Favourite old engines

[brokenenglish]

Posted by Erfolg on 21/04/2014 22:59:59:

For me the trouble with IC moors, is that you need a lot of junk to start them.

Respectfully, that's because you choose to do it that way. I hand start all my engines, from tiny diesels up to a Laser 75 and PAW 60. For the glows, I only use a Gates Cyclon 2V cell. Obviously, one needs to "like engines" and, as you appear to not like the sound, perhaps that isn't your case...

I spend a bit of time setting the engine up on the bench (very enjoyable for an engine lover), before it goes into a model, and there's never a problem. They start in a couple of flicks and far less time than it takes to deploy half a ton of ancillary gear (I agree with you on that!).

As an anecdote, when I purchased my first 4-stroke (mid-eighties), it was being written in the model mags that 4-strokes needed a starter, so I bought one. When I set the engine up on the bench, I gave the prop a casual flick, before using the starter, and it (an OS 20FS) started immediately. Since then, I've acquired another half dozen 4-strokes, and the still brand new starter has never been used...

Finally, I'm not at all against electrics, my flying has improved a lot Thanks to electric foamies!

Edited By brokenenglish on 22/04/2014 06:59:07

[jeff2wings]

Quite right Brokenenglish ,as I said , both the Laser & Merco started on the second flick after being sat for over a year unused

[Erfolg]

Oh dear Martin I keep writing," I must spend more time on my postings to avoid such silly errors", yet they keep appearing, oh, dear, oh dear.

Mr English, I have no issue with IC engines, in not liking them. I do value quite models, I find it even more attractive to use models that do not need cleaning of oil. I find it far more attractive to be able to store models on top of wardrobes, some on spare beds, without incurring the wrath of the better half. Perhaps something that it is often subconsciously recognised, is that electric models make viable some models which would be far to difficult as IC due to vibration, or on twins, where an engine could go out etc.

Possibly the biggest issue though is one of noise, with the public, to many fields have been lost because of noise, far more are denied on the basis of a perceived noise nuisance.

No, I do not dislike IC engines, it is better to be electric, for the models i fly. If i disliked them, I would have dumped them, or sold them on. Instead, every so often, I reminisce.

[ken anderson.]

just aquired these two engines from one our my clubmates......one a ME heron 1cc and the other a DC Bantam 075.cc from the good old days of aero modelling circa 1960's ...dont ask me how i know ... ..

ken anderson...ne....1.....old engines dept.

[ken anderson.]

i forgot to mention in the post above-i need a needle for the bantam,,anyone can help out please get in touch...it must be a common one as the one in the heron fit's both engine's........ or even a whole engine if you want to sell it.... thank's..

 

ken anderson..ne..1.... engine bits reqd dept.

Edited By ken anderson. on 08/08/2015 18:23:13

[Peter Miller]

While not a favourite engine I am currently gloating over a lovely Ohlsson and Rice 23 spark ignition engine that I just picked up for £25.

Now all I need is a coil and condenser etc and I can run it. and even fly it a little.

[Foxfan]

Posted by jeff2wings on 30/11/2013 18:27:58:

Your right about that carb DB ,never got it 100% but I was a inexperienced needle fiddler ( I was only sixteen !) never had a problem setting up my Enya's ,still have a few of them 2&4 stroke

£18 well spent I think,very smooth bearings & loads of compression

only down side is the split prop driver

Very interesting! The one item of Piper production I have never seen mentioned by anyone in the Piper firmament, including those still remaining from the original company or anyone in the Piper Sports and Racing Car Club. I used to own the 3rd Piper ever made, a GTA.

MrTin

[Mark Lubbock]

Probably my favourite engine is the DC Dart, maybe followed by the PAW 249, both foolproof and reliable. I also loved my Fox .19, all of these from my early C/L and FF days.

Later on flying R/C I have a soft spot for the OS 10FSR, light, powerful and reliable like all OS engines. Later still the red Irvine .46, I have 2, have been outstanding, but I believe they are made by OS also?

I do like my little home made diesels, the ML Midge and its derivatives , but then I may be a little biased there!!

 

Edited By Mark Lubbock on 13/08/2015 15:28:11

[Bob Cotsford]

How about least favourite? Mine would be the Frog 80 diesel, I wore grooves in my finger trying to start that POS.

[Engine Doctor]

Posted by Bob Cotsford on 13/08/2015 16:19:18:

How about least favourite? Mine would be the Frog 80 diesel, I wore grooves in my finger trying to start that POS.

Frog 50 could be the same ! or was it us and a lack of technique ? I have read that some of the early Frogs were not the easiest to start but others were really easy . My friend cant start a diesel to save his life and gets really annoyed when me or another mate get it started in a couple of flicks . I did recently have a go at a frog 50 for a friend and couldn't get a pop out of it . I gave up on that one and suggested a dart or ED baby instead . I remember walking quite a distance to Russ models in Battersea Rise SW London because my Merlin wouldn't start only to see them put it in a test stand and start it in a couple of flicks . Its our turn now to show the young -uns how its done .

But they have to show me how to program the phone , tablet, telly etc etc.

[Bob Cotsford]

I used to have FOK (Hungarian) and ED diesels which I could start easily enough, but that Frog was just evil. PAWs - no problem. DC Sabres, Merlins - easy.

That Frog - spawn of the Devil.

I still have one of my old Merco 35s, just for nostalgia. They just never let me down.

[Shaunie]

My favourite engine engine has to be the OS45FSR I bought about 1985. It's got so many miles under its belt it's had a new piston and liner and at least one set of main bearings..it had nearly twenty years in storage and still when I got it out it started about third flick. From any throttle setting about one click off tickover it two strokes right up to WOT and back down, no burbling anywhere in the range. Smooth, easy starting and buckets of power, I'd put in against any modern engine. Must get it back in an airframe soon.

Shaunie.

[jeff2wings]

Deja' vu  or something like that 😄 I was intending to drop a comment in the current thread then I remembered this previous one, from ten years ago 😯 seriously a decade ago !!! And the answer as to what is my favourite? Yes.All of them,the good the bad and the awful, I've always been fascinated by miniature internal combustion engines and the incredible variety of designs for powering models on land ,water and air no wonder my shelves are groaning from the weight of more engines than I will ever have models too put them in 🙂!

But the engines I have designed and made myself or from casting kits and it has most definitely made me appreciate the considerable effort that manufacturers go to just getting one engine on market, never mind a hole range .

10cc o/d

Micron 5cc crankcase machined from solid

diesel conversion Magnum 25

 

Edited October 5, 2024 by jeff2wings

[Merry Mark]

Thanks for restarting this old thread.  
 

Electric has brought about so many great new opportunities but it’s great to still have IC in the mix with all its joys past and present too. 
 

Large or small, I still keep my approach minimal, a trusty 30 year old chicken stick (so many memories in that stick), trusty McDaniel Ni-starter (still available from the US), ‘flagon’ of fuel and some pride In that first start off a prime and back-flick!

 

Still have a love for anything small and OS, the 10 being my favourite. Fond memories of starting small glows and diesels in a vice down in the cellar, 40 years ago!  I know!
 

Do enjoy the 80’s, 90’s Irvines. Nice examples of 36, 39 and 53s etc.