CLBetten

My Feedback: (16)

I know this has been a subject in the "club" thread but I haven't found any recent information. Simply put is there any up to date information about the likelihood of Super Tigre engines and parts becoming available again? I'm starting to become a little desperate for things like exhaust screws, needle valves, headers etc. Is it a good sign that Tower lists everything as "order pending" rather than "discontinued"?

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Cliff, I've been trying to get a 4500 piston for about 4 years, it's still on backorder.

aspeed

You could try this guy. It may just be an old parts listing, but he may still have something. http://www.hobbyclub.com/index.php?cPath=44_74 Maybe a European supplier like Just Engines may know/have something as well. Exhaust screws are just normal metric threads and are available at many hardware stores or mail order outlets. Exhaust manifolds break because of the heavy mufflers that stick forward and are prone to breaking. I would just go to a swept back Macs muffler or pipe. Bisson has some nice stuff too. Other OS or whatever mufflers may have the same bolt pattern.

jeffie8696

When I ran in to Great Planes at Toledo they tried to tell me Super Tigre was redesigning and would be coming out with new engines in the next few months, I do believe they were blowing smoke up my skirt.

Broken Wings

My Feedback: (20)

The same thing happened to the Tower Engines...

jeffie8696

I have a contact at Great Planes and have been known to get some ST parts so if you need something let me know and I will see what I can do.

049flyer

My Feedback: (18)

I am finished with engines that are not supported by the manufacturer. Try and get parts for the FP series of OS Engines, same situation as Super Tigre. I'm not sure if Great Planes is to blame or the engine manufacturer, doesn't matter.

I have just liquidated all of my non-Enya engines. I am, and will be from here on out 100% Enya. I can still buy parts direct from Enya for engines that are 30 years old and older. Nothing worse than having to change engines on a plane for lack of a part like a needle valve or a muffler.

Enya: Top quality, well supported and not made in China. For me anything else is just too much trouble.

aspeed

The same thing was said about K&B, Fox, Rossi and numerous others. Then the owners got old, retired or died. Does anyone know how large Enya is? Is it run by Ken's family together with a long term plan? I just get common mass produced swap meet motors for parts in most cases, or make my own.

Uncas

My Feedback: (1)

I think the market for glow engines is evaporating and it is not going to get better. We have an event at our club that has gone on for many years. It an annual electric fly. It started when electrics were new. No one hardly came this year. I think it is because everyday is an electric fly. Very few fly glow anymore. I have joking suggested we change the event to a glow fly.

A flyer at our field tried to buy a ST recently but he gave up trying find one and bought a TT instead.

jeffie8696

There are plenty of good new and used glow engines available. My friend Bruce owns brucercengines,com and he has hundreds. I have over 60 myself but I seldom sell any.

049flyer

My Feedback: (18)

With glow slowly headed for extinction, I have decided to simplify, streamline and stock up so I will have what I need for the long haul.

I try to restrict all my modeling activity to .40 size glow and smaller. Pretty easy to stock parts in my shop for 3 or 4 sizes of engines all from the same manufacturer. Sure is nice to have whatever part I need on hand.

I don't think engine and part availability will get better in the future. Buy what you need now.

Sport_Pilot

From this thread I would say glow is still alive. When they had engines a few years ago, ST, Fox, K&B, and others sold out did they not? Maybe not as fast as they would like to have sold them but they did sell out. Time for manufactures to reduce the number of models and adjust prices for lower quantity and get product on the shelves.

Iflyglow

My Feedback: (79)

Try calling hobby services. I needed a ST g2300 draw bar, and they sent me a complete new carb and draw bar for nothing. They told me they have many new engines dismantled and have parts for most Super Tigres.

1QwkSport2.5r

You know it's bad if the distributor is parting out complete engines to sell parts.

Broken Wings

My Feedback: (20)

The parts were free...

That was nice of them.

mike31

My Feedback: (67)

Same with a head gasket for a 4500. I need one!

1QwkSport2.5r

Nothing is free in this world.

CLBetten

My Feedback: (16)

Thanks Hobbsy. I was searching for a 4500 piston to surprise you with and found a guy with 3 new in package needle valves. Sadly though when I posted this thread I was hoping someone from Tower was going to reply: "Hang in there the ship's on it's way."

jeffie8696

Refer to post #4 about smoke and skirt.

CLBetten

My Feedback: (16)

I'm an optimist. They obviously sold a lot of product since the move to China, right down to the last tiny washer.

aspeed

If you need a head shim, you can get one from a similar bore motor in another brand. A 4500 may be difficult. I make my own shims with a compass. It will not do .010" material, but is fine for .005" pop can (beer, soda if you are American) It is fairly hard to get the exact diameter, as it is a coarse adjustment, and the radius is doubled for errors.

jeffie8696

I think it may have to do with "price negotiations" more than anything personally.

CLBetten

My Feedback: (16)

I got connected with a fellow in Quebec. For a dang fair price I bought all the parts I needed to put my entire fleet of Tigres back in order.

flyingagin

I don't need any parts yet for my 3 ST's. When they need new rings I will go with Frank Bowman rings and BOCA bearings.

Ken

flyingagin

I don't need any parts yet for my 3 ST's. When they need new rings I will go with Frank Bowman rings and BOCA bearings.

But at this point unless new engines and parts get back into the supply line I wont buy another ST despite how much I love ST's.

Ken