Tower Hobbies Engines, Good?

Tower Hobbies Engines, Good?
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Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 12/12/2004 3:42:10 PM

xDennis

Posts: 319
Joined: 12/6/2004
From: Charlotte, NC, USA
Status: offline

I am concidering this engine, mainly.. Cost for what you get.

This is a tower hobbies .46 Ball Bearing ABC engine, my main concern is if it is a good value and product.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJA86&P=0

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Dennis

I think I put this in the wrong area, should be in the engines area.

< Message edited by xDennis -- 12/12/2004 7:06:59 PM >

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RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 12/14/2004 3:49:34 AM

magyarbacsi

Posts: 394
Joined: 11/16/2003
From: Seattle, WA, USA
Status: offline

There is a long list of opinions on this engine, but you'll have to look under glow engine section. Some say yes the other half no.

(in reply to xDennis)

Post #: 2

RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 12/14/2004 10:23:52 PM

Gringo Flyer

Posts: 2059
Joined: 1/16/2004
From: Formosa, ARGENTINA
Status: offline

The muffler is great, I took it off and put it on my TT pro 46 that I had to buy bc I couldnt get the Tower engine to work right. I wouldnt recommend it as a first motor, but maybe if you already have some experience with glow engines.

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Post #: 3

RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 1/12/2005 11:30:48 AM

Alkaline

Posts: 329
Joined: 8/22/2004
From: , LA, USA
Status: offline

NO TOWER HOBBIES IS HELL

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Post #: 4

RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 1/12/2005 5:33:32 PM

blikseme300

Posts: 680
Joined: 6/1/2004
From: Mission, TX, USA
Status: offline

You said it in your post - you gets what you pays for.

For about the same money, go with a Thunder Tiger Pro. These are head and shoulders above the Tower motors.

My 2c

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Post #: 5

RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 1/12/2005 5:54:24 PM

Scar

Posts: 2250
Joined: 10/1/2002
From: Peoria Hts, IL, USA
Status: offline

I read a pretty good review in RC Report on that engine.

On a different topic, I bought two Tower 40's on a sale, a few years back, put them on my TwinStar. I have to say, they required a break-in process that I wasn't prepared for (they were really tight!) and once broken in, they are quite different engines. Still in the TwinStar, I have found them powerful and reliable. The 40's are bushing engines, though.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

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RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 1/14/2005 9:34:24 AM

Pilotsmoe

Posts: 546
Joined: 1/19/2003
From: Ocean City, NJ, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Scar

I read a pretty good review in RC Report on that engine.

On a different topic, I bought two Tower 40's on a sale, a few years back, put them on my TwinStar. I have to say, they required a break-in process that I wasn't prepared for (they were really tight!) and once broken in, they are quite different engines. Still in the TwinStar, I have found them powerful and reliable. The 40's are bushing engines, though.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

I am pretty sure the old tower .40 bushed engine was made by thunder tiger, not gms like the new ones

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RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 1/22/2005 2:09:51 AM

CHRISTANEAGLE

Posts: 66
Joined: 10/10/2003
From: Lancaster, PA, USA
Status: offline

Dennis take my word as the gospel (DON'T DO IT) as others have told you TH engines are no good. I've had three of them and they all were no good. For the money try thunder tiger they are good if you want purchase a TH's muffler it will fit and really helps the power. If you can buy an OS and you will have a good engine that you will spend time flying and not trying to adjust. I always try to cut corners on cost but if you spend lots of time adjusting the engine and dead sticks get a better engine.

(in reply to Pilotsmoe)

Post #: 8

RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 1/22/2005 3:15:32 PM

redneck

Posts: 57
Joined: 1/27/2003
From: Shelbyville, MO, USA
Status: offline

I bought the Tower .46 BB about five years ago and have had no problems with it. I have a lot of flights on it. I have recommended them to some of my friends, who also have bought them. They have not had any problems either. Don't run your engine too lean!!

