OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

I currently have a Super Tigre 45 ABC in my great planes cherokee. The plane flies good but the motor has always given me little fits every now and then. I have found a used OS 46 FX motor, just wondering what your thoughts are about which motor is better, thanks

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

I have always used OS or Siato for glow engines.....I have had pretty reailable operation from them...Never have I run a Super Tiger

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

G'day Mate,
I only ever had 1 Super Tigre, it was a 61 ringed, & it was the WORST engine I have ever had.
I used it in a plane for my instructors course, in 2004, & I had lots of dead stick practise.
I was Chinese made & absolutely hopeless.
I went with OS before, & after, & have never had trouble since.
Just my opinion.
For what it's worth, but it sounds like you need to experience OS for yourself, & make up your own mind.
PS, Super Tigre don't like nitro.
I run all my OS engines with 10% nitro & 18% coolpower oil. NO castor.

Cheers

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

IIRC, Perry Carbs stayed in business for years mostly thanks to Super Tigre. I'd look around for a replacement carb before I'd scrap the sucker. The control line Tigres were awesome. And the few RC that I've noticed had had their carbs adjusted correctly and ran excellent.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

The motor is on its second carb. Everyone at my field flies OS or saito. I have had this motor for 4 years and have had alot of dead sticks with it because as I fly after each run I have to readjust the carb either richer or leaner depending on what it wants. Just seams as though it is a fussy motor where as the OS is more reliable.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

Well fact be know your experiance with the ST is not really unique. If you want a complete revelation in how good an engine can be the for that airplane then try an OS 55AX or the new series 11 46AX.

I have many of the AX's and they will provide a completely different experiance in terms of user friendliness, reliability and good throttling (they shine in the throttling).


I have used various ST in the past but not any more. Now the FX series was formerly my favorites before the AX's so if you have one I would definately use that over an ST.

Do be aware, oh maybe ten years ago there was a bad run of cylinder plating on the old OS.46FX but they got that fixed pretty quick so when buying a used one be carefull inspect the cylinder sleeve for any sign of peeling.


John

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

The OS will be more powerful and easier to tune, and likely more reliable if you tune it right. ST's can be good runners too once you learn their quirks and make sure there are no air leaks. I can tell you from the two I've had that needle valve settings should be fairly straightforward. If they are really inconsistent, look for air leaks in either the engine or the fuel lines. ST's are known for having a rich midrange, but that can be fixed by rotating the spraybar slightly.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

I have learned how to tune the ST's. They are unique in how they like to be tuned. As stated, any air leak will have you chasing your tail. I have gone though (3) OS FX series engines yet my ST 45 is still running. I have flown a few of the newer ST's. They seemed to be the same with a slightly better mid range. I found that STs do not need or really like high nitro fuel. They can be picky about the props they run. One hated any Zinger I mounted on it. Yet it ran great with a Master Air Screw. Never did get one to run with an APC. Fuel tank position is really critical too. I have side mounted the engine to get the carb and fuel tank center lines to match up.

One trick it to look and the cats eye under magnification to see if there is any burr causing a problem. I can not remember the drill size off the top of my head.

Buzz.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

True, the ringed Super Tigre engines last forever. An ABC engine will lose compression and maybe peel eventually, but a ringed engine will almost never wear out if it's taken care of properly.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

I just sold a very low time Italian made ST 61 and I sometimes wish I had kept it.
This one started very easy, had plenty of power and no dead sticks at all.
It was a little on the heavy side, with the huge stock muffler it won't fit into most cowlings.

I also have 2 OS 46 FX, one with a muffler and one with tuned pipe. Great engines, no problems, no dead sticks.
One thing - I never measured it, but I could swear the FX use more fuel then the ST 61.

So I do not know about the Chinese made Super Tigres, but my Italian one ran great.
I'd get another one, if the weight and size is not a problem.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

The OS engines have slightly milder timing and are easier to tune. The Tigres have slightly more power. I've run them mostly on 15% fuel over the years, but have also run from 5% to 25% (and 65% on racing X-40's). The best Tigres were from the World engine days, before the cheap castings were used for the head and drive washers. Moving the production to China did not make much difference. When set up properly with good tank position, and right plug, Tigres have a lovely gurgling sound at low power when you are coming in for a landing.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

Engines with mufflers that can easily be mistaken for a six inch cast iron water main just never appealed to me. Hmm I do still have my old .23's and I did love those. Oh my I just figured out how long its been since I ran em', forget it I don,t wanna think about that no more:D

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

Set up properly, they are the most reliable engines you can buy.
And as a bonus, the ringed engines will last forever if you take care of them!

