Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
10-07-2006, 11:56 PM
#26
RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
Something as tiny as a piece of glow plug element, or wrist pin circlip can stop a screaming engine right now. If the mixture was good, I would suspect a UFO inside the engine. Weston takes the stock engine apart to do their magic on it? They could have goofed on replacing the circlips.
If you can figure out the MAC of that wing, it should fly, like just about any other wing, at 25% for the CG. It sounds like the plane would be a better performer with more wing area, or lighter gear. I would down size all the gear and settle for short flights.
If you can figure out the MAC of that wing, it should fly, like just about any other wing, at 25% for the CG. It sounds like the plane would be a better performer with more wing area, or lighter gear. I would down size all the gear and settle for short flights.
10-08-2006, 01:23 AM
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RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
Tom- I do think Enya engines are great but they are great for longevity, not for power... [X(]
My 50SS is brand spankin' new, I ran it for a minute and put it away... I don't want too much power anyway, then the nose might just split off (again)
Maybe Weston will turn a miracle and get an the West-50 back to me for race day...
Vic- The Jett-50 (which itself was fried when I bought it here on RCU- unbeknownst to me) is in the Patriot, remember the Flyboy Dave killer?
My 50SS is brand spankin' new, I ran it for a minute and put it away... I don't want too much power anyway, then the nose might just split off (again)
Maybe Weston will turn a miracle and get an the West-50 back to me for race day...
Vic- The Jett-50 (which itself was fried when I bought it here on RCU- unbeknownst to me) is in the Patriot, remember the Flyboy Dave killer?
10-09-2006, 08:49 AM
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RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
ORIGINAL: Razor-RCU
After further inspection there are little "metal pieces" sitting on top of the piston--- I emailed Weston UK with all the details, I am hoping they make me "whole" again. Even if that happens now I have an ugly thrashed, and VERY heavy "looks repaired but cross your fingers it stays together" Magnum.
I started gluing, and patching, and glassing (5 oz. glass) --- Shaker can black, as I did not have yellow and tada!
I did this all super-fast due to my irritability.... I bet it comes apart EVEN with the Enya-50SS up front
After further inspection there are little "metal pieces" sitting on top of the piston--- I emailed Weston UK with all the details, I am hoping they make me "whole" again. Even if that happens now I have an ugly thrashed, and VERY heavy "looks repaired but cross your fingers it stays together" Magnum.
I started gluing, and patching, and glassing (5 oz. glass) --- Shaker can black, as I did not have yellow and tada!
I did this all super-fast due to my irritability.... I bet it comes apart EVEN with the Enya-50SS up front
Stopping suddenly means it ate something, broke a rod, crank, pin, or something.
Just send Alan the engine. He is not real sharp when it comes to emails. If you do not hear back rapidly, do not be surprised. Phone call can be better (get one of those international phone cards).
Bob
10-09-2006, 05:24 PM
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RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
Alan emailed me this morning, he just said to send it to him in the UK. Pretty fast response, Monday morning!
Will keep you posted-
Will keep you posted-
10-10-2006, 09:51 AM
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RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
What Bob said. He stinks at email communications, but was very helpful on the phone and the service I got regarding my own motor failure was extremely fast.
Mine failed 20-30 seconds into the first static run - the big end bushing disintegrated. Weston blamed it on the fuel (funny that from a company that also makes fuel.. ) but I have my doubts... Was running in a smoky two cycle when BZZZZZZZZZZZZPPPPPPP! He repaired it, ran it for while and sent it back and it was back in my hand less than two weeks after I sent it - not bad for overseas mail and repair. It runs like a champ now.
As to glide - I laid out the flying surfaces and did a standard neutral point workup. I was most surprised to find that by normal methods, the CG should be around 190mm or more back. This is some contrast to the recommended 135-145mm or whatever it is. I started flying mine at 145mm and it still felt nose heavy, mind you some of that feel could simply be from the wing loading and high drag in turns. Apparently there are some folk in Europe flying these around at CG's about where I mentioned. I have not gone anywhere near that far back yet. Sometime.
