Welcome to Club SAITO !
That's ok i have three more of those midgets after i test flew the first one.I was so excited that it survived the two flights i had a few emu exports and a cuban cigar.Next thing you know i'm on the internet ordering three more midget mustangs and a spare saito 115 with enough spares to outlast me,you can only get so lucky sometimes right? well it's still flying and scares the bejeezus out of us still.Just the takeoff part is fun jim it likes to nose over and yaw left,once in the air it's like it's on rails and very gentle to land too.
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Very Nice !
[QUOTE=acdii;12399266]Here is mine, couldn't find a pic of it all ready to fly though.
Really nice flying plane, and with this engine, very fast at full throttle, but very scale like at low throttle
I gotta get back into my RC life fast.
Really nice flying plane, and with this engine, very fast at full throttle, but very scale like at low throttle
I gotta get back into my RC life fast.
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Hi All,
I'm rebuilding my first saito. It's a 82A. It's been sitting for about six years. I had to use oil and heat to break it lose. To remove the carb, I had to use a heat gun on the bolts to get them to break free. So far the composite back plate is removed, carb is removed and rocker arm cover. I removed one of the rocker arm pins with no problem. The other one, well, let's just say it's a problem. I've soaked it in oil. I've heated it then dunked it in ice water to cool it hoping that would do it. It didn't! I re-heated it again and the rocker arm pin will not break lose.
It's not breaking free and if I force it I'll strip the head then I'll have more problems. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Chuck
I'm rebuilding my first saito. It's a 82A. It's been sitting for about six years. I had to use oil and heat to break it lose. To remove the carb, I had to use a heat gun on the bolts to get them to break free. So far the composite back plate is removed, carb is removed and rocker arm cover. I removed one of the rocker arm pins with no problem. The other one, well, let's just say it's a problem. I've soaked it in oil. I've heated it then dunked it in ice water to cool it hoping that would do it. It didn't! I re-heated it again and the rocker arm pin will not break lose.
It's not breaking free and if I force it I'll strip the head then I'll have more problems. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Chuck
Last edited by Scooterpilot; 01-21-2018 at 03:59 PM.
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Chuck, One thing that may help. If possible locate a crock pot and some anti freeze. Since the rear cover is already off just drop the engine into the hot glycol, (outside as the fumes are toxic) and leave it for a while. Along with cleaning it does a good job of loosening everything up.
If at the end the rocker moves without the pin turning as well and no sign of corrosion I would recommend lubing it and leaving it be for now.
Both of my 82's have alloy back covers and it's a good idea to go that way if you can.
ps. Never use the crock pot for food prep ever again. I found mine at a resale shop for $8 so no great investment. Glycol can be reused for this again after straining back into the container, so economical that way, at least.
If at the end the rocker moves without the pin turning as well and no sign of corrosion I would recommend lubing it and leaving it be for now.
Both of my 82's have alloy back covers and it's a good idea to go that way if you can.
ps. Never use the crock pot for food prep ever again. I found mine at a resale shop for $8 so no great investment. Glycol can be reused for this again after straining back into the container, so economical that way, at least.
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Sir
Thanks for the recommendation. After I wrote the post, I decided I would boil a pan of water and drop the cylinder in it. I let it boil on low for a while; then, with gloves in hand (so to speak), I tried to remove the pin. I have BINGO, it came lose. I did mar the pin head just a bit, so I'm going to order a new set. My last challenge will be removing the prop hub/nut so I can replace the bearings. I'm going to look for a small puller tomorrow. I'm sure this won't be my last Saito that I will refresh. When I removed the piston the ring would not move. I'm glad I ordered a new ring. I'll use the the old ring to clean the ring goove in the piston. I do have a question. On the front and back of the cam gear there is a what I would call a shim on the front and back of it. I looked in my engine manual and they are called teflon/steel washers. They are badly worn. I've been looking online to replace them but I haven't found a source. Would you happen to know of a source that sells them? I'm also looking to replace the plastic back plate with a metal one. Any assitance you can provide is greatly appreciated.
