I'm an O.S. guy through and through, but the Evolution .46 NX engine recently caught my eye. Is it just a nice looking engine, or does it run as good as it looks. I've read the reviews on this site, but I've learned to take them with a grain of salt, because who knows what the circumstances are surrounding the reasons for their Evos not running properly. Anyway, gentlemen, I need to know whatever you can tell me about Evolution engines, good and bad. I read a lot of reviews about Evos dead-sticking in flight, well my O.S. has dead-sticked on me a few times because it is new and not broken in yet. Now that I've got it tuned in, it's a champ of an engine. Fill me in on the Evos please.

I have three EVO 46 engines (I think they are NT versions). I really cannot say one thing about them bad except one of them was hard to get tuned and all I did was remove the exhaust baffle and that took care of it. I have read that some folks have problems with the EVOs but that has not been the case with mine. Maybe the EVOs have not had the extra quality control measures that OS has in place and require a little extra hand-holding to get tuned out well.

I also have about 5 OS engines and so far I have seen some small issues with the OS as well. I think the OS is a bit easier to get "dialed-in" correctly, but this is all considering engine/exhaust/tank and many other factors. The dead stick ratio has been comparible with my OS engines as my EVOs.

I think the key is once you get any engine running well and consistant for the most part they will all do a good job. I even have a GMS 76 that has turned out to be the best starting and consistant running engine of the bunch! The real question I have asked myself at times is if an OS is worth the extra cost over some of the other engines?

I can buy a third EVO for the cost of two OS engines (usually) and that sometimes is something to think about and could be a another plane in the air. Some say, "EVO won't last as long as an OS." If I have another plane to fly I won't be flying the "extra" EVO I bought as much because now I have an extra engine for the money I saved on the two OS engines. It will last me plenty long that way and I am not locked in to a few engines. It's all relative to the individual's taste

I have a 46 NX in my H-9 Cub. Horizon sent it to me as a replacement for the NT that came in it that wouldn't run correctly. It was a tuning nightmare, wouldn't run consistently no matter what I did. Different fuel, glow plugs, carb adjustments nothing worked. Horizon's Evolution repair department couldn't make it run right either and they replaced almost everything in it. So far the NX runs like a champ and has a lot of power. If I buy another 2 stroke it will probably be an Evolution. Horizon's customer service is first rate as well.

Evolution two-stroke glow engines are manufactured by Sanye in the People's Republic of China. Sanye is also the manufacturer of Magnum engines and ASP engines as well as their own Sanye brand. The Evolution glow engines are manufactured to different specifications than the other three brands (different crank case and exhaust design, etc.), but the overall manufacturing quality is very similar.

With the Evolution .46 NX now selling for $119.99 (Horizon) compared to the O.S. Max .46 AX's price of $134.97 (Tower), there really isn't a big cost advantage for the Evolution .46 NX. While I don't personally own any Evolution glow engines myself, I have seen them successfully flown and I know pilots who have them and like them. I wouldn't try talking somebody out of buying an Evolution glow engine if that's what they decide that they would like.

If you really want to save some money without compromising quality in any way, I'd recommend that the superlative Thunder Tiger Pro .46 be added to your shopping list. Readily available in the $85 to $95 price range at a number of vendors, the Thunder Tiger Pro .46 is every bit the match in quality, reliability, power, and user friendliness when compared to the .46 AX or .46 NX. If all three engines were the same price, I'd still buy the Thunder Tiger Pro .46.

I have both OS and Evo neither engine ever dead sticks on me (without good reason) and both have a good idle and good max power.  My OS has much faster and smoother throttle response especially after any time spent at idle. The AX carburator is far superior to the carb on the Evo it's higher quality, better tolerance, and its made for that particular engine. The Evo carb leaks air around the barrel when it comes out of the box and there is nothing you can do about it. In addition to that it's a universal carb not designed for a particular engine and its airflow, it's used on 4 different engines from .40 to .52 ci thats about a 30% differance in airflow, I cant imagine thats ideal. Infact Evo uses the same carb body and spraybar on 6 engines from .40 to 1.00.

There are a lot of people on here whos opinion will differ with mine but when it comes down to it I think you get what you pay for with OS, there is a reason there priced higher and still way outsell everyone else.

This man speaks the truth! I love my OS engines and my 55AX most of all but to be honest I will always have a soft spot for the TT Pro 46. It is such an easy engine to live with. They are incredibly easy to tune and run like a dream. I think the reviews here at RCU speak volumes for the quality and reliability of these little motors. I acutally got to run one of mine today for the frst time in over a year. I duf my old trainer out f storage to put together for my son. I put a fairly new Pro 46 on it and relaized all over again why this is such a sweet little motor. Even after sitting for over a year in storage it fired right up and took maybe 2 minutes for me to have her tuned up and in the air. Can't beat that! The price is pretty good too!

I got an Evolution 46 for a GP piper cherokee last year, I never had any problem with it, I can say that they are a little harder to tune than a OS but still good engines, I only had one dead stick since I got it, it always starts with one or two hand flips of the prop, so I can tell you  the only bad thing about them is that you will learn how to tune an engine.