Saito FG-20 or 21
#1804
#1807
#1809
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: wolverhampton, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 86
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Hello all.Now I have just bought one of these engines brand new but 2nd hand to me(BNIB)I have read nearly every post of the 73 pages and it had made me think.I wonder if running them in on methanol(glow fuel)would help the cooling and running in process.I.E just put a glow plug in and treat like a normal glow running in.I have run in hundreds of glow saito's with no issues and just thought it might help to settle down the engine before running on petrol.I intend to use Mobil 1 2t oil as I have been using it on a converted saito 72A for months now with good results.One other thought,if it does play up big time with spark plugs,ignition..etc.etc..I will just run it on glow forever..I know that is not the point but its my back up plan...What do you guys think?
P.S it was very cheap for BNIB so could spend some more money if required etc..etc..
P.S it was very cheap for BNIB so could spend some more money if required etc..etc..
#1810
Glow would destroy the carburetor. If you keep the ignition system and swap out to a glow carb, then you get more power and better fuel use, but trying to run it as is with a glow plug instead of the ignition will fail .
#1811
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: wolverhampton, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 86
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If the ignition plays up then i will get the RCEXL setup like on my 72A but I understand the hall sensor setup for the fg-20 has an offset sensor to allow for the 28deg timing BTDC that the RCEXL unit uses,unlike the original saito big bulky sensor...if I have read correctly.And if the carb fails I might get a proper petrol one ,or glow one and run it on glow...For the financially interested, i paid Ł145 for it, so about $188 for a BNIB Saito FG-20....we will see,fingers crossed....FG
#1812
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: wolverhampton, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 86
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So my main question is Why cant we use glow fuel on the saito petrol carb?When using tubing and tank bungs suitable for Petrol fuel ,you can use glow fuel on those with no issues.It usually only works one way round..don't use petrol on stuff made for glow...that's my point really...Does anyone definitely know what's in the saito petrol carb and whether glow fuel will kill it or not??
Last edited by forrest gump; 11-07-2018 at 02:16 AM. Reason: spelling
#1813
Hello,
I am wondering is it safe to run gf21 with straight stock pipe only, no bulky can muffler Part installed?
Since i fly the ngh38 4stroke and it is mentioned in Manual that with short straight pipe it gives more power and runs happier.
What about fg21?
no noise restriction problem
Thanks
I am wondering is it safe to run gf21 with straight stock pipe only, no bulky can muffler Part installed?
Since i fly the ngh38 4stroke and it is mentioned in Manual that with short straight pipe it gives more power and runs happier.
What about fg21?
no noise restriction problem
Thanks
#1815
Thnx will try then and report
Received it at last.
Spark gap was double than spec, fixed, now it fires a much nicer arc.
Ignition is an rxcel one which is great,
no need for upgrade as I have seen some have done with old saito one to fix some problems...
before
after
And valve clearances were none, 0.
Tuned them but did also experience the needles falling out from rocker seats, as some have reported here.
Sure hope valves/springs wont float during operation since that may force needles to fall out (seat disengages from needle since spring is not putting pressure on it)
Received it at last.
Spark gap was double than spec, fixed, now it fires a much nicer arc.
Ignition is an rxcel one which is great,
no need for upgrade as I have seen some have done with old saito one to fix some problems...
before
after
And valve clearances were none, 0.
Tuned them but did also experience the needles falling out from rocker seats, as some have reported here.
Sure hope valves/springs wont float during operation since that may force needles to fall out (seat disengages from needle since spring is not putting pressure on it)
Last edited by dr.tom; 01-25-2020 at 07:31 AM.
#1816
Works like Saito should work,
Flipped it a few times in reverse to prime it and it came alive.
Valve clearance are supposed to be 0, so adjusted them back to stock before starting.
Hand start, first run ever.
https://youtu.be/aTnkCfMrKE4
Flipped it a few times in reverse to prime it and it came alive.
Valve clearance are supposed to be 0, so adjusted them back to stock before starting.
Hand start, first run ever.
https://youtu.be/aTnkCfMrKE4
Last edited by dr.tom; 01-28-2020 at 10:34 AM.
#1821
Interesting fuel lines, where or what did you use for a spring? I have something similar for the engine pods for my B-25 with FG-30's, but will need to modify them a bit to make them stronger as I have the throttle servo and ignition system also mounted to it.
#1822
Hi,
the coil is from HK,
https://hobbyking.com/en_us/spring-w...-couplers.html
can be stretched a lot to cover more fuel line if you only need it to prevent kinking and not full protection from tearing/rubbing if it does not contact anything. Nice thing.
