OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?)  
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OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/14/2006 8:35:22 PM   
Zephirus79


 

Posts: 57
Joined: 11/9/2006
From: , GA, USA
Status: offline 		Well im gonna get an OS engine after what I have read and learned about them... Someone told me to make sure I get the ones with ball bearings in them. He said "The non bearinged are not good at dependability (running adjustment wise)".


Now im still flying a trainer and I plan to use this engine on my second plane in the future. Is the LA that much worse than the AX? Its not quite double the price for the AX but it is close... Your Thoughts?


       Post #: 1

RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/14/2006 8:44:16 PM   
Glen Wearden


 

Posts: 170
Joined: 7/12/2004
From: Caldwell, TX, USA
Status: offline 		The LA's are good engines for the money, and will last a long time, if you take care of them, run them a hair on the rich side, and run fuel with some castor in it. I run Powermaster 10/22 with equal amounts of castor and synthetic. I've had good luck with the LA carb, in fact I get reliable idle and good transition, and have never touched the low speed needle. Glen

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       Post #: 2

RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/14/2006 8:50:52 PM   
oldvet70



Posts: 174
Joined: 9/17/2004
From: Grants Pass, OR, USA
Status: online 		I agree the LA's are good engines. I recommend them all the time to new students. If your still in the 1st to 2nd plane stage it will be fine assuming you put it in a suitable plane.

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RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/14/2006 8:52:05 PM   
Zephirus79


 

Posts: 57
Joined: 11/9/2006
From: , GA, USA
Status: offline 		Sounds great. Thanks for the help!

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RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/14/2006 8:56:03 PM   
Dr1Driver



Posts: 3589
Joined: 7/25/2002
From: Spartanburg, SC, USA
Status: offline 		All what Glen said is true. The part that can be not "dependable" is the carb settings. In my experience, an air-bleed carb can be a little picky to properly adjust.

On the subject of $$$. Yes, the AX is a lot more expensive. However, you can buy an LA now and an AX later, or buy an AX now and not have to buy another engine when you move to sport planes.

Dr.1

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RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/14/2006 8:59:41 PM   
P47 Jug - Al


 

Posts: 118
Joined: 10/22/2004
From: Rocky River, OH, USA
Status: offline 		I have the LA46 in a Tower Fun 51. http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJA64&P=ML No unlimited verticals with this plane though.

It has been one of my most dependable engines - no flame outs this whole summer. For the money it is a good engine and it will last as others have mentioned.

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       Post #: 6

RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/14/2006 9:09:41 PM   
opjose



Posts: 5830
Joined: 11/26/2005
From: Poolesville, MD, USA
Status: offline 		The LA's run reliably, but they are difficult to tune for optimum performance.

The low end mixture is controlled with a bleed carb, as opposed to a needle carb.

It is difficult to adjust beyond certain ranges.

e.g. on mine I can't lean the low end out sufficiently and I've already drilled the bleed hole as much as I dare.

As a result my engine runs overly rich, but it never deadsticks...

The LA .46 gives you ABOUT the performance of a .32 FX type engine. O.S. rates the LA .46 at 1.1-1.2 HP (which is very optimistic!), while they rate their own .46 AX at 1.7 HP.

So the AX will give you more power than the .46 LA.

I foolishly installed a .46 LA into a Seagull Spacewalker II.

The is about 6-7lbs, so it is a bit heavy for a .46 though that is what it calls for.

The Spacewalker was anemic with the LA engine and an 11x6 APC prop.

I swapped it out for the .46 AX, and the plane was transformed.

IMHO pay the difference for the AX engine. You'll be glad you did.




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RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/14/2006 9:17:31 PM   
Dr1Driver



Posts: 3589
Joined: 7/25/2002
From: Spartanburg, SC, USA
Status: offline 		The LA .46 gives you ABOUT the performance of a .32 FX type engine

Just curious...will the LA turn a 10-4 prop at 14,000 on the ground on 10% the way my OS .32 and Webra Speed .32 will? Actually, the Webra unloads like crazy and, judging by sound, turns that prop a LOT more than 14,000 in the air.

Dr.1

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RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/14/2006 9:45:42 PM   
opjose



Posts: 5830
Joined: 11/26/2005
From: Poolesville, MD, USA
Status: offline 		Frankly I doubt it.

I put the LA .46 into a .30 plane and it does very well on that plane, including good verticals.

I've tach'd it to about 10.5K with an 10x5 prop sitting on the ground.



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RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/14/2006 10:24:28 PM   
Dr1Driver



Posts: 3589
Joined: 7/25/2002
From: Spartanburg, SC, USA
Status: offline 		Hmmm...I'd expect it to run a LITTLE better, jose. Another good reason for getting the AX.

Dr.1

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RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/14/2006 10:32:57 PM   
Hobbsy



Posts: 10683
Joined: 12/2/2001
From: Colonial Beach, VA, USA
Status: offline 		I have two LA .46s and a .65, look in the air inlet hole on the front of the carb and set the airbleed screw halfway across that hole. You will be within 3/4 of a turn either way from a great idle, the midrange is controlled by a metering slot in the carb barrel.

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RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/14/2006 10:44:36 PM   
opjose



Posts: 5830
Joined: 11/26/2005
From: Poolesville, MD, USA
Status: offline 		That makes mine WAAAY too rich. I have the hole completely uncovered and it's still very rich.... spewing fuel at idle.

I've reamed the hole out a bit to make it a bit larger, but I didn't want to take this any further.



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RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/14/2006 10:45:55 PM   
opjose



Posts: 5830
Joined: 11/26/2005
From: Poolesville, MD, USA
Status: offline 		Ok, maybe 11K... but then not consistently....

(this is backed off peak about 4 clicks).

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RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/14/2006 11:15:59 PM   
Jim C.



Posts: 730
Joined: 1/4/2003
From: armagh, PA, USA
Status: offline 		I have one that I had on my trainers, and it was a great engine. They are great for starting out in the hobby. Yes, they can be a ***** to tune sometimes. I would recommend them for trainers but not much else. I have a .65 la on my cloud dancer and it does great. of course, I have a k&b 65 nib maybe I should try that one!!

Edited by moderator to remove foul language.

< Message edited by Rcpilet -- 12/15/2006 3:11:54 PM >

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RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/15/2006 12:09:36 AM   
foresterxt



Posts: 306
Joined: 8/1/2005
From: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Status: offline 		I also have a 46LA that was my first engine. In my opinion it's a great first engine. You won't notice the lack of power until you're good enough to move to more advanced planes and at that point, it's fun to buy a new engine anyway. When you work you're way through the trainer, throw the 46la on an Uproar 40 arf- an absolute blast! No one at the field believed it had a 46la until I landed.

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       Post #: 15

RE: OS .46 LA (Bad Engine?) - 12/15/2006 4:44:55 AM   
Ed Cregger



Posts: 7744
Joined: 1/31/2002
From: Ringgold, GA, USA
Status: offline
quote: