Seamus O'Donnell

Posted by Percy Verance on 16/07/2016 16:06:18: I must admit to being confused here. We now have fakes of copies it seems............. Yes its hard to know what is what now, only thing I can say is none of the DLE30's listed on ebay.co.uk are genuine even the ones that say genuine! but that dosnt say they are a bad engine. I got fed up with the hassle (sent back two) and decided to keep the last one I got and just recently ran it, it started and runs ok on factory settings, idle was very good, if it keeps going without any major issues I will be happy enough. But if I was buying another I would buy the AGM30 why? because it is identical right down to the casting marks of the so called "Genuine" DLE30 I received and the AGM30 is £30-40 cheaper. I stripped my fake DLE30 and confirmed no DLE stamp on conrod one of the fake signs (I am sure they will soon sort that as well). I also stripped my AGM30 at same time and apart from one saying AGM and the other DLE I could'nt tell the difference. My AGM30 runs really sweat especially now it is well run in, I do think I also improved it when I changed the bearings (as I had a nose in impact on tarmac after takeoff when I forgot to fit wing bolts! the impact on the end of the crankshaft damaged the bearings), so I fitted genuine Italian SKF 6002-2RSH & 6001-2RSH bearings in these engines are a chinese NSK

I returned my Fake engine to a Hatfield address which was bought from ebay seller ontone2014, took them a week to refund me. Went looking again and found another ebay listing from seller epoch_2015 showing a genuine DLE30 going by pictures and the Listing even stated in big letters Genuine DLE Engines So I contacted seller, and asked were they genuine and how this price when main dealers charging £220 he said they buy direct from DLE and buy in big bulk so get better price. I then asked him would I get an engine exactly like shown in the pictures in his listing he said yes. So I ordered the engine, Yes as you have guessed it was not a genuine engine and was not same as in the pictures !!! I knew when I seen the box because even that was different to his pictures, the engine shown in the listing had the DLE carb with the black plastic nipple, and you could clearly see as well the machined or better casting of the head. My engine was identical to one I got previous just it better condition, no etched number on ign unit, blank spark plug, stainless screws etc etc. It also dosnt have DLE on conrod. The engine is in fact identical in every single way including casting marks to my AGM30 only difference being when one says AGM30 the other says DLE30, I believe these are made in same factory as AGM they just know by calling them DLE they can get a bit more mark up. When I contacted him he said he wanted pictures and would contact his supplier, (I thought he said he bought direct from DLE) He then said to return engine and guess what the return address was same as the first guy in Hatfield AL10 0BS Unless he sends me a partial refund I will return it and buy an AGM30 they are £40 cheaper for same thing, on conclusion there are no Genuine DLE30's on ebay uk they are all fakes. Now this dos'nt say there is actually anything wrong with the running of this engine, but why pay £158 for a fake when you can get one for £118   Edited By Seamus O'Donnell on 08/11/2015 13:46:37 Edited By Seamus O'Donnell on 08/11/2015 13:48:24

Posted by Justin K. on 16/10/2015 13:37:22: Posted by Rich2 on 16/10/2015 13:24:54: interesting thread **LINK** I may have to get myself a dial gauge.... Yes , it looks like the DLE reject bin doesn't go to the scrap pile but is re badged as AGM. I bought one of the first AGM30 engines after they came out and the owner/manager was activily posting on a thread I think on RCU about these engines and was very keen to help. The Warantee was excellent. What we got from his posts, they were a new company and were going to produce there own engines with the 30 being the first one which was made from same tooling at the DLE30 but they were not selling it as a DLE copy as others but using there own AGM castings, genuine walbro carb and rcexl ign etc New engines have been added since and they also sell a lot of other products like brushless motors, esc's servos, props etc all with there own branding so a different type of company that is selling stuff pretending to be the genuine manufacturer. My AGM30 engine has been excellent from the start and I wouldnt think twice about getting another, but as I mentioned I want to get a "real" DLE to see if it was in fact any different, but not prepared to pay £225 from main dealers, I could get two AGM30's for that.

I paid about £159 it was actually bit more than another seller but this guys pictures etc had all the correct info ans as a seller myself I know it strictly against ebay policy to sell items that don't match description wether thay are genuine or not so surprised they were using different pictures. One of the many sellers on ebay that are too lazy to get there camera out or just purposely trying to con buyers

Yes I have asked for refund as I said if I wanted a fake I would buy a AGM30 I know what they are like plus they are £40 cheaper !

Yes I had an idea they probably produced there own instructions it was more to mention the pictures contained in it are showing the genuine engine

Just got a reply from my ebay seller ontone2104 and says they have been dealing with DLE engines for many years, the corrosion is because the environment is a little wet, so some engines may be rusty! no mention at all about my claims it is a fake engine, If this engine was actually supplied by DLE engines I dont think I would deal with them either, the AGM30 is a far better presented and finished engine.

No etched number on ignition unit and my instructions are like ones posted but they are the easiest thing to copy, I am fairly happy mine is a complete fake. There is another website which seems to be USA distributor they have a completely different set of instructions for the DLE30 actually a proper set of instructions 24 pages all the pictures in that show the correct engine with black plastic nipple DLE carb etc **LINK**

I received my DLE30 today from a seller on ebay called ontone2014 after doing loads of research into all these copies and convinced myself his were genuine and the pictures shown on his listing are a genuine engine, but alas I dint get an engine that even matched these photos ! a big ebay breach there for a start. But apart from that, my engine looks used, not just run, black staining on front casing and lots of greenish corrosion between fins etc, The engine has stainless screws, brass nipple on carb, blank spark plug, Rcexl on plug cap If I wanted a fake DLE I would have bought a AGM30 which I have one of already and pleased with it for much less money, I just wanted a DLE this time to have a real comparison before I buy two more for a twin.   Edited By Seamus O'Donnell on 15/10/2015 20:48:40

One thing concerns me about all these engines being fake is the price, one seller is charging on ebay £155 for the DLE30 the genuine dealers cost is £225. With ebay/paypal fees approx 15% vat at 20% and even if you worked on a small margin of 10% that makes the cost of the engine about £105 if we said 20% margin which is more realistic you are looking at engine cost value of approx £95 I doubt very much if the official dealers are buying them at that price and I would be on streight away to DLE and asking how can you sell to ebay sellers for that price and charge me more being an offical dealer. So safe to assume I think any DLE30 engine less than about £180 on ebay is a fake. and the same for other size of engines.