background image

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS

The following items are recommended for use with your Magnum XLS 
series aircraft  engine. These items are recommended for initial start-up and 

running. Please read through the Operating Instructions for further details.

Fuel:  

Power Master 15% 2-Stroke Premium Sport Fuel Blend for Break-In 

and for Normal Use

We suggest using Power Master brand fuels. Power Master fuel comes 
in many different nitromethane contents that can be used in your XLS 

series engine. Power Master fuels are blended using only high-quality 

nitromethane,  methanol,  castor  oil  and  synthetic  lubricants  to  provide 
high power output, along with easy starting and unmatched lubricating 

and heat dissipation qualities.

Fuel Tank:

  

Dubro 12oz. Fuel Tank (Product Number 412)

Dubro fuel tanks are a perfect match for your XLS series engine. This 
size recommendation will give you about 10~15 minutes of run-time at full 
throttle. Dubro fuel tanks are possibly the easiest fuel tanks to assemble 
and maintain, and feature a chin at the base of the fuel tank that prevents 
the fuel tubing from kinking when installed in your aircraft.

Glow Plug:

  

Thunderbolt # 3 Glow Plug (Product Number 115559)

The Thunderbolt # 3 glow plug is designed to be used in high-performance 
engines using fuels containing 10%~30% nitro content and in any 
environment. It is a ‘hot’ type of glow plug for easy starting, excellent 
transition and incredible top end. The glow plug is also very durable and 
able to withstand repeated use, day after day.

Propeller:

  APC 10 x 6 Propeller (

Product Number LP10060)

We have found that XLS series engines run best using APC brand props.  

They are designed to be very efficient and run quiet at high rpm’s, and 

they are also durable. Use this size propeller to break in your engine, then 
change to the propeller that best suits your application. Use the guide in 

the Operating Instructions to help you find the right size propeller.

Glow Starter:

 

 Magnum Glow Starter w/Meter  (Product Number 237438)

The Magnum glow starter is an excellent choice for heating the glow plug.  

It uses a Sub-C NiCD, includes a meter to determine the quality of your 

glow plug, and it also includes a charger to recharge the battery.  It’s a 
very economical product to purchase and can be used with any engine 
that uses a glow plug.

Engine mount:

  

Dave Brown Engine Mount (Product Number 4650)

The Dave Brown engine mount is a glass-filled reinforced nylon mount 
that mounts to a plywood firewall in the model. It is lightweight, strong 

and easy to install.

XLS .52A AIRCRAFT ENGINE QUICK-START GUIDE

The following information is provided to get your new Magnum XLS series engine running right away with minimal effort. We have listed our 
recommendations for fuel, propeller, starting procedures and other recommended accessories. Also included is general information about the 

accessories needed for the engine that we hope you will find helpful. 

 

This Quick-Start Guide should not be used as a replacement for the Operating Instructions included; rather, it should be used along with the Operating 
Instructions. We highly recommend reading through the Operating Instructions to familiarize yourself with each part of the engine, along with the 

proper procedures for engine break-in and tuning.

Engine Preparation

q

  1)  Mount the engine to the recommended engine mount. A wood beam 

mount built into the airframe would also be sufficient.

q

  2)  Install the muffler onto the engine using the hardware provided. The 

muffler cone can be rotated to better suit the installation in your model. Be 
sure to tighten the nut securely to prevent the muffler cone from loosening.

q

  3)  Install a glow plug into the cylinder head, making sure to use the 

copper gasket provided with the glow plug.

q

  3)  Install the propeller to the engine using the propeller nut and washer 

provided. Tighten the nut securely using an adjustable wrench.

q

  4)  Connect the fuel lines from the fuel tank to the engine. The fuel 

pick-up line should be connected to the fuel nipple on the carburetor and 

the pressure line should be connected to the pressure nipple on the muffler.

Engine Starting

q

  1)  Carefully turn the high speed needle valve in completely until it stops, 

then turn the needle valve out 2-1/2 turns. This is the mixture setting for 
initial starting.

IMPORTANT

  Do not adjust the low speed needle valve at this time. 

