Need help with a DLE35

[-Rick-]

I will put this out here, where all the cool guys are. (and the guys I trust with gas motors)
I need help, I am the only person around here that runs gas, most in the Owen Sound area fly electric so unusually I have to work through these problems on my own. I plan on going to my first IMAC contest next weekend and I can’t get the motor I need to use running consistently.

The motor is a DLE 35ra on a canister. I have a bowman ring on it and have done the reed mod to it. Running a 20x8 carbon prop. 40 to 1 mix. Maybe 4 gallons through it. Timing set at 26 degrees. This motor has been a PITA since day one but worse now.

Before this I could get this motor to run fairly consistently, not great but flyable. Sorta reliable.

But now it will start the first of the day and run the way it was meant to, after warming up, idles at 1600-1700. WOT at 6700-6800. Good throttle response. About five minutes into running it starts to run like its trying to flood itself out, loses the idle. Throttle response gone. Have to bring the trim to max to get it to idle and even then it still try’s to quit. I have to bring it down and land. This is with cowl on, cowl off, in the air, on the ground. I do have the cowl baffled, the motor does not seem to be to hot. The needles are at 1 ¼ low and 1 ½ high but have tried every needle setting in the book trying to keep it running! When I try to restart it, it floods itself out every time. I have to pinch off the fuel line and flip till it starts again and burns off the extra fuel. Took the carb apart at the field and checked it out, couldn’t see anything wrong. I checked the fuel lines and couldn’t find any problems, no air leaks. Same for the tank.

I know its hard to diagnosis just by words but…

I’m lost, ideas?

[Bhughes]

Have you used a temp gun on the motor as soon as you land that see what the temps are. If it idles and slowy starts to bog down its probably too rich. That's what it seems like to me.

[-Rick-]

Have you used a temp gun on the motor as soon as you land that see what the temps are. If it idles and slowy starts to bog down its probably too rich. That's what it seems like to me.

When its first started it will happily sit there and idle for a good minute. After its been run for 5 minutes or so it won't idle at all.

[Bhughes]

Well two options richen a bit and fly in case it's over heating. If it's worse then you go the other way and lean it out. To my knowledge that's what I would attempt first

[-Rick-]

Well two options richen a bit and fly in case it's over heating. If it's worse then you go the other way and lean it out. To my knowledge that's what I would attempt first

You are right about being to rich, just pulled the plug and it is black. I put in a new plug with slightly less gap. So.. all new lines now, all motor bolts checked, tank rebuilt. Will get some new fresh fuel on Tuesday and try again!!

But I'm still concerned about why it would be flooding itself out?!?!

[Bhughes]

When rich it seems to take a bit to load the motor up. I only have three summers with gas so take my word with a grain of salt lol. If it's that rich guess try a little leaner one width of a screw driver at a time.

[-Rick-]

Believe me Brodie, I was making all the moves slow at first. But once I started to get frustrated the turns got bigger!!! Guess the best way to learn about these things is to have problems with em. Now I wonder if my ignition battery is dying?! I'll cycle it and see what I get. This is just a strange problem for me! And just when I need it to run well!!

P.S. If you could see my baffling you wouldn't worry about over heating the motor. I did it right.

[Bhughes]

What are you using for an ign batt I think your right it could be the culprit. I only use life packs. Nimh have failed me to much.

[tbrum]

Sounds like a fuel issue to me!

Rick.. If you were to shut it down for 5min and restart it, would it behave the same where it runs great and then goes rich or would it go right to a feeling of being rich? Also, have you taken the carb apart at all? I've seen dirt in the screen inside the carb make a motor behave very weird and have seen the tuning appear to change inflight or between runs.

Where are your needles set? You don't by chance have them adjusted where the high speed is screwed right in (lean) and the low screwed way out (rich)?

Just throwing out ideas.

[-Rick-]

What are you using for an ign batt I think your right it could be the culprit. I only use life packs. Nimh have failed me to much.

Yes I'm using a Nimh pack, 5 cell, for ignition. Is it save to put a Y on my life pack to power both Rx and ignition? Or am I asking for problems? I do have a extra Life pack but will a DLE ignition take 6.6 volts?