20GX2 20cc (1.20 cu. in.) Gas Engine with Pumped Carb Manual
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High-Speed Needle Adjustment
Because of the small amount of fuel actually needed for this engine, needle adjustments need 
to be made in small increments. It may take 5 seconds or more before you will notice a running 
change in your engine after making it. Be patient. Use a tachometer, this is a very important 
part of properly setting your high-speed needle valve.
The procedure below is for ground setting the needles prior to flight. The final adjustments need 
to be made after noting the performance in the air.
1.  With the engine started and warmed up, 
open the throttle fully and note the rpm. 
Listen to the engine. 
a.  If the engine occasionally mis-fires but 
maintains a fairly constant rpm after 5 
seconds, your engine is rich. Reduce the 
throttle to idle and turn in (clockwise) the 
high-speed needle 2 clicks. Repeat this 
until the engine stops mis-firing.
b.  If the engine does not mis-fire and the 
rpm steadily decreases from the highest 
rpm achieved when you opened the 
throttle, it is lean. Reduce the throttle 
to idle and open (counterclockwise) 
the high-speed needle 2 clicks. Repeat 
this until the engine maintains the rpm 
achieved when the throttle is wide open 
Your goal here is to achieve a good 
transition between high and low speed, 
and that the high-speed rpm will be 
steady on the ground. 
2. Fly your aircraft for the in-air testing.
a.  During flight, if the engine seems to slow 
down or sag when climbing, your engine 
is running slightly lean. Land the 
airplane and open the high-speed needle 
valve 2 clicks and take-off again.
b.  During flight, if you hear the engine mis-
firing occasionally in level flight, this is an 
indication it is running too rich. Land the 
airplane and close the high-speed needle 
valve 2 clicks and take-off again.
c.   Repeat the above process until your 
engine performance is steady and 
repeatable. This high-speed needle 
setting should not change more than 
+/– 1–2 clicks in the future when using 
the same propeller. If it does, something 
is wrong in the fuel delivery system and 
should be investigated.
If you are using onboard telemetry and have 
a temperature monitor on the head of your 
engine, your readings should be between 
200°F (93°C) and 270°F (132°C). If you see 
consistent temperatures above 280°F (138°C)
you should land your airplane and add baffling 
to your cowl in order to increase cooling to 
the engine. See the Telemetry section for 
information on the proper positioning of your 
sensor.










