The reason poulan wasnt at the top is the power.Its not quite as good STOCK as the other stock motors but when you get an engine for RC for under $75-100 dollars youll begin to know why all of us have about 20 of these things all over our property.Any saw or trimmer engine will work fine as long as the plane can handle the weight,low or high power,and has a fairly good wing area.
The backplate is a simple fix.Cut around the outside of the green plastic case as close to the crankcase as you can without cutting into the green backplate.After you remove it.Then find a piece of 3/32 or 1/8th aluminum flatstock thats about 3/4 of an inch bigger than the crankcase.Trace the holes from the green backplate onto the aluminum plate.Drill the 4 holes then use a little longer bolts if necessary to put the green plate and aluminum plate back on the engine.If you didnt mess the gasket up dont worry about any sealer.If you did,use a very small amount of silicone but dont let it squish out into the engine.Look at my pic of the 24cc echo and youll see the aluminum plate behind the motor and its bolted to the stand.Maybe somone here will post a pic but i dont have any poulans left.

Sickness is right, when traveling the countryside i now look at farm fields as potential air fields. When driving in town i notice people trimming their lawns and cutting small tree limbs and only wonder if that peice of equipment would make a nice plane engine. Garage sales, Auctions, Walmart, Menards, Lowes ectt. it's all the same. SICKNESS!!! I'd say so.

Here is a Ryobi with a plastic back plate-same principle.

I think your right...I gotta cure that.....soon.

Hey, that just looks like it may work! Thanks for the tips, guys.

that's right! same things, same thought, same scene.......this is modeler, isn't it!

I just picked up 5 weed wackers and two blowers from a guy who was cleaning out his garage. All had minor issues but they look like they will be useable on airplanes. One Homie, a poulan, and two that look like echo type engines ( an eager beaver, and a John deere) and a weed eater brand. the blowers are craftsman and MAC. Ayone interrested in any of these for conversions? I only use Ryobi's myself, so I don't have a use for most of these. I may keep the JD though.

I was out flying a Thunder tiger Giles 202 q.40 size with a Ryobi 31cc conversion motor in it today, it was awesome, 4th flight so far andd I love this thing!!!

Chris

the john deere is most likely an echo/kioritz, the eager beaver is an 80's copy of the kioritz but isn't quite as nicely built (roller bearings) but they sure are light

the craftsman blower is most likely either the 32cc ryobi style or a 25cc poulan

I'd trade a couple engines with you if you wanted a ryobi or two...

any way to tell what size the deere is?

(Bore x Bore) x .7854 x stroke = displacement. If you measure in inches, it will give you cubic inches. To get cc's, divide that number by .061.

AV8TOR

rangerfredbob
I pulled the craftsman blower apart and it is a 25cc motor of some sort but I don't know what, it has side carb and exhaust and a long shaft. Looks like it is in good condition.

The craftsman weedeater is a poulan, and I also picked up a snapper that had the same motor in it thant looks like new.

I also got the homelite running but the carb needs some work, idle is not real good, I think it is a homie 30cc

and I got the John Deere running, But then the pull string broke and I couldn't get it fixed right. It runs strong , but does need the carb gone through to be just right.

If anyone is interrested in them, let me know.

On the Homelite, look into the exhaust port. If it has a bridge running through the middle of the port, it is a 25cc. If it does not have a bridge, it is a 30cc. They both run well, but the 30cc actually weighs a touch less than the 25cc, and of course makes more a good bit more power.

AV8TOR

I'm interested in the John Deere, Check your PMs.

Thanks,

Scot

I am thinking of building an echo. Is there a build thread on them? what size carb and prop should I try?

That is a good choice. I would put the sensor pick up on the prop hub though. I would also look at loosing the rear part of the crank and little bell housing. I Would see if stand offs or a little plate would work. Basically save all the weight you can.

Here is a nice echo build log:

http://tech.flygsw.org/echo_conversion.htm

Oh, PS, the john deere looks like a homelite, thanks for the offer but, give it to someone else if they want it.

I took the John deere apart part way to measure the bore and stroke and I think it is somewhere between 19.5 and 20cc's
too small for me. It does look like it is amn echo/koritz motor though.

I have a sthil fs 80.....is that a good one to convert. It does have pionts but if you converted to electronic it sure would be a small package ., and what all is involved? ..spec,s says it,s a 25cc that would work great on my seagul yak .90