I have a Tower 61 that I used exclusively last season in my Slowpoke 40 Sport(it was not slow). THe engine was very reliable I regularly added extra weight to my slowpoke for parachute drops and aerial photography. I had a great time with it. Unfortunatley, after about I'd say 100 hours of flight time, the carberator barrel stuck 1/2 OPEN and I bent the plastic nyrod trying to get the plane to respond. Once I got throttle control again the nyrod was shorter(bent) and would only get the throttle back to about 1/3, which was way to much to land.
SOOO I flew around until the fuel ran out and dead stick landed. A very nerve racking experience and lucky. I didn't figure out what happened until days later when I started takeing the carb apart and the pieces fell together. The vibrations and movement of the carb barrel had worn a pocket into the side of the channel that's cut into the carb barrel(full throttle, my most frequent position), when I tried to decrease throttle and move out of this ever increasing groove the nyrod bent.

SO bottom line, the carb barrel is aluminum and it WEARS OUT, since the screw that guides it are steel. Tower sent me a new parts at no cost, but I complained a little. The carb neck is the same diameter as a Super Tiger 60 carb(all steel) I have, I may try that in my next plane.

I think you'll be satisfied, I know I was, for the price.

Kevin K.