I have 3 DLE engines, a 55, 30, and 20. The 55 and 30 run great. I've had no trouble starting and setting the high and low needle valves on them.

The 20 is giving me fits. It initially set up okay and ran well for about an hour total time(7 or 8 flights). Then it began to quit on me, sometimes in the air when power was pulled back to idle and sometimes just about at touchdown during a landing.

Then it began to quit on me about 15 seconds or so after it was starting up and running at about 4000 rpm (warm up phase). When the engine quits, it does so abruptly, just as if you turned off the ignition. It doesn't slow down before quitting or speed up, it just simply stops.

Once the engine quits, it will not restart even if putting the choke on. The only way I can get it to start is by removing the spark plug for a few seconds. Once the plug is reinserted, the engine starts instantly on a hand flip. When I take the plug out I turn the engine so any fuel in the chamber will pour out. There is never any fuel coming out even while spinning the prop (by hand) while the plug is out. The spark plug (CM-6) looks moist though.


I have reset both needles to 1.5 turns out to attempt a fresh tuning. The high end sets nicely but the low end usually quits on me before it can be adjusted.

I'm pretty sure the problem is with the low speed needle but I can't seem to get it set.

Once the engine quits, it back to pulling the plug to get it to start again. I don't know why but removing the plug does something that allows the engine to restart instantly on a simple hand flip.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Mike 48