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Laser engines - the state of play following their closure


Ron Gray
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  • 5 weeks later...

Just for info i got the call yesterday to get started sorting out the inline update today so that is WIP for those who are waiting. I have also worked out procedure for those wanting to have a go themselves. 

 

I do appreciate that all are frustrated by the long delay, but i have seen some comments about the place which have somewhat grated my cheese. It should be remembered that i am under no obligation to do any of this work and i do it only as i feel its the right thing to do. If i continue to see derogatory comments i will simply wash my hands of the whole thing. 

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Many thanks for the update Jon, it is very much appreciated.

 

I think the biggest issue a lot of people have had, including me, was a complete lack of communication from your old employers.

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Thanks for your continued support Jon, as you say you are under no obligation but appreciate it.

I am quite happy to do it myself, maybe I ought to know where the part is situated first! 🤭😂

I don’t shy away from a good strip down! 🤣

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Hi Jon , I fancy a go myself too , sounds like fun (200 in-line) can even collect the parts as I’m not far away , if that helps ?? That beaten up laser 360 is running as sweet as a nut now thanks to you , big thanks there fella. 
Hope all’s good at MB cheers Rowen 

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Does anyone have news on how the inlines are going to be rectified. On June 8th Jon Harper said he had been given the go-ahead, however a recent post on the Laser Engines Owners Group, said the following:

 

Picked up the inline twins from Geoff the other day, he’s very busy trying wrap up the company and getting the last of the engines for repair done, so any problems chaps just give him a call.

 

Seeing as there was no reply to a written letter to AGC asking how the rework would be done, I'm in a quandary as to waiting to be contacted or risk annoying someone who can help by being labelled an irritation.

 

 

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Posted (edited)

Number hidden as it might be a personal number and could encourage spammers/fraudsters.  Perhaps Ron, you could PM it to anyone else affected?

Edited by Martin Harris - Moderator
Security issue
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I too have just received the nice parcel!

My in-line 200 is back and ready for me to try to remember how I fitted it last time!

 

Many thanks to Jon for his work in sorting this out for us, and to Geoff also for his help.

 

Steve.

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On 01/07/2024 at 21:49, Ron Gray said:

Number hidden as it might be a personal number and could encourage spammers/fraudsters.  Perhaps Ron, you could PM it to anyone else affected?

Missed that one, sure, no problem.

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Just a quick one as i popped in to laser today to sort out one or two bits. 

 

First, some have got the wrong idea about the fix needed for the inline engines and a pair of flat twins have appeared for 'fixing'. There is no fix for the FT's as they do not need one. The return/fix is only for the inline engines. 

 

Secondly, spares...again, and in particular, valve springs. Stop getting in a flap about valve springs. There is no problem with them, and there will be no problem with availability. MSL just need to phone Stirling Springs (the manufacturer) and say 'oi, we need another bag'. £2000 and a few weeks later 500 springs will arrive. 

 

I have been informed that someone on the laser facebook page is saying 'i can get you some springs' and offering to fit them to engines.... Unless he raids the factory, no, he cant get you springs. You cannot just use any random spring. If you do it will either fail, or the engine will not run correctly due to the spring not being strong enough, too strong etc. Do not use anything other than the correct springs or your engine will very likely be damaged and if it is, not all spares are going to be readily available to fix it. So if you use bobs random spring and it fails, the valve will drop into the cylinder destroying itself, the piston, and the head. If that happens the engine is finished as heads are not something there will be many spares of and are not something it is easy to just knock up. Equally if bobs spring is too firm it will overload the timing gear and cause premature wear on rockers, pushrods and adjustors, tappets, cams, backplates and crankcase bushings. Things like rockers, crankcases, backplates and cams are very unlikely to be available in quantity as spares. In fact if the spring is really firm it could even cause fatigue failure of the valve at either end, cause fatigue failure of the collet retainer....the list is endless, just use the right parts and dont trust people on the internet who promise the world. 

