How to keep your engine in good condition and get maximum power

Simple routines can help your engine avoid 99.9% of all common problems that can turn your FLPHG into misery. Here is a list of 10 routines that keep your engine happy:

i) use highest quality 2-stroke oil to mix in the fuel

ii) use ASPEN fuel if available

iii) be careful when you are refuelling so that dirt doesn't come into the fuel tank

iv) disconnect the fuel tank and run the engine after use in order to burn off any fuel left in the pipes and carburator

v) have a GoCart mechanic adjust and/or service the carburator & engine block

vi) check that the decompression valve is operating normally (can be easily done by pulling the cord of the engine pull-start)

vii) if you don't have have pull-start on your engine and have no other way to check the operation of the decompression valve then make sure you clean it regularly

viii) check the various nuts and bolts regularly to make sure that nothing is coming loose

ix) keep your propeller well-balanced so as to minimise vibrations

x) keep track of the engine thrust by measuring it before every flight - there may be small variations due to humidity, air temperature etc but there should not be any big deviations from previous times



Small differences in the output performance of your engine & propeller can have a big effect on the amount of thrust you get out of your Mosquito. Make sure your engine & propeller are in perfect working order so that you get maximum thrust every time you take off. Here are some points to consider:

- The mouth gas and chest regulator should make the carburetor arm touch the stop block so that full gas from the pilot corresponds to full gas for the engine. Both throttle regulators should function perfect. It is very important that the mouth gas functions extra smoothly and without much effort.

- The oil mixed in the fuel should be of the highest quality with 4 to 5% per volume recommended.

- The air filter should be clean of dirt (visible) and oil (not visible) so that air can freely rush into the engine.

- The spark plug should be free of soot and have a dark brown hue to it. The engine should be easy to start and run at the correct air/fuel mixture.

- If you buy a second-hand Mosquito it is recommended to have a specialised mechanic adjust the carburator. Adjustment requires expert knowledge and special equipment. GoCart mechanics will normally adjust the carburator at a minimum cost in terms of money and time.

- The propeller should be well-balanced and rotate with as little vibration as possible (the more a propeller vibrates the less thrust it produces). If in doubt, take your propeller to your local air club for balancing. The Swedish Aerosport fixed composite propeller will typically produce the highest static thrust of all propellers in the market.

- The optimum angle-of-dangle during straight horizontal flight is body position & harness totally parallel to the ground. It causes minimum air friction and maintains the correct thrust vector (engine pushing parallel to the direction of motion). If you find it uncomfortable for your neck to fly totally parallel to the ground then you may lower the motor-end of the harness around 2 to 5 degrees so that your feet are lying a bit lower than your head. Exceeding these angles will reduce the useful thrust of the engine and make take off and climbing more challenging.

- Taking off from sea level / low altitude will be much easier and safer than taking off from a high altitude plateu. If you are new to FLPHG then you should consider doing your first few flights at sea level (in dense air) before attempting to take off in thinner air. Bear in mind that taking off from a high altitude plateu will negativelly affect both engine performance & wing performance.