Dear All

You guys in the US are spoilt for choice in terms of cheap engines for conversion. The cheapest strimmer I have been able to find in the UK is a Ryobi with a 25cc engine. That costs £90 - app. $170. Since I haven't been able to find any info on Ryobi 25cc engines I don't want to go for that. A strimmer with the 30cc engine is over $200!

I live in the UK but am from Denmark - the North of Denmark to be more specific. People in that area are known to be a bit tight with money, me included. Therefore I am thinking of buying an engine from the US. USPS shipping is about $50 so it still migh turn out cheaper than buying here.

What I need to know is: Is there anyone in the US that sells just the engines or the engine heads? A Ryobi or Homelite perhaps? Recommendations are welcome.

I have both a lathe and a mill so the conversion is not a problem. A ZG26 is £210 - app. $400 so there is a lot to be saved by doing a conversion.

I intend to use the engine for a Precedent T-240 (now manufactured by SLEC). A "putter about" model much like a 1/4 Cub so I don't need enormous amounts of power.

Michael

PS: This is quite a change for me. I own Indoor Flyer in the UK so most of my modelling is centered around sub-ounce electric models.

PPS: If anyone has a suitable engine and would like to swap for Micro R/C equipment we can work out something. Can't post my shop URL here I think but PM me if interested.

Greetings. If you can follow this link, this is the engine you want. They sell them as remanufactured for 49.99 U.S. but everyone I buy is like brand new. I think they are just maybe sitting around a while? But they are cheap to buy, they are solid motor, and there are many people who make conversions parts if you need.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=55008

Give it a try!

Hi epilot, If you can access Ebay, (www.ebay.com) I think you'll find what you are looking for. Seems that there have been issues with getting the two ring, 31cc Ryobi from Harbor Freight and that's the one you want so be careful. I converetd one and also used a CH Ignition ($128.), Walbro WT644 carb.($20. from Ebay) and new muffler ($30.00) So my final cost (less batteries) was around $250.00. Cheers!

Thanks for the advice. I have owned a Ryobi in the past but it never made it into a plane because we moved country. I found several suitable engines on Ebay - problem is that it is difficult to get business in the US to ship to Europe at "normal" (USPS) rates. Many sellers will not ship abroad. Don't know why? I sell worldwide every day without problems.

The Harbor Freight strimmer is truly a bargain but shipping the whole unit rather than just the engine makes it uneconomical. I don't think HF ship intl anyway.

I'll keep an eye on Ebay and see if any private sellers that are willing to ship abroad turn up.

Michael

epilot: I am converting engines just for the fun of it. I live in West Michigan USA. Since you have a Lathe ect I can find a good engine for you and send it. All you have to do is pay shipping. I get my engines ...some free...some $5-$10 Dollars. You find out what shipping would be to your place and let me know. PM me on details. Thanks Capt,n

epilot,sent ya a pm,look for it.ill see what i have laying around.pm me back with your shipping address.ill ship to ya no problem.im assuming you want 23-30 cc size range.i convert echos and stihls,light and lots of power.heres a pic of my 24cc echo on cdign.

Or have the strimmer shipped to someone here (Or better yet, are they in stores? One is on my way home) who can strip the strimmer and re-package the power head and ship it to you. Good luck, MIKE

Mike: Thats a real good Idea. Just take the exra junk off unit ... re-pack and forward. Kinda like e-mail. Well I got to hit the sack!!!! Good nite and Take Care Capt,n

Can anyone out there tell me why I have not yet seen any discussion on Carb.intake bends. I see them all the time on pictures of gas engines in European Magazines, most of them on Zenoahs, I must admit. All of the engine conversions (Ryobi being the exception) I see discussed here are about engines which are wider than they are long'. if you are flying them stuck on the firewall with no cowl, or in a radial engined scale model then fine. Other wise we wind up with a Walbro outside the cowl,completely ruining the thing as a scale creation.A 90degree intake bend turns the carb to the rear and close to the engine, where it can be made to take the air from inside the fuselage thereby eliminating turbulant variations in the carb air intake.Are they available in North America(that includes Mexico the US and Canada.)

epilot: I've had a number of engines shipped from Brillelli in the US over the last two years. USPS Airmail Parcel Post works well, the delivery in the UK is by Parcel Post. Takes around 7 days total. Costs is $37 for a 6 pound package then around $7 for every additional pound. When the item arrives in the UK you may end up paying around 22% duty/VAT + £8 customs clearing fee on delivery. But with an engine of just $10 to $15 in value that should not be the case.

The USPS page for calculating postage is

http://ircalc.usps.gov/intl_speed.as...nds=6&Ounces=0

Hope this helps.

Maninder.