RayTek MiniTemp® Infrared Thermometers

Getting your engine set up and tuned right just got lots easier!

Setting the needles (and pipe) on your R/C helicopter engines has always been an inexact science. No matter how long you've been in the hobby there is only so much you can do using your ears and watching the "smoke" trail. Yet there are few things as important to getting your heli smooth and reliable as a "perfect" engine settting.

If you have ever flown full sized aircraft or messed with high performance cars you are aware that the most reliable and precise way to gauge your setup is by TEMPERATURE. But until now the cost of a good temperature gun has been prohibitive for most of us.

NOT ANY MORE! Now, for under $70 you can own one of these great tools. Made by Raytek, a highly respected name in the industry, these non-contact thermometers allow you to check the temperature by simply pointing the "gun" at whatever you want to check and pressing the trigger. Just point and click. A large, easy to read LCD screen shows you the temperature. As long as you check the same spot from about the same distance each time, you'll always know if your needles are set properly! Now there's NO GUESSING if your engine is running rough because it's too lean or too rich - just check the temperature and you'll KNOW which way to turn the needle!

The Raytek Minitemp is available in two models, the MT2 and the MT4. The only difference is that the MT4 adds a laser pointer so you can be absolutely certain of the spot you are measuring. Both guns are battery powered and have a range from 0 to 500 degrees farenheit. (Perfect for us!) They are accurate to within 2%.

In the photo below John Poulson checks the temperature of the Webra 35 on Kurt Kreiger's Quick 30. The engine is new and not putting out much power. It's also still smoking like crazy. Is it broken in enough to lean it some more? NOPE! The CHT (Cylinder Head Temp) was over 250 degrees. This engine needs more break in before leaning.

John has been using an infrared thermometer for years, on both helis and R/C cars. He prefer's to check the back side of the cylinder, and has learned that optimum power and engine life require a CHT in the 225 to 230 degree range. This is true for most engines, 32 or 60 size. Much cooler and you're spitting out fuel (and money) unnecessarily. Much hotter and your shortening plug and engine life.

You might like to experiment with reading EGT (Exhaust Gas Temp) or checking the backplate or crankcase.

On the OS .61SXH-WC engine, you can actually check both the high and mid needle settings. Just hover and then land and check the temp; after adjusting the midrange go fly at full throttle and then land quickly and check again. If the temp is much higher or lower than after hovering you know immediately which way to turn the needle. The SXH -WC is an anomoly in that it's best to set it for a temp of about 200-210 for smoothest operation.

We are pretty excited about this product. 60 days ago you'd have paid $120 to $160 for these thermometers. Due to lower manufacturing costs the retail price just dropped significantly. We just got two catalogs with selling price of $79.99 for the MT2 unit. (33% lower than the Spring catalog). OUR PRICES ARE MUCH LOWER. Check out the HeliProz online catalog for exact current pricing.

At the new price (especially OUR price) for these guns they are pretty darn affordable. Better yet they will SAVE you money by letting you get better life from your glow plugs and engines - not to mention what you can save by keeping your engine running reliably and thus avoiding "flameout-induce" crashes.

The RayTek Minitemp will save you MORE than money - they will save you all the frustration, wasted time and hair-loss that we have all experienced trying to get our engines set correctly. (It's too late for Kurt and John - but at least they won't lose any more hair over trying to figure out if their engine is too lean or too rich...)

When you order, we may forget to ask if you want the Accessory Kit pictured at right. It's nothing fancy, but the pouch will protect your MiniTemp gun and keep it clean. Probably a good idea to spend the extra couple bucks and order it.

Trust us on this one. Once you have one of these you'll wonder how you ever flew without one!