Magnum XLS .52A -what a lemon

Magnum XLS .52A -what a lemon
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Magnum XLS .52A -what a lemon - 8/31/2003 9:15:18 AM

Posts: 359
Joined: 5/27/2003
From: Urbandale, IA, USA
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I bought the new Magnum after hearing and reading a few encouraging words about it but get it to start well, transition, or remain running for that matter.

Despite the efforts of 2-3 local club member's efforts to get the motor working properly, it just wouldn't. In fact, after about a half a tank fuel, the head start leaking from the rear. Tightening the head didn't seem to work either so I guess either there is a gasket problem or the head is warped.

Tomorrow, I take the motor back to the local hobby shop from whence it was purchased last week and will ask to upgrade to a Magnum 61 four stroke, hoping for a little reliability. Hopefully, the hobby shop will not make me send it back to Magnum for warranty repairs ! Who wants to wait weeks when flying weather lasts only a while longer.

My other Magnum .25 two stroke runs fine so I guess this was the lemon.

Joe

Magnum XLS .52A -what a lemon - 8/31/2003 1:28:44 PM

Posts: 175
Joined: 2/27/2003
From: RustenburgNorth West, SOUTH AFRICA
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I only know of one club member with a magnum, and he no problems with his, but for some reason thats the only magnum in the whole club

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Magnum 52A - 8/31/2003 6:29:05 PM

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From: Urbandale, IA, USA
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The overall poor running of the new motor had everyone at the flying club puzzled and everyone chalked it up to a defective motor. Perhaps someone over in China had a bad day.

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Magnum .52XLS - 8/31/2003 11:29:34 PM

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From: Shalimar, FL, USA
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I run several Magnums, 1.08XL, .91XLS, .62 4-stroke & a .52XLS. All of them started 1 flip out of the box except the .52. For some reason, it had the idle mixture set extramely rich. After I finally got it started, it wouldn't go to full throttle and it would flood just sitting on my break-in stand. I finally leaned the low end out 1 1/2 turns or so and it started running like my other Magnums.

On my next one, I am going to use the old "blow through the carb" trick to check the setting.
1. Close the carb to a low idle position or about where a T-pin can be held by the barrel.
2. Hook up a long piece of fuel tubing to the fuel nipple, long enough so you can hold it iun your mouth and get your ar next to the carb.
3. Blow through the tubing and close the low end needle until you can't hear any air coming through.
4. Then blow and open the low end until you hear a slight hiss. This is a good starting point for a low end setting.

As I said, my .52 was way, way too rich. It was spitting fuel like mad. It may be your "leak" is raw fuel being blown up to the head. It also may be a leak. How is the compression? Mine is snappy. It turns a fun fly prop, 12.25 x 3.75 a good bit better than a TT .46.

If you do decide to send it back, Global Services it tops in engine service. They will run the engine before they send it back and give you the rpm.

_____________________________

Ed Moorman, AMA 553, KD4QBM, Revver Bro #156
R/C Report Magazine, Fun Aerobatics Column

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Hobby Store Return policies - 8/31/2003 11:38:58 PM

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Joined: 5/27/2003
From: Urbandale, IA, USA
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Thanks for the reply. I don't have anything to check the compression but if you were to check my blood pressure today after trying to return the motor, it would be high.

Here's the forum thread I started in the "glow engine" section:

[COLOR=darkblue]Here's a warning to all of you buying engines in Hobby stores ! [/COLOR]

BEFORE you buy, ask them what their return policy is on glow engines. I didn't and now it looks like it will be up to Magnum as to whether it is repaired or replaced under warranty.

My story is as follows:

Four days ago, I bought a brand new Magnum XLS .52A two stroke from Hobby Haven in Urbandale, Iowa and installed it on my plane. Running the prescribed fuel mix I attempted to run it at the Newton, IA. Sky King's Club but no matter what other club members did, we couldn't get the motor to run reliably, it loaded up, wouldn't transition, etc....and eventually started spewing fuel between the cylinder head and cylinder. I haven't even gotten a full tank through the motor yet the salesman at the hobby store thought it looked like it had been run for a season. How would you feel ?

Calling it quits for the day, I went home feeling disappointed but knowing I would get customer service from the local hobby store I buy from and support.

Today, I'm told they won't exchange it but have to call Magnum to see if they will cover a repair or replacement. As I pointed out to the store person who waited on me, I buy a lot of things from the store, including my last Magnum, and didn't think the "non-return" policy was a fair one as I didn't wanted to wait weeks until it was either repaired or replaced. Flying time is flying by fast in these parts. Besides, I bought a new engine at their price and they sold me a dud.

I also pointed out to Hobby Haven that Tower Hobbies has a "no questions asked" return policy and couldn't see any advantage at this point or in the future of continuing to buy large-dollar items from them when I could get it through mail order and be able to return defective items.

I'm probably ranting at this point and I'm normally a pretty calm 43 yr old guy but it's truly frustrating to realize the hobby shop you have been dealing with isn't going to take something back.

Check before you buy.

Joe h

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Mag engine - 9/1/2003 1:57:24 AM

rlt55

Posts: 223
Joined: 5/25/2002
From: Woburn, MA, USA
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My .52 XL (4-stroke) has always leaked a little fuel from somewhere around the head, it's always wet when I land!
However, it's not a big leak, so I just kept on flying it. It's got over 100 flights on it and it's a good strong engine.
Pulls my SPA3D up like a rocket!

