministry of justice ( as it now has a prison on the site) and they don't like rc helicopters anywhere near it!!! Pegasus is a great modelshop ,I try and limit myself to one visit per week! It caters for most disciplines and once their extension is finished its going to be huge