Preparation Before Starting The Engine (Prior To Break-In) - Saito FG-14C Owner's Operating Instruction Manual

Preparation Before Starting the Engine
• Mount the engine on a strong, flat test bench or on
the aircraft (in either case, the engine should be
secured so it is immobile).
• Check to make sure the carburetor will open and
close completely.
• Check the wiring of the ignition system to make sure
it is connected correctly and securely.
• Make sure the fuel line is connected securely to the
carburetor.
• For break-in, use a fuel/oil mix ratio of 20:1.
• FG-14C: Mount a 14 x 6 plastic or wood propeller.
Be sure it has been balanced. Check the tightness
after every flight.
• FG-17: Mount a 14 x 8 plastic or wood propeller. Be
sure it has been balanced. Check the tightness after
every flight.
• FG-21: Mount a 15 x 6 plastic or wood propeller. Be
sure it has been balanced. Check the tightness after
every flight.
Understanding the Saito Gas Carb for the FG-14C, FG-17 and FG-21
To best understand the FG-14C, FG-17 and FG-21
carburetor, you need to know what it is not.
It is not a Walbro carburetor.
It is not a glow carburetor.
As we made strides to bring cheaper gasoline power to
ever smaller engines, this uniquely designed carb was
developed because the currently available carbs from
the lawn power equipment world were way too large to
be included with our smaller powerplants.
Gasoline fuel requires a much finer atomization of the
droplets than glow fuel does. Because the amount of
fuel flowing through the engine is so much lower than
with a typical glow fuel setup (up to 60% less fuel),
maintaining a constant flow and pressure becomes even
more critical. Close inspection of the cat's eye orifice on
the needle valve body in the FG-14C/21 carb reveals
a miniscule opening; perfectly sized for the proper
atomization of the fuel for your engine.
(prior to break-in)
• It is suggested you employ a spinner when using an
electric starter. Check the tightness after every flight.
• Use a tachometer to determine proper needle valve
settings of the engine.
• Be sure to connect a gasoline-proof line to the
breather nipple to vent oil from the airframe.
• Check the battery of the electric starter to make sure
it is fully charged.
• Be sure to use a safety on/off switch from the battery
to the ignition.
WARNING: Always keep all spectators,
especially children, are at least 30 feet away
when running or starting the engine.
WARNING: Always ensure the aircraft is
secure and cannot move when preparing to
start the engine. Failure to do so could cause
property damage and serious injury.
This new carb features a pump function designed to
provide the correct amount of fuel to the needle valve
assemblies to correctly operate the engines. It is not
designed as a fuel pump to draw fuel from a tank
mounted in the middle of your airplane. The fuel tank
needs to be mounted as close to the centerline of the
Carb assembly as possible; the same as we have had to
do for all these years with our glow engine installations.
If you stray very far from this rule, the engine will run
differently upright and inverted. This usually leads to
comments that an engine doesn't like to run inverted,
etc., when in reality, the fuel delivery system needs to be
optimized for the engine installation being used.
The pump is actuated by the negative pressure pulses
when the intake valves are open and the engine is
drawing fuel into the cylinder. On the latest version
of the carburetor, we enlarged the area of the hole
that delivers these pulses to the pump assembly. It
has greatly improved the pumping action and has
much more tolerance of 'less than optimum' fuel tank
locations. But it is still not a Walbro carb and will not
draw fuel from any long distance.
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