MJD
Mine failed 20-30 seconds into the first static run - the big end bushing disintegrated. Weston blamed it on the fuel (funny that from a company that also makes fuel..
) but I have my doubts... Was running in a smoky two cycle when BZZZZZZZZZZZZPPPPPPP! He repaired it, ran it for while and sent it back and it was back in my hand less than two weeks after I sent it - not bad for overseas mail and repair. It runs like a champ now.As to glide - I laid out the flying surfaces and did a standard neutral point workup. I was most surprised to find that by normal methods, the CG should be around 190mm or more back. This is some contrast to the recommended 135-145mm or whatever it is. I started flying mine at 145mm and it still felt nose heavy, mind you some of that feel could simply be from the wing loading and high drag in turns. Apparently there are some folk in Europe flying these around at CG's about where I mentioned. I have not gone anywhere near that far back yet. Sometime.
MJD
10-17-2006, 10:19 PM
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RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
It is boxed up and in my car.... Now that I am humping a day job I need to find a post office and hit it at lunch I guess...
I have the Enya-50SS in the Maggie and she is tuned and ready for this weekend--- Who needs a West when I have that Ringed monster in there---
I have the Enya-50SS in the Maggie and she is tuned and ready for this weekend--- Who needs a West when I have that Ringed monster in there---
10-18-2006, 11:40 PM
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RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
I am working dark to drak so I have been running it in my "shed", where the RPM is always 300 
Stupid flourescent lights
Stupid flourescent lights
10-19-2006, 08:30 AM
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RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
ORIGINAL: Razor-RCU
I am working dark to drak so I have been running it in my "shed", where the RPM is always 300 Stupid flourescent lights
I am working dark to drak so I have been running it in my "shed", where the RPM is always 300
Stupid flourescent lights
10-19-2006, 09:05 AM
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RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
ORIGINAL: MJD
Isn't it 1800?
ORIGINAL: Razor-RCU
I am working dark to drak so I have been running it in my "shed", where the RPM is always 300 Stupid flourescent lights
I am working dark to drak so I have been running it in my "shed", where the RPM is always 300
Stupid flourescent lights
I get the same rpm from all engines in the shop too. Even the rubber power!
10-19-2006, 08:09 PM
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RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
Actually, it's 60 Hz (not kHz) AC power in the US, Canada and Mexico and 50 Hz in much of the rest of the world. 3600 and 3000 rpm
respectively will show up on an optical tach. I've test run my electric motors and engines in the evening with just a flashlight or lantern
on to illuminate what I'm doing and provide enough light for the tach to pick up on the prop blades zipping by. Since the flashlight or
lantern is DC powered, the light doesn't flicker like it would with the line frequency of AC power. You really need to turn off all the AC
powered lights around to avoid fooling the tach, unless you have broad daylight.
respectively will show up on an optical tach. I've test run my electric motors and engines in the evening with just a flashlight or lantern
on to illuminate what I'm doing and provide enough light for the tach to pick up on the prop blades zipping by. Since the flashlight or
lantern is DC powered, the light doesn't flicker like it would with the line frequency of AC power. You really need to turn off all the AC
powered lights around to avoid fooling the tach, unless you have broad daylight.
10-20-2006, 11:09 AM
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RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
ORIGINAL: bob27s
3600 I get the same rpm from all engines in the shop too. Even the rubber power!
3600
I get the same rpm from all engines in the shop too. Even the rubber power!
BRAIN FART!
You're right - forgot there are two flickers per cycle which makes each cycle look like one revolution of a 2 blade prop. DOH! Been a while since I held a tach up to a fluorescent bulb.
(hey, I just noticed the code text for the "Rolling Eyes" smiley looks just like Terrance and Philip. Now that's an important observation..)
11-02-2006, 10:13 PM
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RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
Got an email from Alan at Weston UK and my West is on it's way back to me!
He said the old style conrod broke, so they fixed it good as new and at no cost to me. (Except my shipping it to them)
Awesome service!