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

Hi!
All engines today are good! The Super Tigre too...if you treat it right and don't mess with changing carbs and run the wrong fuel or running too lean.
But the OS AX series are slightly better though,more userfriendly and more powerful.

Did you change the stock Super-Tigre carb for a Pery? Why? The Perry is very sensitive to dust/particles as it has a thin slot that meters the in-comming fuel to the carb. Othervise it's good but not as userfriendly as modern Super Tigre or OS carbs.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

I've gradually moved away from OS engines in favor of ST. Perhaps I've had good luck with them, but I find them more reliable and able to swing a wider range of props. No kidding, I let a ST 45 (ABC) idle for five minutes (timed) then full power w/o hesitation. I've had fewer deadsticks. Getting them tuned can be more challenging, but once there, I've found them very reliable.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

I've owned several of each over the years. One of my favorite engines is the ST .90. It is stone reliable and starts and runs easily and consistently. I also have owned several of the OS engines, but never one of the small (.40) size models. If your wallet will stand it, I'd go for an OS 4 stroke engine. Just my opinion.

Bill, Waco Brother #1

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

I have had good luck with ST engines. Read the instructions for initial carb set up. The key is getting the high and low needle ends inside the spray bar the proper distance from each other. When you turn one 'in' you will have to turn the other one 'out'. Adjust for max slightly rich rpm. Then slowly try to reduce throttle. If rich then close low speed needle some and open high speed needle same amount and recheck. Vice-versa for lean condition. Recheck high speed setting again then repeat the exercise. Takes a little time but works. I always run 10% nitro and used the muffler pressure for tank. Make sure the fittings aren't clogged.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

O.S. for 2 strokes and Saito for 4 stroke engines. They do cost more but like everything else, you get what you pay for.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

I love my ST's once you get them set up which can be a headache sometimes.

But once you do leave it alone, my 75 & 90's you can't beat for power.

But just like engines of all kinds some people have there favorites, whatever your pleasure that makes you happy.

I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

Super Tigre engines can be very powerful and very reliable; this is true of the newer Chinese-made (GMS) Super Tigres as well as the Italian-made examples. Many engine "experts" at our local club only run O.S. 2-strokes and don't know the first thing about tuning any other brand of glow engine.

Comparing the ST GS-45 to the O.S. .46 AX:

Compression: O.S. is lower compression, so it is less sensitive to precise tuning. ST higher compression makes smaller needle adjustments more important

Break In: O.S. has soft nickel liner that allows for reliable idle right from the box, harder ST piston liner may require a bit longer to break in

Prop Range: O.S is tuned for torque and turning larger props, ST is designed for higher rpms and won't perform as well with larger props (11x7 APC for example)

Fuel Requiremens: O.S. will run great on 15% nitro as lower compression and more nitro help with tuning flexibility, ST designed for low nitro and will run better on 5% or 10% nitro than 15%

Glow Plug Requirements: O.S. will like hotter plug like (O.S. 6 or 8) due to lower compression, ST doesn't need hot plug and runs well on medium hot like O.S. No. 8 or Fox RC Long plug

The reason that so many pilots rave about O.S. Max 2-strokes and complain about Super Tigre engines is simple, they set both engines up to run like an O.S. 2-stroke and only the O.S. engine runs well. If you put an O.S. #6 plug and 15% nitro fuel through a ST GS-45 and try to turn an APC 11x7 prop with it, you'll never get it running right. An O.S.Max .46 AX will run all day long with that setup and hardly even hiccup.

The converse is also true, however. If you set up a ST GS-45 with a Fox RC Long glow plug and 5% nitro fuel and have it spinning an APC 10x7 prop, it will run all day long with barely a hiccup. The O.S. .46 AX would also run on this setup, but it would be significantly down on power and prone to dead sticking at idle with the low nitro and medium hot plug.

A Volkswagon Jetta TDI is faster than a Porsche 911 when you fill them both up with diesel fuel.

O.S. Max makes terrific engines; perhaps more importantly they make really, really fine carburetors. I've never tried talking anyone out of buying an O.S. Max engine. If you truly understand how to set up and tune glow engines in a general sense, however, you can run most any brand of engine you'd like and enjoy similar power and reliability for half the price. There are two kinds of pilots who fly glow engines, pilots who will only fly O.S. Max and pilots who actually know how to set up and tune a glow engine.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

i have had both os and super tigre engines and thunder tg as well and out of the three i love my super tigre by far. they have been so easy to tune and have been so reliable and have always started rite up every time.im not knocking os or thungertiger at all they are good engines as well but it seems that my super tigres are a bit more powerful and the sound the super tigre makes at idle is perfect. i cant see myself flying anything els but super tigres. also factor in the price difference and you cant go wrong. i hope this is helpful.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

To the OP, both engines are fine engines. You probably do have an air leak issue if you are experiencing erratic behavior. Areas to check would be the carb to engine o ring, HS needle valve o ring and rear cover gasket. Also, make sure your carb is clean.