Regards
Chuck
Thanks for the recommendation. After I wrote the post, I decided I would boil a pan of water and drop the cylinder in it. I let it boil on low for a while; then, with gloves in hand (so to speak), I tried to remove the pin. I have BINGO, it came lose. I did mar the pin head just a bit, so I'm going to order a new set. My last challenge will be removing the prop hub/nut so I can replace the bearings. I'm going to look for a small puller tomorrow. I'm sure this won't be my last Saito that I will refresh. When I removed the piston the ring would not move. I'm glad I ordered a new ring. I'll use the the old ring to clean the ring goove in the piston. I do have a question. On the front and back of the cam gear there is a what I would call a shim on the front and back of it. I looked in my engine manual and they are called teflon/steel washers. They are badly worn. I've been looking online to replace them but I haven't found a source. Would you happen to know of a source that sells them? I'm also looking to replace the plastic back plate with a metal one. Any assitance you can provide is greatly appreciated.
Regards
Chuck
Last edited by Scooterpilot; 01-21-2018 at 06:36 PM.
Senior Member
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I have been rebuilding engines for over 3 decades now and all the way up to the Saito 125 have removed the prop drive washer with the battery terminal puller shown in the left pic. Have included another make for comparison.
I did mod the jaw angle a bit to better fit the notch on some engines.
I did mod the jaw angle a bit to better fit the notch on some engines.
Last edited by Cougar429; 01-21-2018 at 06:47 PM.
Aww jim your too kind,that's better than looking at ducati pit girls,just.
Dave forgot to hit the quote button for 'phhhttt' comment,it was meant for sigman.He pops up every few years as you know...rare as a good runnin saito 125 and pesky as a massive unexpected zit.
ps no probs with the plastic backing plates on 82's,i think it was the 72 that had problems.
Dave forgot to hit the quote button for 'phhhttt' comment,it was meant for sigman.He pops up every few years as you know...rare as a good runnin saito 125 and pesky as a massive unexpected zit.
ps no probs with the plastic backing plates on 82's,i think it was the 72 that had problems.
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After I bowed the face of a couple of engines I bought this guy at Dan's recommendation. It works very well. I had two .72's for a few years and did not have a problem with either. I did plant one in the middle of a concrete road at Fort Belvoir, I sent it to William Robison. I've kept very quiet about the 115, I don't want to upset the two guys in the whole world who liked them.
Last edited by Hobbsy; 01-22-2018 at 03:36 AM. Reason: Add content
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The motor is slowly being disassembled. Tonight I R&R'd the carburetor. All the O rings were dry and in need of replacement. It's cleaned, rebuilt and in a plastic bag. Now I'm in a hurry up and wait mode. Wednesday the Posi 103 puller will arrive. So I can remove the taper collet and drive flang; then, remove crank and replace the bearings. So far, the rocker arm pin was the most difficult part of the process. I appreciate all those who provided input. Thanks.
Last edited by Scooterpilot; 01-22-2018 at 07:56 PM.
After I bowed the face of a couple of engines I bought this guy at Dan's recommendation. It works very well. I had two .72's for a few years and did not have a problem with either. I did plant one in the middle of a concrete road at Fort Belvoir, I sent it to William Robison. I've kept very quiet about the 115, I don't want to upset the two guys in the whole world who liked them.
ps sr wrote a very good post comparing the fa115 and it's distant cousin the 125,i can't remember what your comments were.
pps scooter good luck with reassembly.I freeze the bearing set over night,heat the case and insert the rear bearing last.This way you can use the crankshaft to guide in and seat the rear bearing square with a gentle tap,they almost fall in by themselves.I bought the best small screwdriver i could find for the rocker arm pins.
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What is your opinion of my favorite bikes, Indians, Triumphs, and Vincents. Yes, I have seen that last one in the flesh but I would need to rob several banks to afford one.
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I'm looking for suggestions from the Saito brain trust we have in this thread. The patient is an old Saito .80 that hasn't been run in sometime sitting inverted in a 1/5th scale Cub. I can get it started long enough to hiccup and shed it's prop even with double prop nuts. After the last try she wouldn't even start. I prefer not to be pulling the engine out, its a major undertaking, since I built a box firewall to move the engine back rather than extend the nose out to make the engine fit.