AtomicFlyer
50cc
DLE-30 Dies When Inverted *FIXED*
Edit: The problem was fixed with a new carb. See post #51. Thanks.
Hey Guys.
My DLE-30 dies when inverted. I'm hoping someone might see something that is causing my problem.
The Facts:
-This is my first gasser. I bought the DLE-30 new a couple months ago.
-I've put about 3/4 of a gallon through the engine. I'm using Redline synthetic mixed at 32:1
The Good:
-It starts very easily and idles nicely. It has fine transition to full throttle.
-I can do loops, rolls, snap rolls and upright harriers just fine. Upright, the DLE does everything I ask it to.
The Bad:
-When I roll inverted, the engine dies. Sometimes it dies within 5 seconds. Sometimes it takes 30 seconds or more to die. Occasionally I can get more than a minute of inverted figure 8s, but it eventually dies.
-This has happened since the engine was new.
-Today I tried a bunch of different things, took off, rolled inverted, and waited. I had to do about 6 dead stick landings.
What I've tried:
-Before I started the engine the first time I did the reed block sanding modification.
-I've re-plumbed the gas tank 3 times. I'm using a 3 line tank and I'm quite confident that the Walbro felt clunk is moving freely.
-I recently did the carb equalization mod using the film canister.
-I've tried various high speed needle valve settings including running rich enough to have quite a bit of burbling at high speed upright level flight.
What has worked:
-Today, at the suggestion of one of my club-mates, I inverted the fuel tank in the plane. I actually got more than a minute of inverted fight. I pushed out of inverted in a half outside loop to upright and the engine died at the top.
-My club-mate is convinced that proves it's something in the tank, but I'm not convinced.
What I'm going to try:
-The only thing I can think to change right now is the gas tank. I bought a Fiji water bottle and I'm planning to build a tank using a PSP cap.
What I've researched:
-I've read a dozen or so posts on various forums about others that have this issue. The general consensus there seems to be to do the carb equalization mod and to richen the high speed needle valve.
I'm hoping to get this issue resolved because I like the ease, flight time, and noise of the gas engine. But I like to fly inverted for long periods so I need to resolve this or find another power plant.
Please have a look at some of my photos and let me know if you see anything wrong.
Thanks in advance,
Marc
This is the fitting I soldered on for the carb equalization
This is the film canister on the other end of the carb equalization line
This is the tank as mounted in the plane
These are the tank inlet lines
This is a closeup of the stopper
This is a closeup of the clunks (pickup and fill/drain)
This is the tank with internal plumbing removed
Edit: The problem was fixed with a new carb. See post #51. Thanks.
Hey Guys.
My DLE-30 dies when inverted. I'm hoping someone might see something that is causing my problem.
The Facts:
-This is my first gasser. I bought the DLE-30 new a couple months ago.
-I've put about 3/4 of a gallon through the engine. I'm using Redline synthetic mixed at 32:1
The Good:
-It starts very easily and idles nicely. It has fine transition to full throttle.
-I can do loops, rolls, snap rolls and upright harriers just fine. Upright, the DLE does everything I ask it to.
The Bad:
-When I roll inverted, the engine dies. Sometimes it dies within 5 seconds. Sometimes it takes 30 seconds or more to die. Occasionally I can get more than a minute of inverted figure 8s, but it eventually dies.
-This has happened since the engine was new.
-Today I tried a bunch of different things, took off, rolled inverted, and waited. I had to do about 6 dead stick landings.
What I've tried:
-Before I started the engine the first time I did the reed block sanding modification.
-I've re-plumbed the gas tank 3 times. I'm using a 3 line tank and I'm quite confident that the Walbro felt clunk is moving freely.
-I recently did the carb equalization mod using the film canister.
-I've tried various high speed needle valve settings including running rich enough to have quite a bit of burbling at high speed upright level flight.
What has worked:
-Today, at the suggestion of one of my club-mates, I inverted the fuel tank in the plane. I actually got more than a minute of inverted fight. I pushed out of inverted in a half outside loop to upright and the engine died at the top.
-My club-mate is convinced that proves it's something in the tank, but I'm not convinced.
What I'm going to try:
-The only thing I can think to change right now is the gas tank. I bought a Fiji water bottle and I'm planning to build a tank using a PSP cap.
What I've researched:
-I've read a dozen or so posts on various forums about others that have this issue. The general consensus there seems to be to do the carb equalization mod and to richen the high speed needle valve.
I'm hoping to get this issue resolved because I like the ease, flight time, and noise of the gas engine. But I like to fly inverted for long periods so I need to resolve this or find another power plant.
Please have a look at some of my photos and let me know if you see anything wrong.
Thanks in advance,
Marc
This is the fitting I soldered on for the carb equalization
This is the film canister on the other end of the carb equalization line
This is the tank as mounted in the plane
These are the tank inlet lines
This is a closeup of the stopper
This is a closeup of the clunks (pickup and fill/drain)
This is the tank with internal plumbing removed
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