OS engines are easier to tune but the ST will run just a good once properly tuned. Keep in mind the ST engine has a high, low and mid range adjustment. High and low are set by needles and the mid range is set by rotating the spray bar. Generally, you leave the mid range adjustment alone unless there is a need to adjust it.

Super Tigre engines are a European design (i.e. Super Tigre, Rossi, Webra) and as such are designed for lower nitro due to the cost over there. 5% fuel is all it needs and it's cheaper too. I keep 15% fuel for my OS's and 5% for my ST's.

I was strictly an OS guy (love the FSR's and SF's) until a few years ago. I decided to try other brands after hearing about the FX liner peeling issue. I've since run ST, Webra and Rossi and like them all.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

There are some people that cannot even tune a radio. I have a friend that in 20 years never learned how to handle any engine. He just gave me 3 STs and a Fox and has gone electric. I love my STs.

Paul

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

I almost didn't click on this post but glad I did...

I have 2-ST engines ( a .51 and a .91) and have done okay..with them)
However... The .51 had a tuned pipe setup on a reactor (I say had, becuase it would quit around half a tank, and the dead stick muffed the plane up and I have not fixed it yet.
It had a 12.3.456464 or a 11x6 apc ... can't remeber exactly... ran on 10-15%... .perhaps that was the issue...

The .90 had a after market muffler, was on a piper cub and it ran fairly well, but deadsticked on takeoff, nosed in on pavement....
I switched over to a .91 magnum 4-storke....


I had a .46FX OS that I ran and ran and ran, and then sold it....
It was my 1st engine I ever had, and first rc plane I ever had flown....
It was a SuperTiger seamaster float plane....
I even flew that plane when it was raining.... It NEVER deadsticked...and was a set and forget type engine....
This was on the stock muffler though....

I have a OS 1.20 AX that ran great on the stock muffler, but dead sticked and flung props when hovering and loaded on flat, and leaned out when going up....
This was with a tuned pipe.....

I vote for the OS .46fx as it has a centimental value and ran perfect....
I will not give up on ST engines, but the information on this post would help me, and I bet, allow me to tune them properly....

OS is a set and forget engine... that would work great...

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

Quick and simple answer. OS hands down. a very good running, reliable engine that i have used for years.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

I've used ST engines since 1965 because I got tired of getting my butt beat in CL competitionLater when I switched to RC competition I continued to use Super Tigre engines, I've got quite a collection of them, both ringed and ABC..I've never had one wear out on me. I've competed in F-1 & Q'midget racing, RC Pattern and RC Scale and I chose a ST over the OS because the ST to me is easier to tune and can haul the mail quite capably. I also have a number of OS engines, some are used for RC and others are rigged for CL flight. I use smaller OS's (10's to 25 size ) in my sport RC planes, I like the way the smaller OS's start and run. I use OS 35-S & 40 FP's in my competition CL ships..because they are EZ starters and consistent runners...everything else (CL & RC) gets a fire breathing ST engine mounted in the front office.. In my humblest opinion, both brand of engines are excellent...but I still don't like getting my butt beat and I will still continue to use ST engines in my fast ships....

Reallistically, any brand of engine is good as long as it is propped right, the fuel is fresh & clean, has good lubrication (50-50 castor/synthetic), engine parts kept clean, tight and in good operating order...Most engine problems modelers suffer are from poor maintenance habits which can be traced to...dirty/gritty engine surfaces, poor prop selection, poor fuel tank rigging & installation, and loose/leaking parts.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

A very true statement.

Skippy, you're selling yourself short if you refuse to try other engine brands. OS makes a good engine, no doubt about it but others can and do beat em and sometimes for less $$$.

