MaxxGS

My Feedback: (3)

Hello, I bought the 33% Hangar 9 Edge 540 almost 2 years ago and I'm just getting around to building it now.

The question I have is which engine to use for this plane? DA-85 or DA-100?

I have my mind set on using a DA engine and I read the review here on RCU were the DA-100 was chosen but that review was done before the DA-85 existed.

Now do I save some weight and run the DA-85?

Or just go with the DA-100 for the extra performance and not worry if the plane is weighing at the max recommended weight of 24 pounds.

I have also be told since my plane is 2 years I most likely have the first generation of this plane which is heavier than the later models, any truth to this? How do you identify this if true.

Thanks for reading and any input would be appreciated.

Owen V

I got a edge 540 with a Da-85 in it but it has not flown yet but i will probably fly it on thursday and i will let you how well it flies with the Da-85. i'm expecting it to fly great

MMcConville

My Feedback: (4)

Either is good, but I'd opt for the DA-85 set-up. Lighter is always better.

No truth to the firs run being heavier. They are all the same.

Owen V

if you choose the Da-85 i think you would just have to move the battery as far forward as possible since the Da-85 is approx 1.2 lbs
lighter than the Da-100
mine with the Da-85 did come out tail heavy when it was balanced at 5" and i did already have extra wieght in the nose

Mr. Mugen

How did you mount your DA in your edge? I just bought a DA-85 for my edge and need mounting ideas. Did you make a mount or buy one? If you bought one could you give me the name of the place you bought it from?

Thanks,
Kevin

Owen V

Since where i live i can't buy any stand offs or mounts for it so i had to make my own,
i just went a simple way by building a new engine mount out of hard wood and ply wood which used the old hole that are already drilled
it is similar system to the engine mount given with the edge to mount the Zenoah G-62 but just for the Da-85
i will add pictures of it as soon as i can

Owen V

here is how i mounted the Da-85 on my edge

Mr. Mugen

Thanks for the pics! As I pictured it but prettier. Are those outside bolts in the holes that are alreay there for the motor box?

Owen V

yes, i took the old bolts out that went though the alu and replaced them with new ones that could go all the way through the new engine mount and i also put lock nuts behind them to make sure they do not come loose
The reason i used the outside bolts was because the holes that are drilled for the Zenoah engines are very close to the holes that the Da-85 uses, and if i had used those holes i would have problem mounting the engine in the center point since the bolts would be in the way

if you look at the photo you will see that the lower bolts are higher than the ones that will come out of the motor box, this is because i had to cut the bottem of the engine mount at an angle to be able to fit the exhaust on it. So i drilled new holes through the enine mount and alu in the motor box a bit higher than the normal ones.
The engine mount did weigh approx 0.6lbs but this did not have a bad effect on the CG since the plane still came out tail heavy.

Owen V

I flew my edge friday and saterday and it flew great!!
the DA-85 has more than enough power for the plane, so i would recomend you putting one in yours to
i've also done some reading and i found out that the DA085 has as much power as the 100 and if not more because of it being a single there is not as much friction as the 100 and also remember the engine is a lot lighter
Da-85 is definately the way to go

Mr. Mugen

Great to hear! Some pics of that engine mounted would be great if you have time. Are you running smoke with it? Also what prop did you go with?

Owen V

haven't got smoke, but i'm planning to put on in the future
running a Evolution 26x10 prop and might change it to a 27x10

Mr. Mugen

I got a 27x10 for maiden. I still need to mount my motor. Since I just finished the other 3 planes ahead of it I am ready to concentrate on the edge only now. I got the hardwood and ply for the mount....just need to get cutting. I also have the smoker hooked up and moutned in it already. I have the same muffler as your but with smoke nipple. Thanks again for the pic to peek at when I build mine.

Kevin

Owen V

all that you must watchout for when you make the mount is that it's not too short, i made mine too short ay frist and when i started the engine with the cowl the back plate of the spinner scratched the front of the cowl, so i had to take the whole mount off and make it a bit longer,

don't worry if the mount is a bit heavy, mine wieghs 0.6lbs and the plane still has way more than enough power to do anything at all, and it hover at about 1/4 - 1/3 throuttle

flybye Steve

Hey guys, I haved owned and flown two (2) H9 Edge 540's both of which were equipped with DA 100's. I have just recently flown my new H9 Sukhoi with the DA 85 and I agree, this would be a more suitable motor for the Edge.
DA tells me the the new 85 is about one half (1/2) HP under the 100 however, if you look at the props. recommended for each motor you will find many are the same. Also, it would be interesting for someone (who is qualified) to descibe the pros and cons on the weight savings (2 lbs) with the 85 vs the 1/2 HP added power of the 100. I'm quessing the advantage will go to the 85 and by more than a little.
I am flying a 25/12 Mej. 3 blade on my 85. This is the same prop I have flown on all of my 100's.
I should mention, that I do not fly much 3D (although I try) and consider my flying ability to be somewhere between intermediate and advanced. Perhaps some of the Pro's can weigh in on this. It is a subject of considerable interest.

Owen V

the Da-100 is already way over powering a edge but i would say that the Da-85 will preform very similar,it might have a bit less power but you save the weight
So i would say they would preform almost the same

I would say that the Da-100 and the Da-85 both have advantages, eg, the Da-100 having more power,better idle,less vibration and the Da-85 lighter and cheaper

Mr. Mugen

Do you remember the size of the ply you used? I have many sizes here but wondering which you went with. This is my first big plane and I have yet to build a motor mount this size. I am really excited to get this one finished.

Owen V

Since i live in South Africa i work in mm and the ply was 15mm but it would be fine if you use 1/2"ply.

plowboy1966

Hello there, I have an older Edge 1.20 78" with a Saito 1.80. I am running an APC 18X6 and I just don't think I'll ever be able to get enough thrust out of this set-up. All up dry is about 13.5 LBS. Is this normal weight? Is the 1.80 enough for this plane? It falls out way too early on vertical and hovering is out of the question. What should I do? Maybe just put the Saito in a 1.50 Twist?

Owen V

i think one thing you could do is put a gas engine in it and the siato 1.50 in the Twist,
I would say that a Evolution 35GT2 or possibly a 45GX2 could work in the small edge
Since i have not ever had this plane i would not know.but i have a smaller 1 with a 66" wing span with a saito 1.20
and it only hoves at full throuttle, and i would want a 26 size gas engine in that
so a 35Gt2 could work for you but ask around a bit

plowboy1966

Thanks OWEN, I think it needs a DL50. The Saito is 29cc so I don''t think a 32 would cut it with the extra battery and ignition, etc. I must say that I do have the 1.80 running better now. I stepped down a little on the prop and the verticle has improved. The plane will hover but there is not a lot of room for error because of the lack of power. Thanks for your input. Happy flying!!