Basically can you convert just about any engine?

Weedeater, chainsaw, hedge clipper, small motercycle??????


Just wondering.



Weskel

Basically yes'

But the application may not warrant it, some engines would work in large boats better than aircraft, and a stripped down snowmobile engine would fly a ultralight or one large scale model.

some engines have the ehaust forward, may not be a good choice and others have too much weight to be trimmed.

a machine shop or a lathe can do wonders for making adapters for all most anything, but whether or not its worth it???

Hope it helps"

Small motorcycle engines would be ok. for power, but they tend to be rather heavy, and of course have to be seperated from the gearbox etc.
The main reason for their weight is that they usually have very heavy, full circle double sided cranks, (very strong too). Light weight is not so important for motorcycles as model aircraft.

The chainsaws and weedeaters have to be lightweight, and usually have bobweight cranks, and many weedeaters have single sided overhung/cantilever cranks, which reduces the weight even more.

The chainsaw and weedeater types also have pumper type carbs, which allow them to work in any position, as opposed to most motorcycles which normally have float type carbs, and will not operate the inverted position.

All of these conversions suffer from having large flywheel type magnetos for spark ignition and this also doubles as a cooling fan, so the cooling fan vanes need to be removed ( carefully with balance in mind).
This heavy magneto flywheel can be removed if you fit it with CD type ignition and a battery pack.

Buy a cheap used one, and give it a go! - plenty of advice on the forum.

I've gotten all my weed eater motors for free, I prefer ryobi. Just put out the word to neighbors and friends that you need them for spare parts. Dont tell them you can fix them 99% of the time by changing the pump diaphram. You're gonna want to rebuild the carb anyway. Most of the used engines I have dont look like they have 50 hours on them. Still reletivly new.
Edwin

Something along this same line that i would like to know. I am knew to larger giant scale aircraft and i am building a 1/3 scale greatplanes extra 330L. What is a good engine to convert that is 50cc or larger, and where can i get the parts or info on how to.

have some potential conversion engines offered in the engine marketplace.

Hey geardaddy, I just went to the engine marketplace and could not find your listings?
What have you got for sale?
Ron