Navy_Guns

I'm a newbie to the conversion club. I'm thinking about getting back into the hobby with a Senior Telemaster, so for me a 25-30cc would probably be just fine. My inlaws run a lawn & garden power equipment store and they sometimes get folks who drop off blowers, weed whackers, chain saws, etc. for repairs and then never pick them up. Sometimes they move, buy a new one, or just can't afford to pay the repair bill. So, I may be able to find a "gem in the rough" among their inventory of abandoned equipment that'd be good for an airplane engine conversion.

I already have a 31cc Ryobi 775 with rear exhaust and carb, and a 30cc Homelite with side exhaust and carb (opposite sides) out in my garage. I know folks do convert both types, but why eat bologna when you can get steak? What motors are "better" in terms of weight, ease of conversion, performance, reliability, available accessories, ideal layout, etc?

As they keep telling us, get your vote in now!

captinjohn

The Echo brand is good to convert. Chainsaws in most brands have good porting...no extra porting needed for good performance. Best Regards Capt,n

frenchie79

This begs the question of "what makes it a top choice" is it:
1. Mount ability with minimal modification.
2. power
3. weight
4. carb & exhaust location
5. Mag or EI
6. parts available

With my limited experience so far and based on trimmers only.

#1 Stihl brand
#2 Echo (Koritz)/ Jonsered-tie
#3 Homelite
#4 Mac
#5 Ryobi
#6 Poland

I based these on Quality,Mount ability, Weight, Power

av8tor1977

My Feedback: (6)

I'll go along with Frenchie's list, though I would probably put Echo first and Stihl second.

Total ease of conversion should probably go to the Mac 32cc, but they are a little down on power compared to some...

AV8TOR

Navy_Guns

Stihl has been good to me - love my blower and chain saw.

I'll be getting an abandoned FS 44 line trimmer next week for the $60 my in-laws shop has into the repair. Did I make a good pick?

frenchie79

Avator-Had a hard time choosing between the two. My experience so far is i found the stihl to be a little lighter and with the engines i've had so far more power. Could be just the ones i have. Both good quality.
I found the mac to be heavy but easy to convert-only done one which is a 28cc and not in the ball park with the Stihl 25.4 cc.
Navy Guns-Check the thread direction on the crank and the CC's, if it's a right hand thread and 22+ cc's it might be a winner.
With a Telemaster a little 21cc Echo or Stihl might be the ticket-Just be sure to beef up the plane to handle a gas engine. The featherlite by weedeater, I believe may be a choice. Have a couple just haven't converted one.

Navy_Guns

I think it's one of the 27cc units, I'm having trouble finding info on it since it's not in production any more. I know the 4130 series included the FS 36, 40, and 44. The manual for the FS 36 on the Stihl USA site says that one has a 30cc, but I won't really know until I get hands on mine.

And if it's a left-hand thread, does that complicate mounting a propeller?

Jezmo

frenchie and av8tor hit the nail on the head in my opinion. Can't add anything to that.

frenchie79

I'm working on a 40cc Jonsered right now that appears to be a fantastic engine. It was off a trimmer called a BR420 Big Red. This is a high quality engine. Sent for two Frank Bowman rings and will have it ready soon. I'll post a more pictures when complete. If this runs good and smooth it could top the list at least in this size catagory.

captinjohn

Red Max is a very good engine also. May be in tie for #2 on list

buck1856

My Feedback: (49)

Heres a few pics of my stihl 28cc.Youll notice it can be rail mounted like a glow engine or flat mounted from the 3 lugs on the back.This engine weighs 3-1/2lbs as you see it in the pics.It will swing an apc 17x8 at 72oo RPMS.Its off a FS46 trimmer.

buck1856

My Feedback: (49)

Heres a 24cc echo off of a SRM2400 trimmer.Basicly the same weight as the stihl.

flaminheli

That looks like the one that was on sale on The Bay. Same ignition, actually the same pics.

buck1856

My Feedback: (49)

You must have have been one of my 5 watchers maybe?

frenchie79

Capt'n, Is Red Max based on the Koritz engine?? I don't know why i'm thinking that other than maybe read it in a forum.
I keep looking for one of those 24cc Koritz engines to find it's way to my local lawn & Garden shop.

rangerfredbob

My Feedback: (13)

Redmax is Zenoah

frenchie79

Thats it-age is a killer.

captinjohn

That is right....My Redmax does say Zenoah on it. not on list is it? Capt,n

flaminheli

Yeah, but my wife was standing over my shoulder with an angry look on her face, so I had to say no to it.

captinjohn

I have not seen any Koritz engines latley....they are good I guess. I do not think they are the same as Zenoah....unless Koritz evolved into the Zenoah. Capt,n

buck1856

My Feedback: (49)

Flaminheli,you need to get ya a laptop for christmas.Im going to or right after when the sales hit.Ill keep it in the shop!

Kioritz are found on just about only Echo brand power tools.They used to be installed on John Deere and some Macs.The 14 to 18cc models where on the eager beavers wich had the round head.They are not the same engine as redmax[Zenoah]unless where being fooled by the asian companys somehow.But as of latly there could be some changes as now the 40cc ryobi is a zenoah.If you look at my pics of the 24cc echo[Kioritz],youll see it doesnt match the G23-or 26.Although it looks close as just about all trimmer engines do.Look at a G26,echo 24,and a toro 25 or 26 and youll see they all look like the same motor and some of the parts will interchange.

frenchie79

Buck-I have several Toro, Stihl engines that would make nice conversions but have left hand threads, so far i consider them for parts only. Any good ideas for these or just keep them for parts??

av8tor1977

My Feedback: (6)

Frenchie... Check post number 273 on this page:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_46...tm.htm#5654211

That's how I deal with left hand thread cranks.

AV8TOR

frenchie79

Now thats a good idea-Thanks. may be more than i want to do but i'll give it a shot this winter on a practice type crank, then move to an engine that is worthy. Thanks for the information.

Navy_Guns

So this conversion stuff is a hobby, right? A means to an end (useable RC engine)? Yeah right! Then why did I just have to stop at that yard sale on the way home and buy a Weed Eater GTI 19 just because I could get the Poulan 30cc engine for $10? Hobby, this is a sickness!

Now I have discovered the engine uses part of the plastic weed eater housing as the aft closure on the crank case... I suppose there's an elegant solution for this? Or maybe this is why Poulan wasn't at the top of the "Top 10" list...