Good luck with your setup
the coil is from HK,
https://hobbyking.com/en_us/spring-w...-couplers.html
can be stretched a lot to cover more fuel line if you only need it to prevent kinking and not full protection from tearing/rubbing if it does not contact anything. Nice thing.
Good luck with your setup
#1824
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
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Here is my Saito FG-20 story…
It’s spring 2023 and I just got a NIB Saito FG-20 from a fellow hobbyist. He had bought it a decade ago to go in a Unionville Hobby 8ft Radial Beaver that he never finished. I was very exited to check out a spark ignition gas fired 4 stroke.
After reading all the problems on the Internet forums, I considered selling it as NIB. I was looking for a reliable fuel fired engine for reliable winter flying. So one day I decided to break-in on a test stand and see what happens. I know the internet community has many warning of how difficult they can be to run and tune.
The break-in (per Saito instructions) went surprisingly well. I couldn’t believe how little gas it used, even at a rich setting. I fouled one plug, but otherwise OK. I installed it inverted in my my “beater” SIG Kadet Senior. The first two flights went well, but on my third flight it would not transition to mid or high speed. I played with the carb tuning to no affect. Now at home it would’t run smoothly on the ground. I changed plugs, took to the field a few more times, sometimes I didn’t even get in the air. Then a few days later it would run Ok on the ground. Not consistent. And always black soot coming out of the exhaust.
My assumption was carburetor problems. I dismantled the Saito carb and saw no issues. So I bought a Ryobi 30c 4 Stroke trimmer carb from Amazon. I made an intake manifold adapter to trial this out. It worked way better, no black soot. So I took it to the field twice. Both times I had to change plugs to keep in running smooth. At this point I was on my 5th plug! After one of the plug changes the engine ran like a Swiss watch. The lightbulb come on…. My problems were also ignition.
I took it home and ordered a Rcexl ignition from Aliexpress. I was able to install using the universal sensor mount, and drill and tap one additional hole in the crankcase to get 28deg BTDC. I also bought the alignment tool.
Off to the field this Sunday. Beautiful sunny winter day -10C(14F). Six 4-5 minute flights with no issues!!!!!!! Idle good, transition good, high speed good. No dead sticks. Sigh. Finally.
The manifold is a 3/8” ACR copper street 90 silver soldered to a brass plate.
It’s spring 2023 and I just got a NIB Saito FG-20 from a fellow hobbyist. He had bought it a decade ago to go in a Unionville Hobby 8ft Radial Beaver that he never finished. I was very exited to check out a spark ignition gas fired 4 stroke.
After reading all the problems on the Internet forums, I considered selling it as NIB. I was looking for a reliable fuel fired engine for reliable winter flying. So one day I decided to break-in on a test stand and see what happens. I know the internet community has many warning of how difficult they can be to run and tune.
The break-in (per Saito instructions) went surprisingly well. I couldn’t believe how little gas it used, even at a rich setting. I fouled one plug, but otherwise OK. I installed it inverted in my my “beater” SIG Kadet Senior. The first two flights went well, but on my third flight it would not transition to mid or high speed. I played with the carb tuning to no affect. Now at home it would’t run smoothly on the ground. I changed plugs, took to the field a few more times, sometimes I didn’t even get in the air. Then a few days later it would run Ok on the ground. Not consistent. And always black soot coming out of the exhaust.
My assumption was carburetor problems. I dismantled the Saito carb and saw no issues. So I bought a Ryobi 30c 4 Stroke trimmer carb from Amazon. I made an intake manifold adapter to trial this out. It worked way better, no black soot. So I took it to the field twice. Both times I had to change plugs to keep in running smooth. At this point I was on my 5th plug! After one of the plug changes the engine ran like a Swiss watch. The lightbulb come on…. My problems were also ignition.
I took it home and ordered a Rcexl ignition from Aliexpress. I was able to install using the universal sensor mount, and drill and tap one additional hole in the crankcase to get 28deg BTDC. I also bought the alignment tool.
Off to the field this Sunday. Beautiful sunny winter day -10C(14F). Six 4-5 minute flights with no issues!!!!!!! Idle good, transition good, high speed good. No dead sticks. Sigh. Finally.
The manifold is a 3/8” ACR copper street 90 silver soldered to a brass plate.
Last edited by RobJD; 01-23-2024 at 05:14 PM.