(in reply to CHRISTANEAGLE)

Post #: 9

RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 1/22/2005 3:31:44 PM

rjbarthel

Posts: 256
Joined: 6/26/2002
From: Minot, ND, USA
Status: offline

Ive had a 5 of the Tower .46 engines now and I have only had one that was a total dud from day one, and one that was border line. And the other 3 were great !! I still have 2 of them . But one thing is Tower Hobbies stands behind thier engines ! They are fast and never give me a reason to become soured to them or the engine ..
They are not really a beginners engine as the breaking is long and the adjustments are picky. But once they are broke in and adjusted they are great ! This is just how they have been for me . But the 2 thunder tiger pro .46 engines I have are easy breaking and easy adjust . again this is just my $.02.

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RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 2/4/2005 12:03:23 AM

bldrums

Posts: 478
Joined: 9/30/2002
From: C-Ville, VA, USA
Status: offline

I have a Tower .46 I bought about 3 yrs ago. It took me 2 years and some silicone and o'rings to finally get it to run decent. I have it on a Supersport and it screams once you get it right...............but you probably wont !!!.........a GRADE A PAIN ........ I do not recommend this engine.

< Message edited by bldrums -- 2/4/2005 12:10:08 AM >

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RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 2/6/2005 12:32:57 PM

tailgunner4444

Posts: 14
Joined: 8/13/2004
From: Essex Junction, VT, USA
Status: offline

I wish I had read this thread before I bought my Tower Hobbies 46. Mine runs great just long enough to convince me that it finally is running right and then once in the air for a few minutes it seems to lean out and quits. I've tried tweaking the needle valve and idle adjustments tryng to run it rich and then leaner for about 20-30 flights. The end result is always the same, a dead stick landing, ususally successful.
One entry mentioned different o-rings and silicone, is that for the back plate or the carb or both ?
thanks

(in reply to bldrums)

Post #: 12

RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 2/6/2005 2:56:37 PM

rjbarthel

Posts: 256
Joined: 6/26/2002
From: Minot, ND, USA
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Hey tailgunner4444 thats how one of mine was . I finaly sent it back to tower and they sent out a new engine and that one was totaly differant . It was the best one ive ever had . I personaly reseal all the back plates and carb orings with silicone . Im not one to ever tell anyone to go out and buy one nor will i say not to . I have had enough of them now to understand that they are a hit and miss engine . If you get a good one they are great but a dud of anything kind and they will suck big time .They seem to me to take more breakin than they should and are picky on the mixture adjustments . I do know that a good one will surprize the Sh_ _ out of you with its power. They start out as one of the tightest engines Ive ever had and I think thats part of the need for all to be set right and lots of fuel burned to loosen up but that also makes for strong pulling when they are set .

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Post #: 13

RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 2/6/2005 8:02:27 PM

tailgunner4444

Posts: 14
Joined: 8/13/2004
From: Essex Junction, VT, USA
Status: offline

thanks rjbarthel
What type of silicon do I need to use ?
I think I have a good one, it's tight, has gobs of power, and it did take a while to break in, now if I could only figure out the stalling out part. I got the engine in August, broke it in as recommended, I figured the stalling out part of the breaking in process, and I just didn't have it tweaked right. It did become more realiable as time wore on, finally the thing ran great until I pulled it into some hard turns and I thought I may have a fuel delivery problem. Tried getting more fuel to carb, raising gas tank, glow plugs with idle bars, different fuel, run it rich, but nothing I did changed the stalling out. Now I'm wondering if the torqueing isn't opening up an air leak.
Well winter in vermont has kept me from flying until i got a pair of floats this month, so I stuck them on my kaos (with the tower 46) and flew around a bit yesterday. The stalling was almost immeditate, every flight after a few minutes in the air. I'm thinking the cold makes the air leak worse, so I'm ready to try the silicon treatment and see what happens.
thanks

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Post #: 14

RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 2/14/2005 1:15:57 AM

hvac

Posts: 230
Joined: 9/27/2003
From: brownsburg, IN, USA
Status: offline

Tower Motors are fine motors. I have seen many at the field I fly at and they run great and have good power. However, I highly recomment the VMAX motor from Richmond Hobby(Supply). I have a VMAX .46 and its the runs excellent and is as inexpensive as the Tower motors. They also make a .51 and a .61, although I have no experience with those two. My VMAX .46 has lots of power, starts on the first flip and only cost 60 something dollars. I think their .51 is only $75. Great motors.

(in reply to tailgunner4444)

Post #: 15

RE: Tower Hobbies Engines, Good? - 2/14/2005 2:08:06 AM

bigbri