jedijody

My Feedback: (1)

The crank twisted when the front 1/2 stopped instantly and the back 1/2 tried to keep going, thats why the rear 1/2 of the case wobbles when it turns over and why it wouldn't turn smooth imediately after the failure. You can absolutely trust the squareness of the case before the incedent, afterward I'm not so sure.

Tired Old Man

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Dead on the money. The mold was 3w 80. People haven't been in this end of the hobby long enough to have experienced the history.

Tired Old Man

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[sm=thumbs_up.gif]

Razor Hobbies

My Feedback: (50)

Speechless.

az3d

My Feedback: (59)

Robert, I am at 5200ft and need something in the 125cc range. When is DLE going to jump DA again so I can get one? Thanks.

Razor Hobbies

My Feedback: (50)

Well i can say i have heard a few ideas getting bumped around of a engine between the 111 and 170 but nothing definite. But ideas get bumped around all the time.

wpmcnamara

My Feedback: (9)

Here are the promised pictures. I added a bunch to the [link=http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb259/wpmcnamara/airplanes/DLE-111%20autopsy/]photobucket album[/link] from earlier. The later images are packing pictures for Robert.

This likely where the large metal pieces came from. It was hard to get a good picture of this. Notice the arc directly above the shaft, from about 11 o'clock to about 1:30. This is actually a gouge in the metal. It corresponds pretty well to the out edge of the outer race of the rear bearing.


The only other place I could find signs of wear was on the corners of the piston skirts. All four corners had similar wear and I expect TOM, Jody, and the rest will say this is normal.


Here is the rest of the series I took of the crank shaft. It's kinda hard to get good pictures without pulling the crank.






The final, end results of the tear down.


I will say, that from taking this thing apart and putting it back together, its pretty hard to get it wrong. Some good hex keys and a torque wrench and that's about it. Taking the bearings out would obviously take a bit more work, but still, well engineered and well built.. A work of art? Nope, but a good work horse.

Engine is all boxed up and going back tomorrow, so you will have to wait for Robert for any more pictures. I would like to thank everyone though as the whole thread and discussion has turned a bummer of a Saturday morning into a decent learning experience for myself. Good comes from bad and all that.

Tired Old Man

My Feedback: (1)

You just learned how easy our little engines are to work on. The hard parts come from the nuances of static timing, electronic timing, port timing, exhaust port heights, squish bands and angles, compression ratios, piston dome/combustion chamber shape relationships, spark plug angles, venturi sizes and flow patterns, reed stiffness. Not all that much really [X(] since those are all design parameters and not something the average user messes with.

You are correct about the skirt corners. Some engine do more, some less, but the piston rocks at the bottom of the stroke if the skirt is long enough to remain well centered. That's about the only place a piston should ever exhibit any wear, and at that minimal.

Pretty soon you'll need to change the name of this thread to one with a happy ending The experience places you miles above the level of the average user. You got the odd one out but what you'll get back will likely be like buying a blue printed engine. I can almost guarantee that Razor Hobbies wants to show everyone how good they are and what the customers should expect should they ever have a problem. This is a good thing for the customers, and for Razor Hobbies since it provides the opportuinity to show who they are. That makes for a bunisess that remains profitable for a long time.

az3d

My Feedback: (59)

Robert I think there is a market for a 125cc. The planes keep getting bigger. The 35% Qui Que yak was 102" and considered light, now the 35% are 105" to 110" and weigh 28lbs+. Thanks

Tired Old Man

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It's called a BME 116 or 3w-110. MVVS makes a 116 that will pull your arm out of the socket. DA makes a 120. 125cc is totally unneccessary.

Mastertech

My Feedback: (31)

I'm still trying to figure out why one would video tape a new engine break in? What was the reasoning?

Tim

Super08

My Feedback: (2)

If you look on Youtube their are lots of guys that video there new engine.

Tired Old Man

My Feedback: (1)

A new personal level of excitement. Sort of like having sex for the first time...........

Airbear

Best part is you dont have to snuggle after running the motor,

BadAzzMaxx

And then you are a slave for life. LOL

Milton

Razor Hobbies

My Feedback: (50)

I will have to agree

Super08

My Feedback: (2)

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wpmcnamara

My Feedback: (9)

Other than the other reasons people have posted, which aren't necessarily wrong either, in this case, I very heavily document a lot of what I do in the hobby for a number of reasons. I like to have a record of what I did and the outcome for later reference. In the case of a new engine, a year later I have a reference point with which to compare. Sometimes something weird happens and having video to go back an look at is useful. Pictures are the same way. I take lots of pictures whenever I tear down and repair, or build a plane. It gives me a great reference to look at later. Disk space is cheap and I figure a little extra information is never bad.

-wpm

PS: Yes, I probably have a bit of OCD or something going on too.

mwhar760

My Feedback: (18)

I have a dle 111 still in the box is there any way to tell which version (new or old) that i have with out pulling the rear housing!!! and if it is the older can i buy the rear housing,new bearing and still use it or did they change the size(OD) of the crank shaft when they upgraded????

Valve floater

I would like to know too. I am looking at buying a 2nd had DLE-111 and wondering if the current version 111 is so much better that i should stay any from the older 111 completly? It runs great.Should i worry about it. Are they that flawed?

jedijody

My Feedback: (1)

There is nothing wrong with the older version case and or cylinder design. The crankshaft bearings were changed at about serial # 650, anything after that is just fine. Even of those engines with serial #s below 650, only a small percentage had issues. You cannot change the version in this thread to the latest version without replacing the entire crankcase, crankshaft, bearings, and prop hub. It's not worth doing and there's no reason to do so. The latest change was made for manufacturing consistancy, not engine longevity/reliability, there is no end user advantage or benefit.

mwhar760

My Feedback: (18)

thanks,jedi!!!!! i'm not gonna worry about it then!!! gonna run it till it dies!!! hopefully for quite a few years !!!!!!

az3d

My Feedback: (59)

Tired Old Man your logic makes no sense. There are other companies out there making an engine in this class so therefore DLE should not?

Razor Hobbies

My Feedback: (50)

Ok got his engine in late yesterday evening I will be going over it today and tomorrow and i will post up my full work up results and pictures.

Razor Hobbies

My Feedback: (50)

I think what tired is getting at is that if anything there are other classes that would be better to approach to fill that class with a gas engine.

Especially when you could complete the engine class by going with a 10cc motor.