w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

For others reading this, The Saito 80 will have much more low end torque than the OS 55.

winglift

My Feedback: (10)

Okay. I reassembled it and just had to hope that the cam gear did not move from the 6 oclock position and meshed onto the crank properly. I restarted it and it runs okay, but with a 14X10 prop it will only go to 6500 rpm. Does that seem like a reasonable rpm?

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Sounds like you are a couple teeth off with your cam.

Better try again.

Should be doing about the mid 8's

The 14 X 8 would be a better prop for the 100.

winglift

My Feedback: (10)

I tried again and it now runs at 8500 just as you said, however now I am back to where I started. It starts to bog down after a short time at full throttle and then I cannot get it to idle without stopping under 3500. I adjusted the HS needle a little rich and began leaning out the LS screw a little at a time. What is interesting is that with the cam off in the previous attempt it ran great and idled just fine even though the rpm's were off. I'm totally at a loss as to what to do next. I'm going to have a beer.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

The low speed screw should be recessed below the face of the throttle lever about .020" when it is set correct.

Your valves should be adjusted .002" to .004"

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

I double check my cam timing after assembly.

If you get the piston at top dead center but not on the compression stroke, you should be able to blow through the muffler and the air comes out the open carb. To move the prop around, you will find that the center of this valve overlap period is just before top dead center.

winglift

My Feedback: (10)

I checked the screw and it is below the level of the throttle arm. The valves were maybe .001" to wide. I removed the plug to check the TDC using toothpick and on the non-compression stroke I am able to blow through the muffler and it does come out the carb and it seems to happen right at TDC.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

This all sounds good.

But you say it will not idle below 3500?

winglift

My Feedback: (10)

To clarify, it idles so rough that I had to keep the RPM's up to keep it running and that was about 3500.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

What glow plug are you running and what about your fuel. How does the fuel run in other engines?

winglift

My Feedback: (10)

I'm using an OS F plug. I haven't used the fuel in a different engine, but perhaps that is a good idea. I have a OS 61FX that I could try it on. That kind of makes sense since it seemed to run okay with the timing off.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Try the fuel in the other engine

Just for the record, when you advance the cam timing, the idle will be great but the top end will be poor. With retarded timing, the top end will be great but the idle will be problematic.

If the fuel runs good in your 61, there is a possibility that your cam is retarded just one tooth.

ralphp

My Feedback: (6)

I just won a 50th anniversary gold plated 30. Any idea of what it is worth now ?

JohnB96041

It is only worth $299.99. That is what they sell for.

ralphp

My Feedback: (6)

Since Horizon Hobby is sold out, do you think they will go up in value ?

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Come back in 5 yrs and ask that question again?

jeffie8696

Just obtained a NIB Saito FA50 minus muffler. Heck of a deal couldnt pass it up.
Was wondering what the general opinion is of this one. Idont see much on it and nothing in the tach readings section.
When compared to my FA40 it is a monster!! Like comparing a Chevy small block 327 to a big block 427
Iexpect it to be mild mannered yet powerful like my 40 (maybe evan a little smoother?).
Plan on using a 12X6 for the break in . Maybe it needs to go on my new 4 Star 40 (when Iget one)

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

They do OK with a 12 X 6. I have a couple. They are almost as powerful as a Saito 56. I flew them on Ultra Stick 40's

I have a few OS 52 four strokes and the Saito 50 is pretty much the same as the OS 52 four stroke.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Jim, I know he's talking about a .50 but a while back I did a little comparo between an Enya .53TN, an OS .52 and a Saito .56. They lined up powerwise in the exact order of the displacement with about 300 rpm separating the .56 and the .52 with the Enya right in the center. Since 5% fuel is the the best for the Enya and 15% for the OS and Saito I used 10% WildCat/18% lube. I recently sold the .52, the .56 and the only .50 I had. I regret that I deleted the pictures of those tach readings for the .50. I kept a GK .56 and the Enya .53.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

I've never tached one but up in the air, it is hard to tell the difference in power between a Saito 50 and the OS 52

jjscott

This Saito open rocker FA-40 is a recent ebay purchase. The ignition conversion is what caused me to buy it I don't know if the engine is better or worse for it.

Can someone confirm if this is a 77 Products/Otto Bernhardt conversion? I seem to remember this was the timer that was used on many of their conversions. I have never seen a plug like the one installed. It had a a partial marking on it before I cleaned it up; I think it was a "T". The ground is unusual in that it's as if the bottom thread was sliced with a knife and bent up and over toward the center electrode. I'm kind of afraid to use it for fear it will detach and tear up the cylinder.

The engine was stuck, dirty and carboned up when I got it. After a soak in the crock pot it cleaned up pretty well and seems to have strong compression. My dad had one (glow) when they came out. It was on a semi scale Heath parasol if I remember.

Jim

jjscott

I tried 4 pics and they loaded straight across the page in one line. Deleted 3 and am reloading the plug picture to see if anyone can identify it.

jjscott

Another view.

winglift

My Feedback: (10)

Okay here is what happened. The fuel that I was using on the Saito 100 was 15% nitro. I had some 10% nitro fuel that I was using on the OS 61FX.

1 - I fueled the 61FX with the 15% fuel and it ran about 2K rpm faster (12.5K) top end and after running it a while I could not get it to idle very well. I didn't play with it much but noticed that it idled rough and similarly had to increase the idle, but only slightly.

2 - I defueled the 61FX and just to check ran it on the 10% fuel and it would idle just fine, but of course was 2K rpm lower top end.

3 - I fueled the Saito 100 with the 10% fuel and top end was almost 8500 rpm and it idle okay

4 - I defueled the Saito 100 and refueled w/ the 15% and same result, started sputtering and idle was very rough.

I think the OS 61FX liked the 15% on top end and seemed to tolerate it at idle, but did notice a difference. I am wondering if the fuel has absobed some water and the 2S FX is more tolerate to that than the 4S 100? I am going to try using a new batch of 15% fuel and see what happens, but it looks like that you might have been right.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

The 15% fuel has been setting in the sun.

UV light has destroyed it. It might be Ok to break an engine with but I wouldn't fly with it.

Use it as a cleaner, solvent or to kill ants