Part 3: Installing the engine in an RC airplane

page text This is a brief overview with pictures showing you how a gas powered engine is installed in an RC airplane. This is part of a tutorial on how to build an RC airplane. If you have come to this page directly from a search engine you can start the tutorial from the beginning here if you want: Tutorial starts here

Note: At the bottom of this page I have a video showing you this process.

Of all the different parts of assembling an airplane putting in the engine is probably the easiest! Yup, it is very easy and it doesn't take long. Maybe 15 minutes. Being the most important part of the whole process it is also the best engineered and the RC companies have done all the work for you.

This is pretty much how it goes:

1. Bolt the engine into place with four screws

2. Connect the Gas and muffler hoses

3. Attach the propellor and nose cone

4. attach any controls like the throttle

That's about it. There are variations with different planes and different sizes of engines but it is still a pretty easy process so let's take a look.

Some things to think about ahead of time.

There are of course lots of different types and sizes of airplanes and there are lots of different types and sizes of engines. So, make sure you read the documentation for both to ensure they are compatible

USe threadlocker

It is extremely important that you use threadlocker on the parts of the plane and parts of the engine that are recommended for it. Threadlocker also called Loctite© is a liquid that keeps the bolt and nut locked together so they don't slip or get loose. It is temporary which means you can remove it when you want to. Because you are running an engine there will be a lot of vibration and I mean a lot of vibration. It will be real easy to loosen up those screws which could prove disastrous for your plane. So spend a couple of dollars and get yourself the smallest bottle of threadlocker that you can find. It will go a very long way.

The engine mount

This picture gives you a real good look at whats going on inside here. You can see the metallic engine mount and it is pre-installed at the factory. You simply will bolt the engine down to this with four bolts. You can see three of the bolt holes and the fourth bolt hole is hidden by the fuel hose.

And after that you hook one hose up to the carb and the other hose to the muffler. And you can see the control rod with a white plastic piece on the end of it? This is our throttle that was hooked up to a servo. We just hook that up to the throttle of the engine.

the muffler gasket

You will probably also have to connect the muffler to the engine. Just two screws. But there is a little gasket that goes on there so don't forget to put that on before attaching the muffler. The arrow shows the teal colored gasket.

Now its a matter of installing the spinner and nose cone assembly. This is a pretty straight forward process and the engine will come with complete instructions. There are a few different parts and variations from engine to engine and spinner to spinner.

Connect throttle linkage

Now we connect the throttle linkage. The blue thing is the throttle and the arrow shows how our linkage connects toward the bottom. Easy to do this, it just snaps on.

Eingine installation is complete

And that's it. The engine installation is complete.

Not a whole lot to it.

Remember to always exactly follow the manufacturers assembly procedure.

Now that we have the plane completely built there are still some things we need to do to prepare it for flight

RESOURCES AND MORE

Evolution Trainer Power System: A (This is the exact engine you see in this tutorial. I purchased this from Amazon.com)

If you're just getting started in the hobby or you're planning to teach a new pilot, count on Evolution's unique Trainer Power System for the most beginner-friendly starting on the planet. It's so convenient and easy to use that we include one in every Hangar 9 trainer. Everything you need comes in one convenient, affordable unit. Engine, spinner, prop, glow plug - it's all there and designed specifically to get a beginner pilot into the air quickly and easily. Just 2 or 3 flips of the prop, and it's running smoothly and quietly.

Solo Star Trainer ARF,Value Series (This is the exact plane I purchased from Amazon and used for this tutorial)

What could be better than an easy-to-build, inexpensive .40 size ARF Trainer? How about a choice of trim schemes to go along with it? With a Hangar 9 Solo Series Trainer, not only do you get quality balsa construction and all the necessary hardware needed to assemble the kit, you get to choose from one of two great looking trim schemes, too!

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