bebe40

i just bought a great planes Super Stearman kit from my hobby shop.......the owner stopped me on my choice of a OS 1.20, and suggested a Saito 1.50 instead.
OK, but after reading through many many topics here i see that there seems to be a lot of issues with this engine.........mostly, vibration levels.
so i ask, is the Saito 1.50 a GOOD choice for this model?

vettedriver

I started with an OS 1.20 on mine and did not like the performance and upgrated to the Saito 1.50 the plane came alive with the Saito and I would still be flying it, if not for the crank shaft failing in flight. That being said the crank failure I belive was induce by back flipping the prop against compression and receiving kick backs my suggestion to you would be buy the Saito if you have a high powered starter or be willing to invest in one mine is now flying happily with a Moki 1.35.

blw

My Feedback: (3)

A crankshaft failure seems to be very odd and unusual unless prior damage occurred. Most vibration issues are due to the engine not being tuned correctly, and most likely running too rich. Both are good engines, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy the 1.50.

onewasp

I didn't know there were any "unhappy" Saito users--------I've flown 150's 180's and many or the others for a long time.
Vibration is usually the user's fault-----certainly you can bang one around and mess it up----but again it is the user not inherent in the engine design.
Unbalanced props too----again the user.

A bigger engine gives a bigger "bang" but that is why you went bigger -----more power.

If you don't know how to tune that is a different story. But we'll have to assume that you will take the time to do it right. Then it is smooth and easy.

The so called low speed needle is instrumental in the Saito's running characteristics all the way up the scale-------almost to full throttle.

I would say that anyone who stated that Saito 150's are "vibrators" simply doesn't know how to tune one.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

I've been a happy 1.50 owner for 16 years.

JCOKEEFE

My Feedback: (2)

[8D]I bought the first model of the 1.50 and it is an excellent engine, still
running well today. P. S. - I always start it using the "back flip" method,
no electric starter. The secret is in the priming.

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

I"ve used a Saito 1.50 in a 25% AW Edge for years. I've always been happy with it, but when I switched to Powemaster 20/20 YS fuel, it took on a whole new personality -- even better.
Sam

happypappy

My Feedback: (10)

A little different perspective here. I have one on a 1/4 scale clipped wing Taylorcraft and like it alot. Starts and runs great, has plenty of power, etc. A buddy had one and this is where I noticed what you are talking about. The engine was placed in a smaller airframe, not originally designed for that much power. The engine continually shook the plane to the point of repairs. Big engine - not so big plane! Keep that in mind when you put whatever plane together that you plan on putting it in.

bebe40

thank you all for the input.............i knew the posts i was reading had to have something to do with people possibly not understanding the big Saitos.
personally, every Saito up to .100 that i've seen and heard run were flawless, and they are quite a pretty sight in my eye.
so now, i've settled on the 1.50 for my Stearman, but you guessed it, a buddy of mine says "heck," why go the 1.50 when for 30-40 bucks more you can have the 1.80.........fine i said, but do i need more than the 1.50 for this plane?
i'm thinking that the 1.50 will surely have the power to fly the Stearman without being full throttle all the time not to mention fuel economy.
why can't things just be simple...........so now the choice between the 1.50 or 1.80 is haunting me.........i need help on this one.

asmund

Is there a difference in weight between the 150 and 180? Please chime in anyone who knows.
If not, go with the 180. Who knows what will be your next plane, maybe bigger and heavier????

Ken6PPC

The 150 weighs 1 oz. less than the 180.

asmund

I`d go with the 180 then, just a little more weight and more power. I really want a big saito, but here in Norway they are extremely expensive, so I got the ASP 180 fs instead and I am now just waiting for the weather to allow me to maiden my Harrier 100 fitted with that 180 engine. If I could get the Saito from USA without all the taxes and fees my government is charging I would certainly have gotten it in a heartbeat[:@]

bebe40

hmmm, yes the wieght of the 1.50 and 1.80 is close enough so that there is no concern there......................the BIG question now, and i realize that tuning will have an overall effect on this, but is the 1.80 going to be more of a shaker than the 1.50, or are their vibration levels (PROPERLY TUNED OF COURSE) identical?

and(OOPS, this makes 2 BIG questions) i have also read that the 1.80 needs an oscillating pump to run right when inverted in the GP Stearman, whereas the 1.50 does not, so what is the truth on this subject as well?

bebe40

still would like to get answers to my last post.
i'm sorry to be a pest about this, and i was settled on the 1.50 until Asmund posted about the 1.80.

asmund

I am glad to be at help

bebe40

yes you helped, but you give no info as to my questions.[sm=spinnyeyes.gif]
if you are educated on the 1.80, please post your findings.

asmund

I was just kidding, didn`t mean to make you confused as to go 150 or 180, but I would for sure go with the 180 myself.
Your last question is so spesific that I think no-one really knows. I can`t think of one reason why the 180 would need a pump when the 150 doesn`t in the very same installation

Ken6PPC

I have no personal experience with the 1.80. I'd really LIKE to get some though!

I don't think there is any reason the 1.80 would shake more than the 1.50, as long as it is properly tuned. And, of the several Saito 1.80 engines others fly at my local club, I don't think any of them use pumps.

One other thing. When you start to approach 2.0 cubic inch displacement engines, many flyers say it is time to consider gasoline. Those really big dogs are THIRSTY! Gas is much cheaper than glow fuel, but the gas engines are heavier. I have one gasoline engine on a 1/4 scale Cub (converted Homelite trimmer engine), and it seems to run forever on a tiny sip of fuel.

If you can stand the extra weight, gas might be another option for you. Here are some examples:

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...odID=ZENE26AEI

http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/EngDesertDA50.htm#da50

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=SAIEG36

If you can't accomodate the extra weight of a gas engine (and you probably can't for your purposes), either the Saito 1.50 or the 1.80 would be great choices. I really don't think you could make a bad choice between those two.

bebe40

well thank you all for helping me with my decision, mostly with which one after the fact that the 1.80 is only a few bucks more.

and a special thanks to Hobbsy here as he supplied me with a phone number to talk to a gentleman back east who runs both the 1.50 and 1.80. as the gent pointed out in regards to fuel economy, the 1.80 will surely use more fuel, but with it being mounted in a GP Stearman, i surely will be flying at less than full throttle for most of the flight which will give pretty good mileage. but it will sure light up some eyes when the steam is turned on to full