Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

Hello Everyone,

Just getting back to hobby after couple of years. I recently got a 60 size trainer and now looking for an ideal size engine which I can use into my next plane too (I know i am being cheap in this economy ;)).

Here is what i have looked into so far and I need some input from all you professionals.

1. Tower Hobbies .75 Ball Bearing ABC
2. Super Tigre G-61 Ring
3. OS 75 AX (but little too expensive $200+)
4. Thunder Tiger PRO 61 BB

Factors that I am considering:

-Reliability (won't die on me and holds it parts together)
-Easy to start (Bad experience with OS 46 LA couple of years ago)[:'(]

So please feel free to comment on these as well as give your own recommendations.

Thank you in advance.

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

Unless you plan to do serious aerobatics also , a .55ax will pull most .60 size trainers just fine.

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

So far I only have experience with the AX engines. I have bought 4 this past year (.46, 2x.55, 1.20). Every time I debate paying the extra money, and every time I am over joyed by my AX and the decision to get one. On less than perfect experiences (one?), their product support and warranty service were perfect and better than expected.

I have only had one dead stick in 16 gallons of fuel, due to an old plug in the wrong temperature conditions. I have sold off one plane/engine, the other three engines all start very easily by hand (have not seen the other one in a while so can't vouch for it).

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

Here is a novel idea, how about using an O.S. .61 FX ABL in a .60 sized trainer. Super-Tigre engines are not the same engines they were, when they were distributed by World Engines. People seem to have problems with them at my club, anyway.

O.S. are still the standard by which most people seem to judge engines, so you really can't go wrong with an O.S.

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

Well the reason, I wanna go with .75 size engine is so that I can use it in my next aerobatics plane. I will be flying trainer only for a while just to get my feet wet. I just don't want to jump straight to low wing aerobatic after 2 years of break.

I am considering my next plane to be either YAK or Edge.

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

What about the Thunder Tiger GP-61?

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

Are you currently using it and how is it different than OS 75AX (other than price)? What about the performance?

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

Had you outlined your interests beyond the trainer, I would say if you think the .75 AX fits the bill, good choice!

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

Like I mentioned earlier, I will fly trainer just to get the feel of things again. I will soon transition to my second plane (within 2 months) to either YAK or Edge 60 size.
Cannot afford to go to giant scale as they are out of my league for now. Therefore, I am looking for the engine that will be used mainly on my second airplane.

Any comments on Thunder Tiger Pro .61 Ball Bearing ABC w/Muffler as compare to OS 75AX or 61FX?

Thanks,

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

the towerhobbies .75 is by far the best bang for the buck and it runs smoothly and flawless

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

The 75 is like an ounce heavier but 20% larger displacement. Not much of a comparison.

If you are absolutely positive you will have a .60 size aerobat next and will definitely use this engine, get the 75AX. It would not be surprising at all to see your plans change though;)

The planes you are talking about getting next are generally heavily powered by their owners. I can say from experience that it is incredibly disappointing to set up a plane only to find that you wished you had a bigger engine.

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFV76&P=0

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

Yup... A stump puller, cheap & reliable.


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I've also have had very good luck with the SuperTigres once I learned how to cure the engine's transition problems.

Everyone complains that they can get a good idle but poor transition, or good transition, but bad ( too rich ) idle, no matter what they do.

Taking a page from a fix I saw for a .46 engine on Sport's Flyer Mag... I merely remove the throttle barrel, file a small 3-4mm half moon circle at the most closed point of the throttle barrel, clean and re-inserts.

This allows me to richen the low end, thereby fixing the transition, while that small half moon cutout, leans the now rich idle setting.

I've fixed three engines this way and all work great after the change.

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

I have a Thunder Tiger GP-61 on my Goldberg Protege .60 ARF, it's a match made in heaven! The TT Pro .61 has an excellent reputation, but I haven't flown one yet.

I have a Super Tigre G-61 Ringed engine on my Sig King Kobra. It's been easy to break in and tune, and a pleasure to fly. I keep hearing about folks who have problems with Super Tigre engines, I just haven't run into them yet. I own a G-51 and a Bull Ring .46 in addition to the G-61 ringed.

