Raptor 50 starting

[RotorBlade]

Guys - new to this forum and recently got my Raptor50.

I've not flown it much yet - but noticed that the first start of the day isn't difficult, but after that, it's a bit of a pig to get going

Typically needs several clicks on the throttle and a bit of patience with no swearing before it condescends to splutter into life.

Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance
Keith

[David Drew]

Sounds like a mixture issue to me.


Maybe a leak in the fuel system adding air ?

You'll get the proper answer here soon lol

[RotorBlade]

I wondered about that - it's quite 'smokey' - could it be too rich? I don't have any previous form with nitro, so I'm kind of shooting 'blind'.......

[David Drew]

I thought too rich too. Explains easy starting but later problems.

Take the temp of the backplate after you have landed. If you can hold your finger on it for about 10 secs then it's fine. Too hot to touch & it's weak. Cool & it's too rich.

I find my OS50 needs tweaking almost every time I fly it if weather conditions have changed.
Could also be a duff plug, but i think more likely mixture

[Baldie]

Do you clamp the fuel line off as soon as you shut the engine off? Maybe the pressure in the tank after flight is pushing fuel into the carb before you clamp it off to refuel and then will make it difficult to start?

[RotorBlade]

Thanks guys - good input. I have taken the temp & it's pretty cool, so will check next time, weaken the mixture a tad and see if it improves. The plug is fine btw - as far as I know. Keith

[Spanner]

my 46 was a lot like that, had to nip the fuel line as I cranked it to start it, then it would run sweet. Probably was running rich but it seemed to run fine throughout the range.

[Steve]

My advice for trouble-free starting of just about any heli engine is to spin the engine over for 5-10 seconds or so at full throttle, without the glow driver attached first. Then back to normal starting throttle, attach the glow driver and it should start instantly as the starter is applied.

As you spin it over with no glow at full throttle, listen to the noise it makes - you'll be able to hear a distinct change in note as the fuel is drawn into the engine and into the cycle. Once i hear this change of noise, I stop the spin up and go for the proper start.

Works a treat.

[Si Goodchild]

Keith, Lean it 2 clicks and take it from there. Next time we're at field together I'll give it a couple of full-power climb-outs and see what's what. If it ever sounds tinny or rattly when you apply a lot of power then it's too lean.

Si

(and the Raptor 50 in your signature block is a Titan, not an SE!)

[RotorBlade]

(and the Raptor 50 in your signature block is a Titan, not an SE!)

You get todays 'spot the error' big prize.......
A free flight with someone's Rappy 90.......

[Si Goodchild]

You get todays 'spot the error' big prize.......
A free flight with someone's Rappy 90.......

Actually we're both wrong and both right: it's a Raptor Titan SE. But I'll still take the flight with the R90SE!