It did take a few tanks to break it in before I could lean it out some. Now, it runs so clean, it's my favorite engine at clean up time.

I've only broken in two 2-stroke engines and it's still on-going for the new little GMS .32 (30" SPA3D) and it looks good so far.
The TT .46 (maybe 6 hours on it) still has to run rich and spits out gunk like tree sap on the wing of my QHOR

(Long clean up time)

< Message edited by rlt55 -- Aug 31 2003 9:07PM >

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Hobby Haven Comes Through - 9/1/2003 2:45:15 AM

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From: Urbandale, IA, USA
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After getting home from the local hobby shop, I received a call where they disasembled the top end and found the metal head gasket was installed incorrectly. In fact, whoever installed it over in China set the gasket wrong and tightened down on it, creating an air leak.

Fortunately, Hobby Haven did come through for me and offered to exchange the motor for another. I chose to purchase a Magnum 61 four stroke.

PS...I still didn't appreciate the salesperson implying I had run the motor lean and it looked like it had been run for a season. But I'm satisified now.

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engine frustration - 9/1/2003 7:35:15 AM

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From: Columbia Heights, MN, USA
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Emailbanter, what brand fuel are you using?

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Magnum XLS .52A -what a lemon - 9/1/2003 8:06:32 AM

Just Plane Nuts

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Joined: 9/17/2002
From: Hamilton, OH,
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I had to send a Magnum 52 four stroke back to the factory once because it would not run right and the sent me a brand new motor. Out of all of the Magnums that i own (4) i have only had problems with one of them...

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Dale C.

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Magnum XLS .52A -what a lemon - 9/1/2003 6:40:14 PM

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From: Urbandale, IA, USA
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I use Sig 5% but as my previous post shows, the engine was defective because someone misaligned the the metal head gasket which was tightened down at the factory and crushed. That's why the air leak and hence, the lean & erratic running.

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Fuel - 9/1/2003 9:13:40 PM

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From: Columbia Heights, MN, USA
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Emailbanter: Ya, I jumped the gun a little- sorry. I'm glad you've worked out the problem. I see you are also using good fuel.

Ever tried higher nitro content? The idle would run smoother and it would run cooler. A lot of people don't use the higher nitro because of cost, and it will probably work fine. Most of my flying buddies use a minimum of 10% in their four strokers, I personaly use a minimum of 15%. Saito loves 30%. -just a suggestion!

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Magnum XLS .52A -what a lemon - 9/1/2003 9:30:11 PM

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From: Urbandale, IA, USA
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I only use the 5% to break in motors and then switch to 15%. The new Mag. 61 four stroke I bought calls for 10% Nitro during break in and no more than 15% after a gallon of the 10 has run through.

I like to play it safe during break in by using the 5%.

What Saito engine do you have? The Mag 4stroker I bought yesterday started right up, ticks over easy at idle and transitions nicely ! I guess my luck has changed.

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engines - 9/1/2003 9:48:56 PM

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From: Columbia Heights, MN, USA
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Wow. It seems to me that you know exactly what you're doin'.

I have owned a .61 and a .46 magnum 2 stroke. I had problems with the .46. It would keep getting lean once it was in the air for a couple mins. It would never do it on the bench. I wound up drilling out the baffle in the muffler and never had a problem with it since.

I have also owned a magnum .91fs. Next to my Saito .56, it was the best engine I,ve ever owned. Most comparable to O.S. only more affordable! It never let me down! Unfortunantly, I gave it to a very good freind of mine, and he is now enjoying it in a Super Chipmunk.

I own three saito engines; a .56(my favorite) well used and going back into a Sig smith miniplane, a 100 in a H9 AT-6, and a 180 in a H9 edge 540. The 180 was extremely thirsty untill it was completely broke in. Then it was very economical.

I am considering another magnum for a pica waco I'm going to build over winter. It's a little heavier thatn Saito and should help balance the plane better.

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Magnum XLS .52A -what a lemon - 9/2/2003 5:11:00 AM

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From: Urbandale, IA, USA
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A Chipmunk ! Thats a cool older model for sure. I am learning quick in this sport but have a long way to go. I just play it safe.

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Magnum XLS .52A -what a lemon - 9/2/2003 5:57:15 PM

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From: Rochester, NY, USA
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If it's any consolation, Magnum's support is top-notch. More often than not, they will send you a brand new engine, free of charge. But, I suppose the point is moot now.

I really don't think the guy at the shop was "insinuating" anything, but rather, making an observation like, "Wow there must be something seriously wrong if the engine looks that bad after one tankful of fuel!" Creative wording. They DID handle the warranty claim with Magnum for you, which is more than the hobby shop is supposed to do.

It's normal for distributors to STRONGLY DISCOURAGE hobby shops from taking back defective products, instead encouraging them to have the customers send in the defective products themselves. If you look at all industries as a whole, this is not unusual. Most stores will not take defective products back after their return period has expired. You have to send the item back to the manufacturer if you want to get it fixed.

The lesson here is that you need to know the return policy of the store you buy from.

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Magnum XLS .52A -what a lemon - 9/3/2003 2:53:57 AM

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From: Urbandale, IA, USA
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Yes, it's a lesson learned. You are probably right in that the salesperson didn't mean to imply I had purposely run it lean but I'm just glad things worked out. I still shop at the store and think they are good people so I'll continue to buy from them direct !

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