Saito 2008 FG-20 Owner'S Operating Manual Download Page 7

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  out 2 1/3 turns.
• Idle needle valve: With the throttle
  barrel closed, turn the needle valve all
  the way clockwise and then back out
  4 turns.
• Set the throttle barrel at the fully

closed position before making any
adjustments.

General Operating

Procedures

(to ensure the long life of the engine)
• Do not operate the engine with a

  “lean” mixture.
• Regularly check all screws and nuts
  on both the engine and muffler.
• After 1 to 2 hours of operation,

valve adjustment may be necessary.
Adjust the valves as shown in the

Engine Maintenance and Valve/

Tappet Adjustment Sections.
• The Saito engines are

  equipped with a “breather” nipple.
  It is recommended that a length of
  Tygon-type tubing be attached to this
  crankcase breather nipple and routed
  away from the engine compartment
  so the excess oil can be expelled

outside of the aircraft.

Normal Operation,

Maintenance and

Additional Information

• Be sure to do a range check before
  flying your model. It would be wise
  to do the range check with the engine

running and without it running.

As a simple noise check, after the

engine is started, do the normal

range check your radio manufacturer
recommends. If there is no

  malfunction noted, it is normal.
• Be sure to charge the ignition battery
  and radio system battery before the
  first flight of the day.
• To discharge the waste oil, connect
  a gasoline-proof line from the

  breather nipple on the crankcase and
  vent it outside of the aircraft.
• Lubrication of the piston, connecting
  rod, bearings and cam gear is blow-
  by lubrication, in which the oil in

  the fuel goes into the crankcase from
  the clearance between the cylinder
  and the piston. Engine life is directly
  affected by the property of the fuel/
  oil mix. Please use reliable oil.
• Running the engine too lean causes
  heat; be sure to run the engine

slightly “rich” from peak. Running
too lean will cause “knocking”

  or engine failure and has an adverse
  effect on the connecting rod and the
  cam gear.
• Adjustment of the tappet is

  described in the “Valve/Tappet Gap
  Adjustment” section.
• When attaching an exhaust

pipe to the cylinder or attaching a

  propeller nut, the use of threadlock
  is recommended.
• Sometimes it is helpful to tighten an

T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G G U I D E

N O R M A L O P E R A T I O N A N D M A I N T E N A N C E

exhaust nut, etc. when hot.
• When finished flying for the

  day, be sure to remove fuel from the
  carburetor and the fuel tank.
• If the engine will not be operated

  for a long period of time, remove
  the plug, rear cover, cylinder-head
  cover, etc, clean thoroughly and re-oil.
  Then assemble them in the original
  condition and place in a plastic or air-
  tight container.

Troubleshooting

Guide

If the engine does not start:
• Check and use a new spark plug
if needed.
• Check fuel lines.
• Check for proper mechanical

function by turning the engine over.
• Check that the carburetor is

correctly installed.

Mechanical Faults

If the engine cannot be turned over
easily:
• It is likely that the piston in the

cylinder is seized.
• Visually examine the piston and

crankcase to find the likely cause of
the engine's mechanical problem.

Engine Maintenance

Do not needlessly disassemble your
Saito single-cylinder engine.

If you must disassemble your engine,