I bought an LA 40 from Tower a couple of weeks ago and put it on an Oriental. I broke it in carefully but am not satisfied at all with its performance. I have a Brodak 40 on a Nobler that runs circles around the LA 40. Now I hear that people are 'reworking' the LA 40 to make it perform more like a CL engine. Anyone out there have any experience with one?

Don't know, but the FX is supposed to be much better than the LA.

Nice pun.

Try losing the remote needle and put in a standard needle valve.

Tom

What prop and fuel are you using? I've got an LA40 that gives great stunt runs straight out of the box. Are you expecting it to 4-2-4? It won't do that. Run it wet 2 stroke. I know of no one wasting their time or money doing mods on any of the LA engines. What about its performance is it that you are disatisfied with? I just got back from a contest where I flew a pathfinder with an LA46 and was very pleased with the performance.

regards,
catdaddy

I have one LA 40 running so far, its in my Brodak Viking and have about 20 flights on it so far and it hasn't missed a beat. I runs great and pulls the plane well. I have a BY&O 11x6 on it. I have the front needle valve assembly on it from super tigre that I got from virginia hobby sport. I have a NIB LA 40 that I am planning on sticking on a Brodak ARF cardinal. The LA 46's run great also. I have good luck with them, all have front needle valve assembly in them except for one in my pathfinder.
Cya at Brodaks in a month!
Ryan

Why is the remote needle valve so problematic?

The OS remote needle assembly is poor quality, it tends to leak air past the needle threads. A short piece of fuel hose over the needle helps, but the cure is a K&B remote needle, or carb replacement with a forward needle type.

Bill.

It's only problematic for some people. I've never had any problems with one. Neither have dozens of other people I know.
Some people can never adjust to something new or different, so it becomes "problematic", "bad", or "poor quality".
It's pretty much the same for the plastic back plate as well. Some people can't stand them simply because they're plastic.
Most people don't use them because someone who doesn't like them tells them that the remote needles are junk. They don't even try them themselves, but are quick to tell someone else they're bad without ever having tried them themselves.

Don't take my word on whether an OS remote needle is good or not. Try one and see for yourself.
Then if you don't like it please write to OS and tell them why the remote needle is awful.

regards,
catdaddy
btw
Doug Moon (a top 5 NATS stunt pilot) says he uses both, remote NV and plastic back plate with his LA's.

Cat:

I have an OS 46 FX on a Modeltech "Magic."

The engine has been a disappointment to me; it has neither peeled its liner, nor has there been a problem with the remote needle and plastic backplate.

How can I bash the thing when it just keeps on running?

But there have been far too many air leaks and peeled liners to blame it on operator error.

Bill.

Not sure I understand what you're trying to say. It doesn't have any problems yet you are disappointed?


I've got (3) LA 40's (1) LA 46's (2) LA 25's and (2) LA 15's
I know several people with numerous sizes and qty's
Sure wish I could witness a peeled liner or an air leak around a needle valve.
Just haven't seen it yet.
Therefore I'll keep buying and using these CHEAP, usable out of the box engines that I have absolutely no problems with until they no longer give me dependable service.
Sorry, I wish you had better luck Bill.

catdaddy

Cat:

Can you say "Tongue in cheek?"

Hopefully, the OS will blow up the next time I fly it.

My main objection to OS is the ridiculously high price for most of them, and the cheaper ones like the LAs cost almost as much as the Magnums. The Magnum XLS series is equal to the OS FX/AX engines, or really better since they are ABC, and they sell for just a little more then your pet LA series.

Bill.

William,
The LA is popular in C/L circles because the timing is close to true stunt engines. When modern engines are modified for stunt the first thing they do is block off the boost port, the LA does not have a boost port. This gives better low speed torque and a steadier speed.

SP:
So why not get a real stunt engine, and have a nice 4-2-4 engine run?

Bill.

Bill,
I wouldn't call them my pet engine, but they are a favorite of a large majority of CL pilots.
I just don't see your name in Stunt News talking about the best CL motors for the money.
Nothing personal, but your opinion doesn't mean as much as some of the TOP CL competitors when it comes to evaluating engines for CL.
You're certainly entitled to your opinion, I just think it's wrong. Let me know when you become more than a Sport CL flier, right now you're just another guy at the flying field with an opinion just like mine.

catdaddy
btw can you say "Tongue in cheek?"

Not required. Some people prefer a rich two cycle run. Some of the best stunters have switched to 4 cycle. Nice steady even pull throughout the pattern. IMO the 424 run has a slight advantage, else why would some stunters be expermenting with remote and automatic throttle in their four strokes?

Cat:

I don't claim to be an expert stunt flier, even my sport c/l doesn't happen too often anymore. But when it comes to the engines in general, I am as capable of learning as the next fellow. And I learn more everyday.

In the case of the LA it has been stated that it will not adjust to a 4-2-4 run, and this being the case why not just get the Brodak engine, or a Fox that will run correctly?

Bill.

Its hard to say but you get what you pay for. In my day FOX was the best , but make sure you follow DUKES instructions. You can take a class A engine and turn it into a peace of !!! in to sceconds.

Not an expert in C/L my self, but as I see it the LA 40 is cheaper than the Brodak the last time I checked. It has a lot more power than the Fox, unless you hop up the Fox with ABC sleeve, hemi head, and stuffer back plate. Even then it has a bit more power. I think it is also easy to modify the timing, but don't know how. After paying some one to fix the timing the Brodak costs less, but I don't which is more powerfull. For most sport flyers the LA works fine out of the box.

A few non-expert OPINIONS:

Peeling: I think that was fixed before the LA was released.

LA vs others: Some like the weight and parts availability of the LA's as well as the price. Brodak is good, Magnum is good, Fox is good...

424 vs. two: The mail idea is to achieve a steady velocity during the pattern. Having a 424 can do this, and running in two cycle (piped or not) with a flat prop can do this. A four stroke can do this with a big *ss prop.

The higher you get in the PA food chain, the more you are willing to spend big $$ for better metalurgy.

It isn't the engine that makes the top few percent, it is the practice, practice, practice.
BUT, along with (or because of) the practice, many appear to be able to adjust venturis, head shims, and fuel content for whatever engine they use, to suit particular conditions.

Again, this is just one opinion.
George

Bill,
I love a good 4-2-4 run from my Foxes but you don't have to have a 4-2-4 run to have a good stunt run. A consistent run is a correct run. The LA's will hold a good wet 2 stroke and pull with authority with no runaway. While I do like to listen to a 4-2-4 break and will continue to fly this type of engine the LA46 has made a believer out of me and I highly recommend that anyone looking for cheap dependable consistent power without the 4-2-4 then get an LA engine.

catdaddy
have a nice day Bill

One note on the plastic backplates. I overheard Eric Rule of RSM talking about tests with the LA and he said they would occasionally have trouble with the backplate drumming. He said they would have 9 great flights and then a flight that went sour and they determined this was the problem. Installing a metal backplate cured it.

I'm using a 10X5 prop and Brodak fuel 10-11-11 on a light Oriental, about 38 oz. It doesn't turn the RPMs that the Brodak engine does. I was hoping for a 424 run but I guess that's out. The LA also weighs quite a bit more than the Brodak. About 7 Oz. I think. The problem with the Brodak 40 is that they are hard to get. John gets a batch in and they are gone in 1-2 weeks. I recently bought a Saito 40. Anyone out there have any experience with a Saito on CL. It sure weighs a lot more than a Brodak 40.

Sam,
If you haven't already, check with Leonard, Windy, and the other shops that advertise in Stunt News for a Brodak .40. My GUESS is that John gives first preferance to his distributors.

George