RE: The OS LA series  
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All Forums >> Glow Engines, Gas Engines, Fuel & Mfg Support Forums >> Glow Engines >> RE: The OS LA series
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RE: The OS LA series - 12/11/2003 3:38:36 PM   
Spaceclam



Posts: 4640
Joined: 4/13/2003
From: chatsworth, CA, USA
Status: offline 		hrer's the thing. unlike most engine arguments on this forum, everybody either hates it or loves it. with most other engines on this forum, there is usualy somebody who says that they weren't as good as they expected, but for the price they aren't too bad. i think there is something abotu the la series that makes half of them become paperweights after they are broken in. probably a machining issue. mine sure wasn't worth the time it took to break it in. it was the most unreliable, weakest, hardest to tune, and worst vibrating engine i have ever owned or even seen. also though, the ,46 la seems to have this problem far more than the .40 la. a lot of the people i know that have the .40s are fine with them, but the .46 seems to be far more troublesome. that's what i had.

_____________________________

Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a Dark side, and it holds the universe together.

(in reply to Flyfalcons)
       Post #: 76

RE: The OS LA series - 12/11/2003 4:02:55 PM   
Flyboy Dave



Posts: 13372
Joined: 3/20/2002
From: San Bernardino County, CA, USA
Status: online 		I've flown a couple .40's and .46's LA's for new Guys in
trainers at the field....never a problem. They start right up,
are easy to adjust, have decent transition, and run perfectly.

They do just what they were designed to do....nothing more.
Anyone who has worked around Japenese motor equiptment
knows what I'm talking about....when I say "nothing more".
Every part of their equiptment....say again-every part....is made
to do a certain job, and nothing more. Every screw, every bolt,
every bracket, every wire, every cable, every carb....is designed
to do a certain job....accurately, and reliably....nothing more.

There's no such thing as a Heavy Duty clutch cable, or HD brakes,
or HD battery....ect....

Which brings us to the LA series motors....keep in mind that Japan
has no raw materials native to Japan....NONE. They don't have iron
ore mines, aluminum stuff, or chemicals to make plastics. Their
standard of living, wages, and cost of living is 10X more expensive
than Third World countries (at least).

It amazes me that Tower can sell a LA .40 for $52.99, a .46 for $59.99
and a .65 for $104.99....very competive prices....and they probalby
sell just about every engine they produce. Very sucessful maketing and
manufacturing....given the hand that they were dealt.

Sure....they could have used 6 headbolts instead of four....but then, four
works fine. They could have put bigger fins on the cylinder and head for
improved cooling....but it isn't needed....more fins equals more aluminum,
more cost, more weight. Plastic backplate....same story....gotta cut
cost somewhere....

The bottom line....is the bottom line. You need to sell tons of these
inexpensive "bread and butter" motors to stay in business.

Not to put anyone down here.....because we all started out pretty
much at the same point in this hobby....mainly, not knowing diddly
squat about these aero motors. Some where blessed with mechanical
experience and training, that made these small engines a snap....

....but let's face it....probably 25X that many Guys never changed a
spark plug in heir life....couldn't explain how a carburator works to
save their life....and will return a blank stare if you asked them if they
balanced that prop....

This is the new enthusiast that shows up at the field with that LA motor.
Yep....all ready to go....with that 3 year old can of fuel the LHS guy
unloaded on him....that prop that Guy had way too many of....some
off the wall Brand X glow plug....and some well wishes.

This is the Guy who had the "bad motor"....the one that ran like crap.

That all being said....I like the pretty blue engines....

Dave.

_____________________________

An engineer says.... "That won''t work".
A mechanic says..."Oh yeah, watch this".
"Old Age, and Treachery will overcome youth and skill".
Revver Bro #4.

(in reply to Flyfalcons)
       Post #: 77

RE: The OS LA series - 12/11/2003 4:41:23 PM   
cde0214


 

Posts: 131
Joined: 9/2/2003
From: Calhoun, LA, USA
Status: offline 		I have to agree with flyboydave, I'm new at the hobby, but I bought a 40la for dependability. I've got 62 flights on my trainer with no deadsticks, I would say thats pretty dependable. Even during break-in my la was no harder to start than any other engine on the flight line. Now that its broke-in, it starts easier than 85% of the engines on the flight line. Oh well, as long as there is more than one engine to choose from, their will be opinions for and against each brand! Just my $.02

(in reply to Flyboy Dave)
       Post #: 78

RE: The OS LA series - 12/11/2003 11:37:32 PM   
dennis



Posts: 1284
Joined: 1/7/2002
From: Minersville, PA, USA
Status: offline 		Bill Robinson mentioned that these motors are gaining a good reputation in control line flying. This is certainly true, particularly with the LA46.He compaired it to the ST 46 and for those that wern't flying when that motor was made it was the top of the line Roll Royce motor hands down.
It's light and it is reliable, There are no electric starters used as a general rule. The plastic backplate and remote nva is generally disposed of and replaced with an FP or Tower 40 metal backplate. mufflers are usually tongue type or some really like the MACS muffler as it really does give a power boost and a broad needle setting.
However the biggest thing that all controlline flyers do is use a completely different fuel then used in RC. Since these motors run without a carb and therefore cannot be throttled they all use castor based fuels for protection in case of a lean run, but also any plain bearing motor really needs a fair amount of lubrication to keep the main bearing alive. Best brands are Powermaster GMA 11/11/10, SIG, Taffinder, Use a hot plug and even for RC a lower pitch prop. The 46 usually uses APC 11.5/4.5 size or variations of 1/2 inch.
So what does this mean to the average RC'r
Again Bill Robinsen gave very good directions on breaking in your motor, see if you can get a fuel that has some castor in it, it's worth the inconvenience of cleaning it off, don't expect it to be your top of the line 3d motor. That said you should get years from the motor not just a summer of frustration.
Just for the record I logged over 120 flights on one LA 40 this year, same plug and prop and fuel. usually one or two flip starts. and never have I had a dead stick. Oh bettter clarify that we fly till there is no fuel left so all landings are deadstick. But there is never a drop of fuel left in the tank either.

(in reply to cde0214)
       Post #: 79

RE: The OS LA series - 1/8/2004 12:23:12 AM   
Wayne Miller


 

Posts: 969
Joined: 9/10/2003
From: DrumboOntario, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hi,

I just got a Fitzpatrick R.60 at a swap meet and was searching for a manual when I hit this thread.

Do you have a manual for this motor?

Best regards,

Wayne Miller

(in reply to maxtenet)
       Post #: 80

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