Texaco questions

Well it has been 25+ years since I started or ran an .049 or any RC engine for that matter. Today I started my new Texaco. The sweet smell of 1/2A exhaust! Forgot how good it smells. I bought a fuel bulb, some spring starters, a Texaco, a few other items and a battery pack with clip from Cox.ca. The Texaco I started today was bought off the big auction site and is an Estes era Texaco.

At first I had problems getting it started and any rpm, then I saw a bubble around the glow head. Checked and head was loose. Tighten up the head, primed and it fired right up. I am using Sig Champion 25 with 10% synthetic and 10% castor oil. Prop is a Master Airscrew 7x3. RPM was 10,080. The needle valve does not seem very sensitive, as it is hard to find a real peak, so I ran it pretty rich. I had the engine starting backwards about 60% of the time.

I put the spring starter on and the plastic piece over the drive plate and used that to start the engine. No more starting in reverse! The needle valve still doesn't appear to be sensitive at all. 1/2 turn either way and no noticeable change. I have 10 tanks through it now. It still hesitates for a brief bit here and there. When I tip the engine up at 45 degrees it stays constant. I am still getting a little over 10,000 rpm with the Master Airscrew 7x3. According to the specs. that is good. Instructions say 9100 to 9600 with a 7x3.5. I also have some original Cox competition 8x3 props that I can try.

I hope this has enough oomph for a 16 ounce Ace Whizard.

Any suggestions on anything I am doing wrong or should try?