Eagler's Nest

Engines => 2 Cylinder => 1/2 vw => Topic started by: Gary Buscombe on November 01, 2026, 09:37:56 AM

Title: Poor performance
Post by: Gary Buscombe on November 01, 2026, 09:37:56 AM

My pilot friend & mechanic test flew LEXL with 45hp Casler engine; said it wouldn’t climb more than 50-100 ft per minute.
Shouldn’t it climb 500-600 rpm at 700’ elevation in Oklahoma?

Title: Re: Poor performance
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on November 02, 2026, 05:04:45 AM

Yep. Could be many things including prop.

Title: Re: Poor performance
Post by: Gary Buscombe on November 02, 2026, 05:43:06 AM

He is checking this week the twin Mikuni carbs; the valve lash was fixed. The plugs were sooty.

Title: Re: Poor performance
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on November 02, 2026, 01:34:51 PM

I run VWs at ,005 intake and .07 ex.
About all sooty plugs tell you is idle mixture. To find out what it's doing at cruise, you need to cut the plug away and look at the insulator. It should have a brown ring where the insulator flares out into the shell about 1/8" wide.