Saito 170R3 with CH ignition
 

My buddy and I have Saito 170R3s with CH ignitions attached.

We ran one up today and what a great option. It ain't cheap but what a difference.

Could not believe how low the slow the low end is. Didn't have a tach but it is amazing.

If you have one of these engines go for it.

Re: Saito 170R3 with CH ignition
 

Yup, I put a RCexl ignition onto a well used 170R3 and it’s tick over nice and slow. Gained a few hundred RPM on the top and found it easier to tune as well.

Not to hard to do yourself if so inclined. I fabbed the ignition mount brackets out of some aluminum sheet, and 3D printed the magnet ring.

Re: Saito 170R3 with CH ignition
 

I had a Saito 270 on C&H Richard. Just ran perfect. Idle was sick!

Bill

Re: Saito 170R3 with CH ignition
 

What did it cost?

Are you running glow fuel or gas?

Re: Saito 170R3 with CH ignition
 

Yeah with ignition there is nothing stopping you from going the extra step and running gas. unless of course the slight power loss would be a concern ..

Re: Saito 170R3 with CH ignition
 

When I first put the ignition on my 170R3, I did run it off gasoline, but then the master rod siezed to the crank pin. Saito uses high silicon aluminum for conrod a with no bearing/bushing material, so they don’t have a lot of tolerance for the lower oil (I was running 20:1, might have tolerated 15:1 better). But, I mostly blame the seizure on the previous owner, as there was signs of previous damage on the engine, part of which was causing oil loss around the cylinders.

I ended up making a new master conrod (with an added bronze bushing) on my CNC mill. I ran some more gasoline through the 170R3 with the new rod, but results were not inspiring, definitely a fair power loss (15-20%). Given the low power-to-weight of the heavy 170R3 (compared to the 200R3/FG-33R3), I’d only go gasoline on a slow scale flyer. I similarly converted an ASP 400-R5 to gasoline and have been flying that on the front of a Stearman with good results. Not fast, but what draggy, wired bipe is…

When I put the 170R3 on an airframe in the future, I might run 0-5% methanol with ignition, should give me tolerable balance of power and fuel cost.

Re: Saito 170R3 with CH ignition
 

Thanks for that! I have a NIB 170R3 and a bench run only one so I will stick with glow fuel for the better lube.

Re: Saito 170R3 with CH ignition
 

Yeah your quite right the 170 is already on the heavy side at 2 1/2 lbs plus ignition for the size of plane it can fly .

Re: Saito 170R3 with CH ignition
 

Scale planes that had a radial engine. Sopwith Pup/Camel/Snipe, Stearman, Fokker DR1 etc. is where they belong. About 1/4 scale.

Re: Saito 170R3 with CH ignition
 

I am sticking with glow fuel. I bought two gallons of Sig Klotz oil and a bunch of methyl hydrate. Going to mix it at 20% oil. Not looking for a lot of speed.