Clarence Lee’s Blog

Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Clarence Lee’s Blog

Using mufflers during break-in

Oct 25, 2011 Comments Off on Using mufflers during break-in

 Clarence, Is it safe to use a muffler when breaking in a lapped piston engine? I have some nostalgia-legal K&B Greenheads and Johnsons (.15 to .32) that I plan to use in NOS free flight. A couple of them (the Johnsons) are still a little tight and may need additional running with castor-based fuel before mounting but […]

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ENYA’s 180X-GS Gas/Glow Engine– A closer look

Oct 12, 2011 4 Comments

“Engine Clinic” columnist Clarence Lee shares news about this intriguing new powerplant in his upcoming column; here’s a sneak peek! During and following WW II, I spent seven and a half years as an Army Air Corps/Force pilot. During this period I had the occasion to fly a variety of multi-engine aircraft. Many of the […]

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Accident with back-firing 4-stroke

Aug 30, 2011 4 Comments

Q: Greetings Mr. Lee, I am addressing this to you because I know that a lot of folks read your column, you are most knowledgeable on engines. Late  last October I was starting a new 4 cycle, 1.50 engine for the first time. I had a high quality aluminum spinner attached with the standard adapter […]

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Fuel feed issues

Aug 23, 2011 Comments Off on Fuel feed issues

Q: Clarence, thanks for this forum. When the magazine shows up, it is the first thing I look for to read. My question is this: If you have a fuel feed problem caused by a low tank position will remounting the remote needle valve to a lower position solve it, or is the tank position […]

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Throwing a prop

Aug 19, 2011 Comments Off on Throwing a prop

Q: I have started the Thunder Tiger 91 mounted in the plane and amhaving troubles. With three different plugs tried (Two F types and one Fox Miracle Plug) and three different brands of 15% 4 stoke fuels being used, the motor dies when glow driver is removed and motor likes to kick the prop loose […]

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Engine won’t run?

Aug 16, 2011 1 Comment

Q: I talked to a very nice lady at Air Age and she gave me your name and said, ” he can fix any engine and if he can’t Clarence Lee could give you the answer you are needing.” So here is the question, my new ASP .12 will start and run full throttle and […]

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Low tank position and fuel draw

Jul 21, 2011 Comments Off on Low tank position and fuel draw

Q: Clarence, thanks for this forum. When the magazine shows up, it is the first thing I look for to read. My question is this: If you have a fuel feed problem caused by a low tank position will remounting the remote needle valve to a lower position solve it, or is the tank position […]

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Engine Shutdown Procedure

Jul 12, 2011 Comments Off on Engine Shutdown Procedure

Q: I have an O.S 81 FS & 110 FS with the closed crankcase–no external vent or nipple. What advice can you give me for shutting down after each flying session? It is not practical to remove the glo plug each day to load after run oil. The aluminum head & steel threads on the glo plug — […]

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Engine cleaning: DON’T use this product!

Jul 07, 2011 3 Comments

Q: I have a 180 Saito that I ran for a 1/2 gallon of fuel and decided to go with a larger engine. It had some brown residue around the muffler port, thinking I would clean it up I sprayed oven cleaner on it. Now it is a dull gray and looks 100 years old. My […]

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O.S. Needle-valve replacement

Jun 23, 2011 2 Comments

  With regards to the O.S. pumper engines, I have the original series O.S. 120 surpass with pump and c12 carb. this engine was recently involved in a dispute with the ground about 40 yards from the runway, and well, the plane lost the argument. But the engine survived, kind of. The needle broke off along […]

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Gas engines & after-run oil

Jun 23, 2011 1 Comment

Q: I own a Ge20 ei (Zenoah G200PU) gas engine, model X374320000.  I ran it a few times and it was OK.  Then I set it aside for 6-8 months and then it would not run. I discovered that the carburetor fuel metering/diaphragm was no longer flexible.  So I got a repair kit and replaced […]

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Counter-rotating props

Jun 13, 2011 1 Comment

Hi, I have a question regarding 2-stoke model aircraft engines,  and multi engine aircarft. Can 2-stroke engine be made to run ccw and just reverse the mounting of the prop? Why do I ask?…aircraft like the P-38 had counter rotating engines, which I assume was to counter the two engine’s torque. Also, why wasn’t this application used in more […]

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clarencel

About the author

World-famous model airplane engine expert, he first started writing his “Engine Clinic” column in 1969. He built his first model at the age of 7 and he started flying powered model aircraft in 1937. Clarence became interested in RC in 1956 and designed and built his first Lee .45 RC engine in 1959. His vast knowledge has made him one of the hobby’s most valuable assets.

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