are MDS engines any good?

I had one some years back. Never run properly, hard to tune. I learned how to disassemble en engine on it

who distributes them now? Morris hobby was the only guys I knew of they are gone

Nobody distributes them now in north America and its not likely they could ever be marketed here under that name agine with such a poor reputation real or imagined.

I never operated one but the examples that showed up at our field appeared to be quite troublesome. Morris sold a rebranded rossi varient but I don,t beleve they ever distributed MDS.

John

I think I'll stay away from it them. thanks

I even have one of the .58 NIB. If you got one to run they were great but the castings were very poor and they tended to break at the exhaust port. The carbs are crap and when Horizon was the distributor they would send you the new improved crap carb upon request.
Then one day that light bulb over my head went on, in Russia and Europe in general Nitro is a high dollar product and no one uses it very much. I ran one of my .68s with 5% nitro and it ran a bunch better then with the 15%. Then it hit me, these are high compression engines and don't like nitro. I could have used some shims and lowered the compression but by then I was tired of fooling around with them so I have a few under the bench. My .68s ran pretty well most the time even with the 15% fuel and I have never had the case break on one, only the .58s!
I will not bring out more then one blend of fuel so if I own it then it's going to run on 15% or nothing.
MDS, Many Dead Sticks!!
Anyone want to buy some MDS engines cheap?? I think I have three or four of them?

I learned to fly back in the late 1970's-early 1980's. Learned on a Sig Kadet with just three channels. Got out of the hobby back then and got back into it in 2007. I kept my old Kadet, but lost or misplaced the engine somewhere alomg the line. Bought a MDS 38 for the Kadet. I didn't know a thing about this brand of engine but that's what the hobby shop sold at what seemed like a good price-about $50 brand new. That engine was the worst engine I ever owned.........when it was new. I must have had 30 to 40 deadsticks before it would stay running for the entire flight. The engine has about 10 hours or more on it and I would have to say that it turned out to be the best running engine I own. It starts right up, idles great, plenty of power, uses very little fuel. It's dependable and will idle all day at 2200 rpm. This engine is a ringless ABC engine and they take a long time to break in. Once broken in, however, mine runs great. I know that my MDS engine is the exception, but I will run it until it blows itself up!!!!

That was the thing about them too, it took at least two gallons before they were broken in. The deal was you either got a good one or it was a tosser. I had a lot better luck with the .68 then the .58s. I had two of the .58s break about the time I got them running kinda OK, I sent them back to Horizon and no questions asked, a new one came to my door soon after.
If all dealers gave them the drop it should tell us all something though. I have seen them at club auctions and they couldn't even bring in five bucks. Didn't take long for the word to get out.

With Tower and Evolution selling good .46 engines for $80, there's no reason to babysit a $50 one. In the long run, you'll spend about the same money no matter what route you go. Buy junk and it'll cost you, or buy quality and and enjoy it.

MDS engines are no longer made.

My 38s were some of the best throttling engines I have ever owned. I still have one in a fast delta on a mini pipe and it hauls.

The 40s are variable most are Ok once they are run in and the carb is set. N.B. The factory settings are only approx. every MDS that has been through my hands has needed setting up.

My 68 was great and the 148s I had in 3D models were ultra reliable WHEN RUN IN! They need at least an hour and like 5%.

You will get lots of negative comments on MDS but I liked mine.

I have a 48 MDS and after the breakin it is a power house and runs like a top. Most guys never got them broke in and gave up on them.

Why buy an engine that requires that much work?? They didn't run any better then a good engine and at the time there were a lot of good engines in the same price range that ran well right out of the box. From Russia with Love!!

Exactly. If it takes a whole gallon of fuel to get one run in then you've spent the same money as the engines that don't.

I have a .48 MDS and it is the easiest starting engine I've ever seen! I like it way better than my O.S. .40LA, but those are the only engines I've owned so I can't say much. I have to be carefull throttling up the first time after starting it, but once you do that it runs great.

Even tho there are those rare people that had good luck with MDS, has a whole they were very bad engines. They had no mid range and many dead sticks. I know I tried to help Horizon with the RD after the fact with many different carbs with no luck. The engines were recalled. It was a a shame too because these engines were a power house at full throttle. Dennis

Recall?? I have four or five of them under my bench, I'm willing to send them back on a recall!!!
And a big shame on you to all the magazine engine writers telling the buying public what great engines these were!! Never saw one bad review!! I gues those advertising dollars paid off!!
That was the last time I ever bothered buying anything writen up with a good review from a magazine. Today I listen to what the other guys at the field say and from what I see happening.

Always the best way fifty years ago or today. Anyway perhaps this is what happened to that elusive batch of magic carbs that would make it all better.

OUCH!!!!!

I had an MDS 40 that came with a Horizon Hobbies trainer years ago. Biggest POS I ever tried to get to run correctly. Pure garbage. I gave it away to a guy I didn't like!! (Only kidding) MDS stands for Metal Door Stop!