At the local flying field a few years ago a new member was flying a 4star 40 and that thing was hauling the mail! It had a different crackle and bark to it so I new he didn't have an OS in it. When he landed and I came over to take a look I was surprised to see an ST 40 in it. That's when I decided to try STs and I haven't been sorry.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

I have two Super Tigers, a .40 and a45, a friend has five, .40, .45 and .51, .75 adn a .90. All are great runners and easy to tune. Just set it and forget it, very rarely do the carbs have to be touched.

bhadh

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

OS MIGHT COST MORE BUT 100% better then the st

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

i have two super tiger engines both italian made. one is a .61 and runs as good as any os and powerful too. the second is a super tiger 3000 yeah the big one , it runs great too it pulls a 18x6 at 9000 and flies my extra 260 very well. i also have 2 os engines a 70 fs surpass and a 46 fx they run great too. also have a gms engine that is a .47. these were sold by tower for awhile. didn't run worth sh ........so i changed to an os remote needle and os 40c carb. now it runs like an os does ,and with the gms tuned muffler it screams. i also have had saitos. very good but i like os better. the china made super tigers ain't to good,sure not like the ones i have. they all run os # 8 glow plugs except the surpass with an os type f plug..............have fun...............RON

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

use os if you can't tune a glow engine, they are much more user friendly, however the supertigres are also great engines if you are capable of tuning and have some patience with breaking them in first. i like showing at the flying field with different brands of engines because nearly everybody else flies gas or os glow engines and i get compliments on how good my engines run , even mds engines which have gotten a bad rap are good engines too as long as you break them in and use no more than 5% nitro, none is even better.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

G 60 Bluehead.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

If you are not an "engine man" by birth, you'll fare better with the OS engine. If you have the knack for engine tuning and are really interested in engines anyway, you can have just as nice an engine in the Super Tigre. In fact, your Super Tigre, generally speaking, will outlast the OS by quite a long time. More performance? It really depends upon which model of each brand engine that you are comparing. Parts are much cheaper for Super Tigre, not that you'll need that many parts for an ST.


Ed Cregger

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

I have both brand engines and other brands as well. Most of the people at my club fly OS as well. That is probably why you are having trouble with the ST engines (you would have had trouble with any other non-OS brand engine as well). Like others have said here, you and your club buddies are trying to tune the ST like an OS.

First of all, make sure that you give the ST a longer period for break-in. The ST ABC has chrome lining instead of the nickel lining on the OS FX. This might make the break-in period longer, but the engine will last longer than a nickel lined engine like the OS.

Make sure that the carb jet assembly cat-eye slit is pointing straight down the carb. You will have to remove the carb and look into it from the bottom. If the cat-eye slit is not pointing straight down, loosen the 2 small screws on the side of the carb and rotate the barrel assembly and then re-tighten the small screws (careful not to over-torque).

I run a Fox #8 plug, but an OS #8 plug will work too. Use 5% nitro fuel.

My Chinese GS-40 (ring) engine with a small racing prop (9x7 or so) turns 15,200 rpm's. My Chinese G-51 (ring) engine can turn a 13x4 prop at 10,000 rpms. Not bad, eh?

I don't use the ST stock muffler, they work well, but are too heavy for my liking.

Try it, you will feel like you didn't give up and just go with the flow.

I would keep both engines, and try both for comparison.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

Quickturn,
You are correct, I should have stated further that i do and have used other engines such as Irvine,evoluton and back in the day when i started flying pattern i used K&B and Rossi. All of these with the exception 0f the evo. were very good engines. I have two Irvines in a Beech Baron. Most of my intrests have now turned to gas engines.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

Both brands of motor are excellent. Most of my fleet is Super Tigre, but own a couple of OS motors as well, which have been great.

If anyone has the patience to build a model or learn to fly one, they can certainly figure out a ST carb. Not that hard.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

Skippyc5,

I haven't tried gas yet but I do have 2 Irvine 53's (UK version) and like them a lot. Built very much like an OS but IMO, better.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

Every engine brand has their own little tics and pops that must be learned. IMO it comes down to the Ford vs Chevy vs Mopar thing. If you are not happy with a particular brand, then try something else.

I have a new to me YS 53 4C. It is different from anything I've owned and is taking me a bit to learn it's tics and pops. It runs like a banshee but I'm having some idle issues. I'm almost there and have a handle on the adjustments.

Ken

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

Super Tigres will last longer than an OS, no doubt abuot that. They are a bit harder to tune and seem to be a bit erratic as far as carb assembly at the plant. The spraybars cause untold amounts of trouble that isn't documented all that well. My worst engine was an OS .46SF.(of course my best glow engine was/is an OS 1.08)
I ran the old ST .46 for a long time, its only fault was that it would kick the crap out of you if you got it too wet while priming!
My dad had at least 1000 flights on a ST 90K and it never had issues except for the midair that sheared the entire jug off.

RE: OS vs. Super Tigre engine
 

My super tigre 45 has been an absolutely perfect engine. I would check fuel lines, tank, and then work back to the engine. New plug, and clean out the engine. It's not hard. You have a good engine, it may just need a second look. good luck