ORIGINAL: Russell Bear
Just got a response from DLE on the tilt issue. Seems they don't see the problem (yet)...
''Hello Mr.Russell Bear,
You can contact TBM for parts that modification needs.
Based on our ground tests, engine would quit when it's running at idle for too long then suddenly tilted. However, we've found plane was unable to simulate the same situation in the air, the possibility of tilted quit is very lower, so we didn't pay too much attention on this problem. Our modification and recent upgrades is meant to lower the idle as much as possible, the idle can steadily running at 1600rpm now.
Regards
DL''
I've had many a chain saw, cheap Homelites and Poulans to Stihls, that took alot more abuse than a model gas engine and never had one stall or sputter from tilting or even dropping it. I had a running one roll down a 200' slope hitting trees along the way and never stalled. Those guys are known for their cloning skills. Apparently they're not doing their homework on this one.
We had several XYZ engines in our club and watching their reliability and power tempted me to buy a 26 for less than $200. It's a good reliable one but just not enough guts to hover a 12# plane. It begs for the DL30 power but I'm going to a ST3000 and wait for better reliability reports on the 30.