ORIGINAL: alexedit
ok - I've been into this hobby for 4 months now. I am learning about engines and I know that OS is one of the best out there, BUT...I don't really hear about any other engines.
I have an SK 80 and don't really know if it's good....or how bad it is.
so, apart from OS. what are other good engines out there? what is the competition of OS?
is SK a bad engine?
I've only ever owned one SK engine - an SK50 I paid $49.77 for a couple years back. The engine proper was worth $49.00 abd the carbureator $0.77 From day one it had rough spots in the throttle arm and would catch as the machining was rough on the carb barrel.
I never did get a very good setting on the low end. Seemed to be sucking air from somewhere. I had 12 consecutive dead sticks with that engine. Luckily my start in R/C was with two channel gliders. ;-)
The last straw was a flight that was going well but the throttle response suddenly stopped. I flew at 3/4 throttle (which this engine did like) until the tank ran dry and then deadsticked again. The throttle arm was held to the barrel with four spot welds (or at least spot pressed dimples) - which all had failed and the throttle arm was loose from the carb barrel.
I put a Perry carb on it and it is twice the engine it ever was before. It's a snotty .50 with that carb. The basics are there, and I know others who like them, but mine truly had a lemon carbureator.