Debra
04-27-2007, 05:05 PM
Clarence,
I have been appreciative of your column and advice for so many years. You say it as it is. Here is a question that needs a straight answer that has been too elusive for the experts in my club here in Palm Beach Florida.
After reading your input on the Davis Diesel conversion and all the benefits that stem from moving away from glow, I'm looking for the reasons why Diesel never took hold. Nobody has a good word and nobody is using Diesel. Everyone says it's a waste of time and the motor won't run worth a darn.
Can you shed some light on this for me? I build military scale and love the possibility of turning a larger prop than the two stroke I use calls for.
Thank you for your time and help.
N.
Dear N,
Although Diesels have been popular in Europe, mainly due to the price and availability of nitromethane, they have never taken hold in the U.S. Probably for two main reasons - they are more complicated to adjust properly and the burning exhaust gas stinks. The smell of burning kerosene and ether can make many people nauseous. Once on your clothes it is hard to wash out, and can really stink up your car and shop.' I hate to run a diesel as my test stand stinks of ether for months.
You also have a compression adjustment and needle valve to contend with. The compression adjustment has to be turned in until the engine fires, then backed out as the engine warms up until it is running smoothly. Then the needlevalve adjusted for maximum power. Adjustment of the needlevalve interacts with the compression which has to be readjusted. Operating a glow engine is considerably easier.
Clarence Lee
I have been appreciative of your column and advice for so many years. You say it as it is. Here is a question that needs a straight answer that has been too elusive for the experts in my club here in Palm Beach Florida.
After reading your input on the Davis Diesel conversion and all the benefits that stem from moving away from glow, I'm looking for the reasons why Diesel never took hold. Nobody has a good word and nobody is using Diesel. Everyone says it's a waste of time and the motor won't run worth a darn.
Can you shed some light on this for me? I build military scale and love the possibility of turning a larger prop than the two stroke I use calls for.
Thank you for your time and help.
N.
Dear N,
Although Diesels have been popular in Europe, mainly due to the price and availability of nitromethane, they have never taken hold in the U.S. Probably for two main reasons - they are more complicated to adjust properly and the burning exhaust gas stinks. The smell of burning kerosene and ether can make many people nauseous. Once on your clothes it is hard to wash out, and can really stink up your car and shop.' I hate to run a diesel as my test stand stinks of ether for months.
You also have a compression adjustment and needle valve to contend with. The compression adjustment has to be turned in until the engine fires, then backed out as the engine warms up until it is running smoothly. Then the needlevalve adjusted for maximum power. Adjustment of the needlevalve interacts with the compression which has to be readjusted. Operating a glow engine is considerably easier.
Clarence Lee