I'd buy and try the JBA .75 2-stroke before I'd buy the Tower Hobbies .75 2-stroke. I know a lot of pilots like the TH .75, but my experience with my JBA .56 has been really outstanding. The JBA .75 is only $99.95 plus s&h from B.J.'s Model Engines:

http://www.bj-model-engines.com/home.html

Still, the TH .75 is only $10 more before discounts, and it does have a great reputation. I think you'd be happy with either choice. The O.S. .65 LA has a very solid reputation, and is even reported to out-turn the .61 FX on several different props. I wouldn't hesitate to try that engine, either, particularly if weight is a concern.

As far as that goes, the new Magnum XLS .61 2-stroke has a very good reputation, and the Evolution .61 NT is also a very solid choice. Even the GMS .61 and .76 have a pretty solid reputation. I don't really think there is a bad choice in this size range.

Good luck, and good shopping!

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

JBA engines look like clones of the OS LA series.

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

Ditto.

Break-in time for an OS engine is 2 tanks.
Break-in time for a ThunderTiger engine... 2 months.

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

JBA 2-strokes are all dual ball bearing designs with twin needle carburetors included. The blue finish makes them look like LA-series engines, but the JBA .56 will turn a variety of props almost identically to the O.S. .55 AX when both are using stock mufflers. The only appreciable difference between the two is that the JBA .56 is about half the price, selling for $79.99 instead of the .55 AX's $149 to $159 price range.

Newer JBA engines are shipping without the blue finish that have squared-off cooling fins and "box" style mufflers. They even look like the AX-series engines from O.S.

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

JBA engines might be a good deal, and may be very good engines. However just because they look like OS engines does not mean they are OS engines.

I bought a plane that looked like another, more expensive plane. Almost identical. No matter how you spin it, it is not the same plane. I can say that the extra money goes somewhere, like toward high quality parts and first class service and support.

I have found every OS I've owned to be worth the extra price.

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

Hehe, you're right about that! I can't wait for the first time I need to track down spare parts for mine. :p

Still, not every project requires a premium brand of engine. It's nice to have lower-cost alternatives for your club pylon racer, combat plane, or float plane.

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

The Thunder tiger pro 61 is a great engine , break in is easy enough and idles really smooth . Transitions very well , I own mostly Thunder tiger engines and have found them to be of equal quality if not better for ease of tuning and operation then most others , including OS , price wise you cannot beat the value you get for your money , stock and after market parts are readily available , do a search on here and compare your varoius options I am sure you will find something that makes you happy

Good Luck

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

I'll throw in another vote for the Tower 75! :D I have an EVO 60 size and gave up on it. I have tried to help flyers with Super Tigers and have no use for them either. I have an OS 61. Its reliable but the power is disappointing especially when you consider the price. I have helped other flyers with their Thunder Tiger engines and have no complaints about them. After trying my first TH 75 engine looking for reliability and good power I was hooked! I use them in all my warbirds because I won't trust any thing else. Hope this helps. :D

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

I like my TT 46 over my OS 46 and 55. It starts much easier, and has just as much power as the 46 without the extra 50 bucks. It was running great on the second to third tank. TT has my vote!

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

Thank you all for replying and making recommendations :D. So far, I have used OS engines and believe me they are good. But as you go up the size they get more expensive :(. After reading all of your valuable comments and experiences, I have narrowed it down to Thunder Tiger or JBA.

I have no idea how JBA performs as I have not seen them in action. I will do some more research and then go for either of these two. Looking now for 75 -91 size engine as pretty soon my next plane will be Extra or Yak.

Thank you again.

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

I am a big fan of Thunder Tiger engines, bkayani, and would never talk anyone out of buying one of their terrific engines. I am confident that you'd be very happy with a TT Pro .61 engine.

If you want to learn more about JBA, please check out Ed Moorman's (an engine columnist for RC Reports) thread about the JBA .56:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_67...tm.htm#6762745

I actually bought a JBA .56 and had it shipped to Ed Moorman. He tested it and benchmarked it side by side with his O.S. Max .55 AX, which is one of Ed Moorman's favorite engines. Ed was impressed enough with the test results that he ordered his own JBA .56 shortly after mine arrived.

RE: Best engine for 60 size trainer
 

I would give TT and JBA a look for a club/winter/float plane. Of course I said something similar about my Venus 40 and look what happened![8D]

I'm sure the OP will be happy with whatever decision he makes.

Keep us posted!