Too bad the magnum is already a Frankenstein, held together with fiberglass and zap-
He said the old style conrod broke, so they fixed it good as new and at no cost to me. (Except my shipping it to them)
Awesome service!
Too bad the magnum is already a Frankenstein, held together with fiberglass and zap-
11-03-2006, 01:23 AM
#46
RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
I'd like to see the "new" version of the connecting rod...
Both of the .50's I have have the same rod...probably the "old" one?
Razor...when you get the engine back, 'spose you could take a pic w/ the backplate removed so we can see if there's anything obviously different? I'm thinking more meat around the bushing perhaps? Don't know if that's possable though, cuz it's pretty tight clearance wise down there...(maybe stronger material? )
I just overhauled a Webra .50 for a friend that pulled the bottom end of the rod out. His had / has the same style rod as mine.
Both of the .50's I have have the same rod...probably the "old" one?
Razor...when you get the engine back, 'spose you could take a pic w/ the backplate removed so we can see if there's anything obviously different? I'm thinking more meat around the bushing perhaps? Don't know if that's possable though, cuz it's pretty tight clearance wise down there...(maybe stronger material? )
I just overhauled a Webra .50 for a friend that pulled the bottom end of the rod out. His had / has the same style rod as mine.
11-03-2006, 10:22 AM
#47
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RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
Reading between the lines, I bet Weston has had more rod failures than we've heard of on this forum or been told about. There are more than one of us here who have trashed a rod, although mine gave up on the first run (I was told that "first run rod failure" is a known phenomenon with high performance engines) versus letting go later on in life.
See attached - this happened on the first run. I had just tweaked it into a rich two-cycle on an APC 9-6 and run it there for maybe 10-15 seconds.
At least their engine repair service is excellent, can't ask for more than that, esp. if you accept that with more highly stressed engines something is going to let go once in a while.
MJD
See attached - this happened on the first run. I had just tweaked it into a rich two-cycle on an APC 9-6 and run it there for maybe 10-15 seconds.
At least their engine repair service is excellent, can't ask for more than that, esp. if you accept that with more highly stressed engines something is going to let go once in a while.
MJD
11-03-2006, 11:49 AM
#48
RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
MJD: Just an observation here. You see all those machining marks? Those bother me. Stress risers. That is why I take my rods out and polish them smooth all around to reduce those stressers. Not saying that was the reason for your particular case.
11-03-2006, 12:14 PM
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RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
ORIGINAL: Kmot
MJD: Just an observation here. You see all those machining marks? Those bother me. Stress risers. That is why I take my rods out and polish them smooth all around to reduce those stressers. Not saying that was the reason for your particular case.
MJD: Just an observation here. You see all those machining marks? Those bother me. Stress risers. That is why I take my rods out and polish them smooth all around to reduce those stressers. Not saying that was the reason for your particular case.
In my case, the bushing was badly worn and distorted, so I am guessing it got beat to death first due to lack of lubrication or ??, then the pounding on the big end of the rod (and heat) tore that up. The bushing was hogged out to the point of being a sloppy fit on the crankpin, and it fell out of the rod when I took it apart, which I suppose is to be expected when the big end is almost ripped open like that. The whole big end seems to have had a rough time in it's short life.
11-03-2006, 12:50 PM
#50
RE: Weston-50 Seizes, Magnum trashed...
I've been using the heat gun to take most of the pinch out of a new engine before I start
them up for the first time....yanking the rod in and out of the pinch for the first 5 seconds
is really hard on the rod....some of them get stretched during that period and fail. [
]
The best thing to do to a rod after polishing it is sand blasting it to remove the stresses.
It's really glass bead blasting in a Hydro-hone machine, but sand blasting is an easier description.
FBD.
them up for the first time....yanking the rod in and out of the pinch for the first 5 seconds
is really hard on the rod....some of them get stretched during that period and fail. [
]The best thing to do to a rod after polishing it is sand blasting it to remove the stresses.
It's really glass bead blasting in a Hydro-hone machine, but sand blasting is an easier description.
FBD.