It’s factory-adjusted for the break-in process.

q

  2)  If  hand  starting,  prime  the  engine  by  opening  the  throttle  barrel 

completely, placing your finger over the carburetor opening and flipping 

the  propeller  through  compression  2~3  times.  If  you  will  be  using  an 
electric starter, 

do not

 prime the engine. The starter will turn the engine 

over fast enough to draw fuel on its own.

q

  3)  Connect the glow starter to the glow plug. Open the throttle barrel 

to about 1/4 throttle and start the engine. If you are starting the engine by 

hand, you will need to vigorously flip the propeller several times before 
the engine will start. Once the engine begins running, immediately turn 

the high speed needle valve in about 1/4 turn to keep the engine running. 

q

  4)  Advance  the  throttle  to  full  while  turning  the  high  speed  needle 

valve in to keep the engine running. The engine should be producing a 

very noticeable white exhaust from the muffler and sound like it is running 

rough. Allow the engine to run only for about 5 minutes, then shut the 
engine off.

q

  5)  Now that you have started your engine, it must be properly broken 

in. Proper break-in will seat all of the moving parts, particularly the piston 
and cylinder. This procedure takes about 20~30 minutes of run-time and 
is highly recommended. An engine that is properly broken in will produce 
more power, be more user-friendly and last much longer than an engine 
that  does  not  receive  a  break-in  period.  For  this  reason  we  highly 

recommend following the break-in procedure detailed in the Operating 

Instructions before running the engine further.

QUICK-STARTING PROCEDURES

Summary of Contents for XLS .52A

Page 1: ...tments to the needle valves Do not reach over or around the propeller Do not lean toward the engine Do not wear loose clothing or allow anything to be drawn into the spinning propeller while the engine is running l If you need to carry your model while the engine is running be conscious of the spinning propeller Keep the aircraft pointed away from you and others at all times l Do not use a tight f...

Page 2: ...The idle stop screw holds the throttle barrel in the carburetor body and also adjusts the closure of the throttle barrel We recommend adjusting the idle stop screw to allow the throttle barrel to close completely This will allow you to adjust the idle speed via your transmitter therefore you will need to set up your transmitter throttle trim lever to keep the engine at a low idle when the trim lev...

Page 3: ...sing an electric starter it is not necessary to prime the engine The starter turns the engine over fast enough that the engine draws fuel on its own Priming the engine prior to using an electric starter can cause the engine to hydro lock flood Turning the engine over with an electric starter while the engine is flooded can cause extreme damage to the engine and or cause the propeller assembly to c...

Page 4: ...tachometer this should be between a 200 300 rpm drop q 3 With the engine running at full power carefully lift the nose of the aircraft about 45º into the air The mixture should not become too lean but you may hear a slight increase in rpm If the engine sags or loses rpm when you hold the nose up the mixture is too lean If this is the case slightly richen the mixture and follow the test once more I...

Page 5: ...e you will find helpful This Quick Start Guide should not be used as a replacement for the Operating Instructions included rather it should be used along with the Operating Instructions We highly recommend reading through the Operating Instructions to familiarize yourself with each part of the engine along with the proper procedures for engine break in and tuning Engine Preparation q 1 Mount the e...

Page 6: ...olts 4 Engine does not transition A Failed and or wrong type glow plug A Replace with new recommended glow plug B Old and or wrong type fuel B Replace with new recommended fuel C High speed needle valve set too rich C Set high speed needle valve to leaner setting D Low speed needle valve set too lean D Set low speed needle valve richer E Low speed needle valve set too rich E Set low speed needle v...

Page 7: ...buretor Base O Ring 282412 40845 Low Speed Needle Valve O Ring 282452 46845F High Speed Needle Valve O Ring 282501 91137 Fiber Washer 282608 46837F Idle Stop Screw with Nut 283022 S40801F Carburetor Assembly Complete 283023 S40803F Carburetor and Rear Needle Valve Assemblies 284206 12830 High Speed Needle Valve Seat 284220 S52103X Cylinder Head 284221 S52112 Cylinder Head Gaskets 2 284222 S52203 P...

Page 8: ...DIMENSIONS A 3 3 8 B 3 1 2 C 4 3 4 D 2 7 8 E 3 1 2 F 11 16 G 1 1 8 H 1 7 16 I 1 3 4 J 2 1 16 K 1 1 16 L 1 7 16 M 1 3 4 N 7 16 Use this drawing to help you determine engine mounting requirements Drawing is not to scale and is generic in nature XLS ...

Reviews: