RE: K&B 65 Sportster

RE: K&B 65 Sportster
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RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 11/30/2003 3:58:33 AM

Red Baron Mike

Posts: 295
Joined: 1/24/2003
From: Rocklin, CA, USA
Status: offline

To everyone who had a negative comment, every engine sold today, regardless of make, model or country of origin, has the potential to be a reliable long lasting engine in the hands of a
COMPENTANT modeler. These same engines can be a disaster to someone impatient and not
interested in learning and exercising basic minimal skills.

I have been a flight instructor at my club for several years and have seen the extremes in both directions. Those who complain the loudest about poor quality engines are "poor quality modelers" One looks at their equipment; oil residue, dirt and grit on their radios; their engines show pathetic care (look down the carb throat and there is a pasture inside). These are the people who have equipment failures and blame everyone and everything but themselves.

Taking proper care (including cleanliness) of an engine, any engine, and using the proper fuel and oil, the owner will be rewarded with a long lasting, reliable performer.

_____________________________

Red Baron Mike

(in reply to bolar)

Post #: 26

RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 11/30/2003 5:37:14 AM

Shovel-Head

Posts: 294
Joined: 3/3/2002
From: Nicholasville, KY, USA
Status: offline

I have one on a Ultra Stick 40, pulls the plane like theres no tomorrow. I run a APC 13X6 and it really likes it. I haven't had any problems out of mine at all, starts with the first flip of the prop and idles like a clock. It hovers my US a tad bit over 1/4 throttle! Its a long stroke engine, thats why is doesnt rev high, but it likes big props. Its more like a 4-stroke, I'd buy another one anyday.

(in reply to Red Baron Mike)

Post #: 27

RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 12/6/2003 6:24:27 AM

Twanger

Posts: 44
Joined: 8/20/2003
From: Sevierville, TN, USA
Status: offline

I have a K&B .65 Sportster on a Super Skybolt that weighs 11 lbs. It is invert mounted, and has a J'Tec muffler on it. The only problem is that it blows cheap glow plugs. It likes an Enya #3, and it lasts very well. This engine has great compression, and starts very quickly. If it doesn't, I pull the glow plug and blow out the fuel that has flooded it. I've run it on red max 10%, straight Cool Power, but lately I run it on Cool Power 10% with 1oz. Sig castor added to a full gallon. This engine spins a 13-5 wood prop and hauls this heavy hog quite well for being on the small side of the engine size range. (.60-.91 2stroke_.91-1.20 4stroke). I really like this engine, ($43.00 used on eBay).

(in reply to Shovel-Head)

Post #: 28

RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 12/6/2003 7:12:44 AM

rflasch

Posts: 132
Joined: 11/4/2003
From: Chico, CA, USA
Status: offline

Hey Group--- I do not own or have an opinion on K&B motors, however I love this forum and in reading it I have learned alot from many of you--Thank You

We all have our preferences equipment wise, and quite frankly we are extremely fortunate to have the incredible number of vendors catering to our sport. When this forum can only give favorable reviews without getting criticism-- it fails to serve it's purpose.

If you have had a bad experience with equipment, say so, but please relate the reasons for your displeasure.

When I am contemplating putting out good money for a product, I'll usually do a search of threads and if I can't find something, ask you all for your combined experience. As far as I can see, if all you do is tell me how neat it is this forum is no better than RCM magazine--I want to know if there are problems to be expected(I wish I joined RCU before I bought that OS 91 fx!!)

Anyway-- I'll get off the soap box--but please think about it---Long Live RCU and it's Forum Participants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(in reply to Twanger)

Post #: 29

RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 12/6/2003 1:02:20 PM

dennis

Posts: 1281
Joined: 1/7/2002
From: Minersville, PA, USA
Status: offline

I bought my Sportsters when they were introduced. Let me clarify that I am an older modeller and have used castor based fuels exclusivly till I started flying RC. With plain bearing motors castor oil based fuel was always required , the same holds true today for this and also any iron/steel piston liner combination.
To K&B's bad luck they had the misfortune to introduce their motor at a time when the first really cheap fuels were being introduced to the market[early 80's] with low percentages of oil and synthetic at that it was a receipe for disaster. Their instruction sheets didn't clarify this because they were printed on the assumption of continuously available castor based fuels being the norm.
The Sportster has a chrome plated piston in a high silicon cylinder which is incredably long wearing if it is treated like any other motor, mainly keep it clean and free of dirt and dust, after all Mercedes uses high silicon bored blocks for their car engines, no liner there.
And yes the motor is conservatively timed. K&B shot themselves in the foot on their prop recommendations for the 65 by specifying an 11/7, but that was the dominant size prop for 60's at the time. I can't believe that they didn't realize that they had in effect started the long stroke movement and had a lugger instead of a screamer. I've run a 65 converted to diesel[Davis] with an 18/6 for years on end and it still feels like new.
The motors were made for a price but I don't think that they were aimed at the beginner market specifically. One thing for sure is that they were out of synch for an instant gratification, high rpm, no maintenance or care generation of modeller. This is not a criticism of todays modeller but the philosophy of todays modelling public is vastly different then 25 years ago. To be fair though even expensive well made motors get severly criticized on these boards by very new inexperienced people with too much in resources and too little skills to utilize what they have been fortunate to be able to obtain.

(in reply to rflasch)

Post #: 30

RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 12/6/2003 7:25:42 PM

tommy157

Posts: 209
Joined: 10/23/2003
From: Midwest City, OK, USA
Status: offline

Hey everyone.
Guess I started this thread and have loved coming back for the additional information. Since I posted I have made probally 30 flights on a GP Ultimate with the K&B Sportster and Pitts muffler and it has run beautifully with a 12/6 prop. Starts great and never failed to idle beautifully..will probally go to a 4cycle eventually but for now the Sportster has been great.

