[NSRCA-discussion] What is a typical lifespan for OS#FinOS160FXapplicat...

[J N Hiller]

I am late to this discussion having just returned from the High Desert
Classic in the central Oregon high desert at Redmond. What fuel are you
using? Lubricants and additives aren't what they once were and some fuels
seam to run lean / hot causing premature plug failure. If on close
inspection of the element it appears frosty rather than shinny it's ability
to ignite the fuel is being compromised. The first symptoms of this that I
have noticed is a tendency to run rich requiring leaning of the mixture
which only speeds up the complete failure. Failure of internal components,
which shed microscopic metal-based particles, will also contaminate the
element causing premature failure. Running lean is an absolute No-No in the
larger OS engines and the OS#8 seams to work OK. As for how long dose a plug
last. I have had applications where the plug lasted two years and others
where I was testing fuels and trying to optimize the prop / needle settings
where I have damaged a plug in two flights. In the ballistic pattern days it
was not uncommon to change plugs several times during a contest and an
excessively really lean run would make the element go away completely in mid
flight.
Glow plug life is a user thing!
Jim Hiller

-----Original Message-----
From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Kevin Sung
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 7:42 AM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] What is a typical lifespan for
OS#FinOS160FXapplicat...

Jon,

Thank you for the input.  In that case, I might just have one that got away
since I don't think I had a lean run, and I am using Radio South glow
starter.  In any case, I will monitor and see how long this one will last.

Kevin
-----Original Message-----
From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]On Behalf Of
JonLowe at aol.com
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 5:14 AM
To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] What is a typical lifespan for OS#F
inOS160FXapplicat...
In a message dated 8/9/2007 11:09:02 PM Central Daylight Time,
rcpattern at stx.rr.com writes:
I have been using the same plug for about 70 flights in a OS160FX running
15% fuel, and each flight last around 8 minutes.  Lately, the engine is
getting a little difficult to start on its first flight, so finally I
replaced it today, and the engine starts right away, which leads me to
wonder what seems to be a typical lifespan for OS#F plug - if this can be
defined at all.

TIA,
Kevin
I get several hundred flights typically.  Two keys: no lean runs, and an
adaptive glow starter like the Radio South units.  One lean run can ruin a
plug, and the adaptive starter applies more current depending on how much
fuel is on the plug.  I get them relatively cheap from Central Hobbies.

Jon Lowe



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