ORIGINAL: jeffk464
This thread has really gone in the wrong direction in my opinion. It would be nice to have owners of these 26cc engines state what there experience was either positive or negative, so we can get an overall opinion of reliability. It would also be helpful if you would mention how long you have used the engine. The way I see it there is no need to argue over this, and it seems to me that all the arguments have made it impossible to get an accurate opinion on these engines.
For instance this is evidence of the quality of an engine
Is it? Or is it evidence of improper mounting? If the engine is mounted to a surface that isn't true, it would put the mounting ears under tension. Add the vibration from running and an ear could break.
If you think improper mounting couldn't happen I offer this anecdote for evidence: I once test flew a guy's new airplane and had to hold a bunch of down elevator in it to get it to level out. Got it down and looked it over more carefully. Found that the engine was mounted in such a way that it was tilted up in relation to the firewall. He figured it would help it take off! No telling what a newbie will do!
CR