#1825
My Feedback: (3)
Nice
You are right the FG-20 had ignition problems, you will be better off with the newer ignition you just bought. Keep an eye out for burning up the exhaust valve seat in the head on the FG-20. I went through 3 heads on mine and finally gave up and went to the FG-21 which has pressed in valve seats. Haven't had a single problem and had about 8 gallons on that FG-21 before the cylinder (jug) ears broke off and the engine was junk. The new FG-21 that I just bought in 2023 has an updated head design with a beefier area around the screws that hold the cylinder on to fix this issue.
There are plenty of people I have heard with FG-20s that didn't burn up exhaust valve seats like I did so good luck to you!
There are plenty of people I have heard with FG-20s that didn't burn up exhaust valve seats like I did so good luck to you!
Here is my Saito FG-20 story…
It’s spring 2023 and I just got a NIB Saito FG-20 from a fellow hobbyist. He had bought it a decade ago to go in a Unionville Hobby 8ft Radial Beaver that he never finished. I was very exited to check out a spark ignition gas fired 4 stroke.
After reading all the problems on the Internet forums, I considered selling it as NIB. I was looking for a reliable fuel fired engine for reliable winter flying. So one day I decided to break-in on a test stand and see what happens. I know the internet community has many warning of how difficult they can be to run and tune.
The break-in (per Saito instructions) went surprisingly well. I couldn’t believe how little gas it used, even at a rich setting. I fouled one plug, but otherwise OK. I installed it inverted in my my “beater” SIG Kadet Senior. The first two flights went well, but on my third flight it would not transition to mid or high speed. I played with the carb tuning to no affect. Now at home it would’t run smoothly on the ground. I changed plugs, took to the field a few more times, sometimes I didn’t even get in the air. Then a few days later it would run Ok on the ground. Not consistent. And always black soot coming out of the exhaust.
My assumption was carburetor problems. I dismantled the Saito carb and saw no issues. So I bought a Ryobi 30c 4 Stroke trimmer carb from Amazon. I made an intake manifold adapter to trial this out. It worked way better, no black soot. So I took it to the field twice. Both times I had to change plugs to keep in running smooth. At this point I was on my 5th plug! After one of the plug changes the engine ran like a Swiss watch. The lightbulb come on…. My problems were also ignition.
I took it home and ordered a Rcexl ignition from Aliexpress. I was able to install using the universal sensor mount, and drill and tap one additional hole in the crankcase to get 28deg BTDC. I also bought the alignment tool.
Off to the field this Sunday. Beautiful sunny winter day -10C(14F). Six 4-5 minute flights with no issues!!!!!!! Idle good, transition good, high speed good. No dead sticks. Sigh. Finally.
The manifold is a 3/8” ACR copper street 90 silver soldered to a brass plate.
It’s spring 2023 and I just got a NIB Saito FG-20 from a fellow hobbyist. He had bought it a decade ago to go in a Unionville Hobby 8ft Radial Beaver that he never finished. I was very exited to check out a spark ignition gas fired 4 stroke.
After reading all the problems on the Internet forums, I considered selling it as NIB. I was looking for a reliable fuel fired engine for reliable winter flying. So one day I decided to break-in on a test stand and see what happens. I know the internet community has many warning of how difficult they can be to run and tune.
The break-in (per Saito instructions) went surprisingly well. I couldn’t believe how little gas it used, even at a rich setting. I fouled one plug, but otherwise OK. I installed it inverted in my my “beater” SIG Kadet Senior. The first two flights went well, but on my third flight it would not transition to mid or high speed. I played with the carb tuning to no affect. Now at home it would’t run smoothly on the ground. I changed plugs, took to the field a few more times, sometimes I didn’t even get in the air. Then a few days later it would run Ok on the ground. Not consistent. And always black soot coming out of the exhaust.
My assumption was carburetor problems. I dismantled the Saito carb and saw no issues. So I bought a Ryobi 30c 4 Stroke trimmer carb from Amazon. I made an intake manifold adapter to trial this out. It worked way better, no black soot. So I took it to the field twice. Both times I had to change plugs to keep in running smooth. At this point I was on my 5th plug! After one of the plug changes the engine ran like a Swiss watch. The lightbulb come on…. My problems were also ignition.
I took it home and ordered a Rcexl ignition from Aliexpress. I was able to install using the universal sensor mount, and drill and tap one additional hole in the crankcase to get 28deg BTDC. I also bought the alignment tool.
Off to the field this Sunday. Beautiful sunny winter day -10C(14F). Six 4-5 minute flights with no issues!!!!!!! Idle good, transition good, high speed good. No dead sticks. Sigh. Finally.
The manifold is a 3/8” ACR copper street 90 silver soldered to a brass plate.