(in reply to dennis)

Post #: 31

RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 12/6/2003 9:34:48 PM

jessiej

Posts: 1803
Joined: 7/6/2003
From: STATESBORO, GA, USA
Status: offline

I am glad you are enjoying your engine, Tommy. I had been confident you would!

Jess

(in reply to tommy157)

Post #: 32

RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 12/20/2003 6:29:30 PM

pt19 flyer

Posts: 328
Joined: 11/9/2002
From: Roanoke, VA, USA
Status: offline

hi

you're not going to like this...the sportster series of k&b were terrible engines. the older series were much better the .61 and .40 were very good. I lost two planes using the 45 sportster. after the first sent it back to k&b they supposedly repaired it and stupid like I put in on another plane...another gone. it would scream on the ground and die after about 2-3 minutes of flight.

frankly I would trash it

good luck
joe

(in reply to tommy157)

Post #: 33

RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 12/20/2003 10:20:45 PM

dennis

Posts: 1281
Joined: 1/7/2002
From: Minersville, PA, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: jkevans

hi

you're not going to like this...the sportster series of k&b were terrible engines. the older series were much better the .61 and .40 were very good. I lost two planes using the 45 sportster. after the first sent it back to k&b they supposedly repaired it and stupid like I put in on another plane...another gone. it would scream on the ground and die after about 2-3 minutes of flight.

frankly I would trash it

good luck
joe

I have to tell you that reading this makes me believe that you set you valve for maximum rpm on the ground and of course the motor leaned out in the air and died. This is not unique to the sportster motor but almost any motor made. An exception might be made for the newer aan motors that will keep expanding to a larger degree then other types.But eventually these motors also 'die' from the exhertion
Sport motors are by nature not screamers, racing or performance motors scream and then only in the air and properly leaned out.
As has been pointed out by many in this thread the Sportster is not a high rever, and does best with a larger prop. Also since I don't know what fuel you used I can't say if that was a contributing factor to your failures. To be fair I have seen expensive motors ruined in one or two flights with lean runs and bad fuel, not a unique Sportster problem. Dennis

(in reply to pt19 flyer)

Post #: 34

RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 12/20/2003 11:32:54 PM

maxtenet

Posts: 704
Joined: 10/18/2002
From: Towson, MD, USA
Status: offline

As I said before , they are average engines, just like O.S. My dad always said," A poor mechanic blames his tools". These are fine in the right hands!

Max

(in reply to dennis)

Post #: 35

RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 12/21/2003 12:58:54 AM

RaceCity

Posts: 1842
Joined: 7/10/2002
From: NotUpNorth, USA
Status: offline

Well...

If Tommy said his Sportster is doing the job in his GP Ultimate...then it must not be such a bad motor after all?

The sportsters are wonderful IMO. Depends what you expect of a motor. I like day in-day out workhorse stuff. The sportsters filled the bill pretty well in that respect.

Guys I fly with on occasion up north have been running their .65's so cotton-picking long we just wish they'd get rid of them so we could see something new for a change.

Nope...same motors...still running strong.

I'm glad Tommy discovered the merits of this motor.

'Race

(in reply to maxtenet)

Post #: 36

RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 12/22/2003 1:30:16 AM

rnlocnil

Posts: 38
Joined: 11/21/2003
From: Maynard, MA, USA
Status: offline

People who like and don't like Sportster 65 may both be right if it's anything like the 20. We raced them in our club. One guy got his to run consistently, and quite a few RPM faster than the rest of us. He put hi temp rtv in all the joints, such as backplate to case, etc. Fuel line on exposed threads of needle valve. Maybe he had some other tricks too. I could set my engine slobbering rich so that it would take off and then dip out of sight before coming back up (at full throttle), but five minutes later it would lean out and sag, maybe even die. His would just scream the whole flight. I think maybe some poor mechanical fits would vary with temperature. Another trick was to attach plastic hose to exhaust and adjust for max rpm like a tuned pipe. If the engine leaned out much it didn't last very long.

(in reply to RaceCity)

Post #: 37

RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 12/22/2003 1:41:08 AM

MikeSell

Posts: 801
Joined: 10/26/2002
From: Flushing, MI, USA
Status: offline

Sounds like the all too common problem of too much nitro. Preignition causing heat, overheating-loss of power and symptoms of a lean run. Use 10% or less for best results. More nitro doesn't net more power but does cause many problems.
More nitro can be used with the proper plug and head shim to retard timing BUT the engine port timing isn't directed at high speed use.

_____________________________

Straighten up and fly right!

(in reply to rnlocnil)

Post #: 38

RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 12/22/2003 9:52:20 PM

pecojets

Posts: 219
Joined: 7/1/2002
From: STO DGO , DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Status: offline

of all the KB, THE .45 SPORTSTER is the worst of all , but the .28 and specially the .65 are greaaat engines.the .65 ( i have 4) witha 12x6 props in the 45-60 size planes performs very well. like the goldberg chipmuk anf four stars 60. they last for ever

(in reply to MikeSell)

Post #: 39

RE: K&B 65 Sportster - 1/27/2004 2:35:09 AM

nmtr13

Posts: 346
Joined: 8/27/2002
From: whitestone, NY, USA
Status: offline

Would the k&b .65 fly a four star 60?

(in reply to pecojets)

Post #: 40