Buzzard Droppings February 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

Myths !!!

à Idle speed settings are set at the factory and should not be adjusted

à Engine speeds on a twin engine model must be the same or doom and disaster will occur

à Manufacturers specs for prop sizes that are always correct

à Higher octane gas gives you more power

à After run oil is only for 2-strokes and is optional

à Engine instructions never help and cause additional trouble

à Tweaking the high speed needle for maximum prop speed is always the best way to set up an engine before a flight

à 3 and 4 blade props are more efficient. That’s why WWII fighters used them.

à Horsepower ratings between manufacturer’s can be used to compare engines and accurately reflect engine performance

à If a little is good, a lot is better

à Opening up a new engine, cleaning, and lubricating it causes trouble

à Horsepower numbers help select the right engine for an application

à Engine starters are bad for the engine

à Glow engines will never start without a power source attached to the glow plug

à You have to remove the engine from the model for long term storage

à Commercial after-run oil from the hobby stores is better than Automatic Transmission Oil

à Providing remote engine kill is optional

à 4-stroke engines kicking back and throwing props is just their nature – you just live with it

à Gasoline engines cannot be stopped by closing the throttle

à Prop manufacturers balance their props close enough

à Props from the same manufacturer with the same diameter and pitch are identical (cough!!!)

à All fuels are the same

à 90% of engine related problems are not related to the fuel system

à It takes weeks for water to get into the fuel (especially in dry, sunny Washington)

à Smaller engines are safer

à Multi-cylinder engines generate more power than the same cubic displacement singles

à Diesel engines only work in Europe

à FAI fuel is for wimps à always reach for the nitro

à Always use the largest fuel tank you can fit into a model

à Tank position is flexible

à Fuel foaming is a myth and is really caused by bad fuel