Setting Mixture Using Head Temperature

[archiebald]

Hi,
I have just got my 8 year old Kyosho Nexus Legato out of storage. I nearly started flying with it when new but then an overseas move and a baby put an end to flying for so long. Now I am just starting out as a beginner with this antique.

Yes, I know from everything i subsequently read that this heli is (was) a dog but it is all I have right now and for initial hover practise it will have to do until I replace it with a Sceadu or Raptor.

Anyhow, on to the point of the message. Because this heli uses an OS52 four stroke engine, the mixture setting is more difficult (accoridng to Kyosho) so they recommend fitting an MIP onboard temperature gage http://www.rcnitro.com/rn/articles/temp_gauge.asp.

Just yesterday I was setting up the hover after a carb rebuild and the gage helped me enormously. Kyosho recommend 130 to 150C head temperature. My location is difficult in that I am at 750m altitude and the air temp was 32C. So I started with the mixture obviously too rich so the heli won"t lift off at full throttle and sure enough the head is way down at 80C. Gradually tweaked in the fast needle and try again, the temperature went up about 10degC for every 20degrees of needle.

As the head temp approached 130degC, she was lifting and hovering but sluggish. At 140C it was like someone had turned on a turbo switch.

Excellent.

I know you can get infra-red hand helds but having the ability to see the temperature so easilywithout having to aim a sensor at the correct spot was invaluable.