I am looking for some ideas on building an engine test stand. I can't seem to find any threads on this subject, and I am hoping that some out there has some pictures of theirs and details of the best way to build one.

Well it certainly wasn't the best way to build one I'm sure, but I took a pieca of 4x4 that I had & cut a piece about 1 1/2 ft long. I then screwed an adjustable motor mount to the end of it. I bolted an old fuel tank from an rc car on top of the 4x4. Car tanks work good for test/run in stands because they have 4 screw holes to bolt them on with usually & they have a flip open lid making it very easy to put fuel into them. They also have a fuel feed nipple at the bottom of the tank & a breather nipple at the top so you can run that to the nipple on your exhaust to pressurize the tank. Then I super taped a piece of goldenrod along the side of it to run a piece of push-rod stock through. Make the appropreiate bends in the end of the push-rod stock to accomadate the throttle control arm on the engine you are running in, slap the whole thing into the vise & your ready to run. (don't forget to open the gargage door) If you don't have a vise to put something like that in, or clamps big enough to hold it for you then you maight wanna use alonger piece of 4x4. My first one was about 4 ft long & I super taped it to the top of a 3 ft step ladder, crude version but it worked. I have since bought a vise & shortened it into the 1 1/2 ft version. Nothing fancy or trick looking, just a good functional engine run-in set up. I know alot of guys that don't even bother. They just run em in on the plane itself, or break em in during their first few flights. I like to run an engine in on the bench first, old habits of my Dad's I guess. Anyway there's an easy simple way to do one, maybe it will give you some ideas to start with until you figure out how nice of one you wanna set up. I didn't bother with a servo at the back for the throttle arm because I have different size & types of engines. This way I can slide the pushrod stock out & change the bends for the throttle arms as needed I just leave it long with the other end coming out the back of the goldenrod about a ft or so, & I can just operate it by hand. Works good.

I simply take a piece of 3/4ths inch thick wood and with a coping saw, cut out a a portion, so the base of the crank case of the engine will fit between. Like an engine mount, the chunck of wood ends up shaped like a two pronged fork. The wood piece is long enough, so I can secure a tank to it and use C-Clamps to secure to a saw horse or bench. I drill holes through the mounting lugs of the engine and bolt the engine to the wood mount. I use rubber bands to secure a fuel tank onto the wood mount and C-clamp all to saw horse or bench. I also use a metal push rod to control the throttle.

Dirt simple and cheap. Many years ago I built an adjustable one, used it a couple times and I have no idea what happened to it. Also, it wasn't quite adjustable enough when four strokes started coming on the scene.

Sometimes bench running really isn't needed. Mount to the plane, run a tank through on the graound and fly the plane is all that's needed. However, to familiarize your self with operating, they are a nice way to go.

You could build one.......or you could buy one for $17.95. I was going to build until I picked up a VMR stand. The VMR stand is adjustable to engine sizes 0.25-1.20. I got one and love it. I even reviewed it on my thread (includes video).

VMR Test Stand Review: [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3561097/mpage_8/key_/tm.htm]CLICK HERE[/link]

Mods

M South,
I have built one myself and I will try and get pictures this weekend.
Keep searching, there is info out there. Look beyond RC Universe.

Something I found after I built mine is a universal engine mount by Magnum that has a slot in it.
Looks like a good idea unless the slot is to far back for some of the smaller engines.

I don't recommend the VMar. If you do a search on them here it seems there stuff is pretty junkie.
I didn't like the looks of their machine - looked kind of flimsy to me. Someone reported here that it was.

Keep up the hunt, they a blast to use. Makes life real easy.

KW_Counter

The first picture is a 1 X 4 board that has a notch cut in it to clear the crankcase. The engine is bolted on with bolts from Great Planes. The engine is a OS 52 Surpass.

The second stand is an American Hobby Products Jumbo stand. I think that is a Saito 150 I have in it.

Both stands are screwed to the patio railing with drywall buggle head screws.

Enjoy,

Jim

w8ye, I like that jumbo stand. Do you remember what it costs? Thanks in advance.

It was $34.95 but I had to pay shipping. I'd allow $40?

I'll look up their address here in a minute. They are not on the web. I had it on one of my other computers? But which one?

enjoy,

Jim

American Hobby Products
12 West Hill Circle
Reading, MA 01867
781 944 8316

They make a standard, the Jumbo (In the picture, 61 and above) and then the Mighty. They also make a torque and a thrust one.

There are a lot of pictures of homemade stands on RCU.

The first picture is a fancy home made saw horse with a PSP stand mounted on it and the second picture is a American Hobby Products Mighty stand.

Enjoy,

Jim

w8ye, Thanks for the quick info, it's a nice looking stand but a bit too pricey for my liking. I'm not above borrowing their design though & building one just like it for less than $10.

Here's a link to more ideas....

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_36...tm.htm#3687363

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_35...tm.htm#3504821

Enjoy,

Jim

Thanks, you can just about build a test stand outta anything if ya really put your mind to it!

Wow this is all great stuff, and I would like to thank everyone for their responses and all the pictures. I definately got some great ideas from this. I sure am glad I found this web site.

M South,
You got some great suggestions here. I think the one from W8YE is the best.
It is simple to build and should be very strong. DO USE OAK or MAPLE.
You will be putting lots of stress on these, keep safety in mind.
I would look for a way to make sure the engine cannot go forward it he hold downs loosen up.
The one I built is much more elaborate, but I really enjoy woodworking.
I also included its own receiver and servo for throttle control.
I used old stuff to here to keep the cost down. It sure makes tuning a lot easier with that precise control.
Good luck and have fun,
KW_Counter