William Robison

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Kmot:

Tom, we had a withdrawal/resignation, I put you in as number 62 to replace him. Glad to have you along.

Chrille:

If you were North America, either USA or Canada I'd say send the engine to me for repair/return with a straightened crank. I think I'm the only service point that will straighten a crank, anywhere else you're going to have to buy an expensive part to replace it.

We have a naming problem though, you couldn't have bent the valve guides. If you mean the push rod tubes they aren't expensive, but if not too badly dinged they too can be straightened. If the push rods are bent they should be replaced. More commonly the rocker pedestals are damaged by breaking the threaded part for the cover screws. Sometimes longer screws can be used to retain the covers, allowing the pedestals to be reused.

Tell us more, please.

Bill.

William Robison

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Chrille:

You're now on the list as member number 102.

Bill.

emnm79

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Hey guys, not a saito owner myself, but a buddy of mine has a new 220 with some issues, hopefully someone here can offer some good advice

He ran 1/2 gallon or so on the bench with an apc 18x8 (not wide), plenty rich, also using a perry pump, not sure which model...

Anyway, the time has come to fly it, and he now has a custom pitts muffler with a pressure fitting... he changed to a apc 20x8w, and the motor did nothing but backfire with anything more than 1/4 throttle... rich, lean, and in the middle... Even tore up a new menz cut tru turn [:@]

So, almost stumped, we threw the 18x8 back on for the hell of it, and whaddaya know, works like a charm... and will probably get maidened tomorrow with that setup... He said he has read of people using similar props, and i've read of 19x8W's used on YS160's so it seems the 220 should handle the 20"er... any advice? I was thinking it either needed more break in, or something was off with the tank pressure, but it works fine on the 18x8, and upon closing 1 of the pipe holes, as well as removing the pressure line, it still did the same thing... I dunno

Also, pressure fitting on the muffler is in the first pipe/flange of the pitts, which enters the larger main chamber (which has two exit pipes), and it is facing inward, which is perpendicular to the flow of exhaust coming in from the header..

Thanks!

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

M&M:

I'll let Hobbsy answer your questions, beyond saying that if using a pump muffler prssure shoult not be used. He has a 220 that he's run, I've not played with one.

Bill.

Chrille

Hi Bill !

Thank`s for your fast reply, Yes I have bent the valve-guides and I´m not very proud of it, ( I´ll try to attach some pic´s for better understanding) but I´m feeling much better now since I straightened them both. I just made a simple tool who fits tight on the guide-shaft and with a cone to press the guide in center position again. Now I have to deal with the crank and the rocker pedestals I hope I can manage this I will tell if succes. It´s a challange !

chrille

PlaneKrazee

My Feedback: (14)

emnm79,

It sounds like too much prop. Try a APC 18X8w or a 19X8. I haven't heard of anyone running the 20X8w.

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

Thank you, sir!

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

An old thread with pictures, of my Saito .45:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_15...tm.htm#1551041

Some pics of my Saito 120, it is an old ABC version if I am correct:

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

Chrille:

Wow. Didn't think that was possible. Congratulations on working out a method for repair.

New rocker pedestals aren't too expensive.

Bill.

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

Tom:

Not only is yours an ABC version, it looks to be the very first of the FA-120 engines. Not only is it ABC, it has the early restricted pipe "Muffler" and the air bleed carb.

Don't pan it because of the air bleed carb. In most cases an air bleed is used because it's cheaper to make than a TN carb, but the fully adjustable Saito air bleed with its metering valve was more expensive than a TN unit. And it could be argued, better than an ordinary TN carb as well.

Be sure always to use a castor blend oil in your fuel. Two reasons. First, pure synthetic wont seal the carb's regulating valve well, and it will greatly extend the life of the cam lobes. If you have to replace the cam all you can get is the late type, you'll have to buy new push rods, tappets, and cam housing. It will be a lot hotter cam to boot. Just wont be the same engine.

With the ABC cylinder it's relatively heavy, with the "Low cam" it's not a screamer, but the one you have is my all-round favorite Saito engine.

Bill.

car147

Sign me up, just getting my first Saito..... 180, good to find somewhere to share info ..........

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

Thanks for the info Bill, that's great to know! I am just breaking this engine in, using Powermaster blend fuel. I don't pan the oldies at all. I prefer them! The more cantankerous, the better. I love the challenge.

And, it has a sliding choke on the carb too.

Well, this thread made me dig out my FA-40. It is frozen solid with gummed up Castor/MMO. It has about 1 hour total time on the bench only. I just loved watching the rockers arms turn into a blur!

IronCross

Another question for you Bill
Will the Saito in this case a 1.20 run OK without muffler pressure ?... I have always used the backpressure on mine but the used 1.20 I picked up has the Saito flexable exaust pipe with it and there is no pressure tap... Since it has been run some and this appreas to be a Saito part sold by Horizon I can only assume backpressure is really not needed ?????......
Thanks
Roger

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

Roger:

Your FA-120 will run just fine without muffler pressure, but you might have to start a little richer with the tank full. Check the mix with the nose straight up and the tank near empty for a final check. Then refill and fly without changing the HS needle.

The 14 mm flex pipes are sold as accessories for the 300 twins, the set has one plain (yours) and one with a pressure tap. Either can be used on the FA-120, and they are sold separately.

Bill.

emnm79

My Feedback: (5)

Yea, thats what I suspected, just to clarify, he WAS running a pump, now running pressure tap...

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

car147:

You are now on the list as number 103 in our company.

Bill.

IronCross

Thank you once again Bill

khodges

My Feedback: (1)

Bill, A couple of pages back I told about breaking the tip off the little throttle stop screw; you suggested just grinding another tip on it. I tried it, it works fine. You saved me a whole dollar-two ninety eight. Several hundred more repairs like that and I'll have saved enough to buy one of the new 125A's

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

K:

Let's be a little more exact here. That was a dollar-two ninety eight PLUS $7.99 postage and handling. So, you see, your FA-125a isn't really that far away!

Haw.

Bill.

PS: You're welcome. wr.

gjeffers

Bill,(or anyone that knows any secrets) #23 here, i know you havent seen one of the 125a's yet but im going to ask anyways.......
any thoughts on this one? im ordering one for a 8-9 lb edge 540, sounds like the ticket to me

Thanks Bill

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

Gary:

Externally the cylinder is slightly larger in diameter than the FA-100, there's a triangular reinforcement in the middle of the mounting lugs, and the sign on the side is different. Otherwise the FA-100 and FA-125a are really hard to tell apart just by looking.

Unlike another Jap model engine company we all know about, Saito does not put prototypes on the market expecting the early buyers to work the bugs out.

If you want one I'd say jump on it with no reservation. Bet it's really going to blow the OS 120 four strokes out of the water.

Bill.

jcz25

Some help here!! Just got a 90 t baught it used. The left cylender glow plug port is in bad need of a tap run through it. I think i might have to replace the head all together. Is Saito still making the old parts. Please feel free to email me directly as well as the site. [email protected]

Thanks Guys

panzerd18

Wow finally made it to the end of this massive thread. Took me a few days to get through it all I must say.

I just wanted to know the differences between the Golden Knight version and standard? Other than one looking better than the other are there any mechanical differences?

luke

car147

No, just the Black paint and gold rocker covers.

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

Luke:

Internally there is no difference between the GK and "Standard" versions of the same engine.

Most of the GK versions are supplied with an inlet stack. The stack does not increase the power, but it does increase the fuel economy. The stacks can be added to the engines supplied without them, and their addition is well worth the price in lowered fuel expense.

Bill.