I was wondering if Stihl leafblower engines are any good?I have a Stihl BG 65 leaf blower that stopped running and I need to know if it's worth trying to convert it for use on my H9 1/4 scale Cub?It starts but will only run for a few seconds then dies.It's spitting fuel out the carb also.I think it's just a carb problem what do you guys think?Oh yeah it's a 27cc motor.

Thanks Jim

Should make for a nice conversion. Your carb can be rebuilt which I would do provided it is the right size. You want one in the 11 or 12mm range. What carb make and number is it?

Heres a pic of my 28cc stihl[27.2] actual.Nice thing about it i can rail mount it or flush mount it stock as the way it came out of trimmer.Right now i have a WA200 on it wich has an 11.13 venturi.Im running an APC17x8 and im getting around 7400 rpms.Its basicly running like my OS160 did before i sold it [the apc prop came off of the 160].Weighs 3-1/2 lbs RTF with prop and[ch] ign.[without battery].Im putting mine in a scratch built cap 232,ws73",should weigh about 9-10 lbs at a guess.Wing loading will be about 24ozs square foot.

Hey tim,the carb is a ZAMA and the only numbers I can find are C1Q and S64126A.There is also a 95 stamped on the throttle plate.Hope these are the numbers your asking about.Buck your engine looks really good where did you get your conversion parts.I want to keep this project as cheap as possible so I think I'll leave it as stock as I can.

Thanks guys for any info.Jim

Jim I prefer the Walbro carbs. Easier to get parts or new ones, also never had much luck with the Zama. Most here use Walbro as well as the players in the RC engine arena. I would use a Walbro WT-289, 324, 391, or 433 if it were my engine. These are carbs I have on hand here that are 11.11mm venturi, all have 28mm intakes, chokes and 2 needles. Any one like these will make plenty of power for you. Tons of Walbro information here and at www.walbro.com
Click on the Service and Aftermarket and check out the links.

Thanks Tim for the carb info,do you have any info on carb spacers(the kind that repositions the carb for easier throttle hookup),and prop hubs that fit Stihls?I would think other brands would have the same thread size.

Thanks again.Jim

The muffler was made by:
www.lambertsrc.com
The timing ring that holds the cdi magnet an hub i made myself after i bought my lathe.The timing ring i call it i used a hole saw and cut the middle out of the flywheel and then dressed it up with my lathe and then the hub just screws on.On yours if ya wanted to keep the stock ign ya would just cut the fins flush with flywheel and screw the hub on.Using a cdi makes starting a breeze,ya also get better timing and a little boost in rpms but you only loose about 8 oz average so ya dont loose a lot of weight.You could also gut your stock muffler and put a straight pipe on it.Check in this forum for mufflers,especially by av8tor,he makes his own and ya cant beat em.I just bought a G23 carb adaptor for my toro and it works perfect.ill have to check and see if it works on stihls.Otherwise i would make or modify my own.

Thanks buck I don't have access to a lathe or milling machine anymore so I have to buy all the machined parts.I have Honda GX-35 that I converted and left it pretty much stock except for a lightened flywheel and prop hub and it starts second flip almost every time.I would like to find a place where I could find all the stuff I need in one place.Is there such a place?

Thanks Jim

I make all my parts too as I have machines at home. Try Ralph at RC Ignitions. www.rcignitions.com he has or can make carb spacers, hubs and timing rings. He also sells his own ignition and will do the work for you. You have to buy a muffler from another source.

I just checked both my stihl engines and the mufflers off of a G23-26 from horizon hobby will bolt up with no problem.I just tried a carb rotator from horizon and it doesnt fit.Most of us make our own out of G10 board or epoxy board.This turns the carb for a straight shot to the servo.Tim could make all your items and or do the work[ive seen it].I checked my ch catalog and it doesnt mention anything about stihls but its an older catalog.I chat and trade back and forth from Ralph and hes definatly the man but you said cheap.I have a hub already made up here also.Identical to the one in my pic.Im doing the 25.9,somone said it was more powerful because its off the pro series version.

Morning all,thanks for all your help I talked to Mark at Brillelli Engines and he said he could get me set up pretty reasonably.Shave flywheel,prop hub,carb spacer,nuts,bolts and labor for a hundred bucks.Not to bad,anyway thanks again for your help,I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Jim

Hey all,

got home from work today,and waiting for me was my engine back from Mark at Brillelli Engine.As I mentioned earlier he shaved and balanced my flywheel,and built a carb spacer,and muffler for me I also bought a carb(Walbro WT76B)which he installed.I mounted the engine to my test stand got fuel up to the carb,flipped the choke on,flipped the prop until(twice) the engine popped,turned the choke off,flipped the prop two more times and it came to life.It idles at around 2000 rpm's and at full throttle it's turning an APC 17x8 prop at between 7860 and 8000 rpm right out of the box.This engine was started by hand and it still uses the factory ignition(magneto).So if any of you out there are thinking about a Stihl weedy or leaf blower conversion do it,at this moment I've got 149.00 dollars invested in mine for every thing I needed to do this conversion.I forgot to mention Mark also turned me a prop hub.Every thing he made or supplied came to 141.00 dollars and this thing has so much more power than my BCMA 26 does.I just hope my Hanger 9 1/4 scale Cub is up to this engine!!!

Jim

Pic please if possible.Glad it turned out so good for ya.

Hey buck,

if I can get one of my son's to post the pictures for me,I am completely computer stupid,I will show you some pictures of the install on my H9 Cub.

Jim

Hey All,
maidened the Cub today all I can say is WOW!!!!The Stihl 27cc engine ran perfect,it will pull the Cub around all day at a little above 1/4 throttle,thanks Scott(at Brillelli).This little engine seems to have about three times as much power as my BCMA 26.Once I learned the secret to starting this thing it will start on the second or third flip.I'll try to get some pictures on here soon.Flew about three flights with mixed throttle settings with some touch and goes,and some loops(big and slow)some rolls,but mostly Cub like flying.I used about 2/3 of a tank(20oz)in about an hour of flying.Whats that about .75 cents?I don't think I'll ever buy a store bought engine again.Thanks to everybody for their tips and suggestions.

Thanks again Jim

I had a 1/4 scale Cub with a Toro worked over by Scott.

I was a joy to fly, untill it fell out of the sky.

I was flying to slow and it tip stalled.
If I would of been 10 foot higher I could of saved it.

I still have the motor and it keeps running better and better.

Hey guy's,here are some pictures of my conversion.I know it's been awhile but I'm just learning how to post pictures.Enjoy!

Jim