Picked up a used engine at the RCcountry swap meet last Saturday. It's a Magnum GP .44. Anybody have any experience with this brand? Seems like every one who's look at it has given me the old "good luck with that engine" look.

From what I have read the concensus seems to be is that the Magnum 4 stroke engines are inexpensive and run well although not as powerful as say OS or Saito engiones. The 2 strokes seem to have lots of problems. [8D]

I think what you have is a Magnum GP 40 or 46? Never heard of a Magnum 44 model engine , just the pistol.
I have the 40 and had the 46 engine, bushed engines similar to the OS LA series in power.
My experiance is they run well and are reliable but not a great deal of power. Good engine for the right trainer, etc.

Thanks for the information. I plan on using on a kit that I'm building as my first building project. It's a kit that was given to me so I woun't be out any money if it takes a crash.
And you may be correct about the size. But it does have the number 44 stamped on the side so It was a guess on my part as to what it was.

I may be wrong but I think you have an older Magnum that was made back in the days when Thunder Tiger made them. If so I would regard it as higher overall quality than is now produced. Look on the case and see if it has any markings like M.I.T. or something other than numbers. These are normally good engines and a lot of parts are still available. I believe Magnum and TT parted company with Mag going to china and TT coming out with their own engines. It is a 44 and they also made a 53 that I see for sale once in a while.
FEB

Why does everyone shun magnums??

I only have 2 of them. My 2-stroke is a .46XLS.....I have 10 gallons through it, it starts with one flip and NEVER dead-sticks. The 4 stroke is a .91 and although I wish it had the power of my Saito .82 and I would like better fuel-draw when priming, it's an EXCELLENT engine for the PRICE.

I don't know about older magnum engines and I really don't buy bushed-engines at all. I think you can get that engine to do great things if you treat it right and tune it correctly.

Don't be a..."I'll never buy another ______ engine"..., kind of guy. Most of the people who say that don't know how to tune, break-in or care for their engines. That being said, there are lemons in every manufacturer's line. I know a guy who threw away a Saito .82 because he got so frustrated with it, but he knows engines and he just got a 'lemon'. (That is a GREAT engine, BTW).

If it has compression, fuel, a good plug and the carb works right.... it HAS to run, physics dictates it.

Good Luck!!

Fredscz: There doesn't seem to be any other markings on the engine other than made in tawan r.o.c on the back.
Agexpert: Thanks for the good new. I haven't run any fuel through it yet but the saft moves freely and it seems to have good compression. So, I would expect it to fire once I get around to it.

Thanks again.

Re: "If it has compression, fuel, a good plug and the carb works right.... it HAS to run, physics dictates it. " < the engine can have good compression and still have poor engine seals. This usually makes the engine run erractic and unpredictable. IT also causes the engine to keep running even after the carb barrel is completly closed. As far as having the carb work right, based on my experience with different engines imcluding the ones I own and the ones I help new flyers with about 1/2 the brands have good carbs that work well. The other 1/2 have carbs that are finicky to get adjusted properly. The seals on some of the carbs are poor and the threads on the needle valves are course which makes them hard to fine tune. My 2 cents. [8D]

Whatever...do you feel better now?

I should'nt have been such a smart-*****. Lost a plane today...musta been in a mood. (Comment retracted.)