 

Finally, stop being so impatient. Closing down a business that has run since the 60's takes time. The machines are not yet all sold, some are still working, some have moved out, and this has been the focus. With my departure there is no day in day out attention on laser so its taking a while to tie up the loose ends. It might be another year before the final laser engine is actually assembled and efforts are currently being made to actually make the stuff as an engine can be assembled later on the coffee table assuming all the parts are there. It might be annoying that your favourite model is out of action while waiting on a part, but accept that, park the model for a season and fly the wings off it next year. Whinging and bodging will not make things happen any faster and, ultimately, may destroy both the engine and the model its bolted to. 

 

Attached are a few photos showing some of the slowly growing spares stock. This will last a good long while as long as people dont totally loose their minds and buy up stuff they dont need.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20240705_143432.jpg

20240705_143522.jpg

20240705_143525.jpg

20240705_143532.jpg

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Having received the repaired 200 inline I took the other one out of the Hurricane and sent that back to Geoff / Jon and put the repaired one back in the Hurri. Today I was able to run it up in the garden and I must say that I never remember it running so smooth and quiet as it is now! Hopefully I'll get chance to take it up to the field for a few flights this week.

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On 05/07/2024 at 16:29, Jon H said:

Just a quick one as i popped in to laser today to sort out one or two bits. 

 

First, some have got the wrong idea about the fix needed for the inline engines and a pair of flat twins have appeared for 'fixing'. There is no fix for the FT's as they do not need one. The return/fix is only for the inline engines. 

 

Secondly, spares...again, and in particular, valve springs. Stop getting in a flap about valve springs. There is no problem with them, and there will be no problem with availability. MSL just need to phone Stirling Springs (the manufacturer) and say 'oi, we need another bag'. £2000 and a few weeks later 500 springs will arrive. 

 

I have been informed that someone on the laser facebook page is saying 'i can get you some springs' and offering to fit them to engines.... Unless he raids the factory, no, he cant get you springs. You cannot just use any random spring. If you do it will either fail, or the engine will not run correctly due to the spring not being strong enough, too strong etc. Do not use anything other than the correct springs or your engine will very likely be damaged and if it is, not all spares are going to be readily available to fix it. So if you use bobs random spring and it fails, the valve will drop into the cylinder destroying itself, the piston, and the head. If that happens the engine is finished as heads are not something there will be many spares of and are not something it is easy to just knock up. Equally if bobs spring is too firm it will overload the timing gear and cause premature wear on rockers, pushrods and adjustors, tappets, cams, backplates and crankcase bushings. Things like rockers, crankcases, backplates and cams are very unlikely to be available in quantity as spares. In fact if the spring is really firm it could even cause fatigue failure of the valve at either end, cause fatigue failure of the collet retainer....the list is endless, just use the right parts and dont trust people on the internet who promise the world. 

 

Finally, stop being so impatient. Closing down a business that has run since the 60's takes time. The machines are not yet all sold, some are still working, some have moved out, and this has been the focus. With my departure there is no day in day out attention on laser so its taking a while to tie up the loose ends. It might be another year before the final laser engine is actually assembled and efforts are currently being made to actually make the stuff as an engine can be assembled later on the coffee table assuming all the parts are there. It might be annoying that your favourite model is out of action while waiting on a part, but accept that, park the model for a season and fly the wings off it next year. Whinging and bodging will not make things happen any faster and, ultimately, may destroy both the engine and the model its bolted to. 

 

Attached are a few photos showing some of the slowly growing spares stock. This will last a good long while as long as people dont totally loose their minds and buy up stuff they dont need.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20240705_143432.jpg

20240705_143522.jpg

20240705_143525.jpg

20240705_143532.jpg

Hi Jon, thanks for the update, could you send me 10 carbs,10 rocker covers and 10 mufflers please, before the panic buyers take them all.

Also a link to the cheap valve springs would be appreciated.

Kind regards  panicking Pete.

NB my mates "worried from Woking and "concerned from chobham"

Would  like the same please.

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