First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

Hey guys. I've been watching all those big edges, extras, and caps fly and they certainly look good. And the sound from those gas engines is a whole subject in itself. Only thing stopping me from having one, is money. I think I'd like to try and convert a trimmer/chainsaw motor to a aiplane engine. This will get me a step closer to flying a big plane. Can you guys recommend a fairly cheap, good, and EASY engine for a conversion. What all goes into converting a trimmer mower to an airplane motor? I'm a carpenter by trade so I have the basic hand tools, angle grinder, and drills. I don't on the other hand have any lathes, mills or any other metalworking tools. Any suggestions? Thanks,
Dan

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

There are two reliable engines that are fairly easy to convert and are still in production. The ryobi 31cc and the homelite 25and 30cc. You really don't need any high caliber tools to convert them and there is a lot of people on here that is willing to help.

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

I'm a complete newbie to this. Are those all weed-eater engines? Any idea what they cost new? There isn't a website somewhere showing how to convert these engines is there? I can't seem to find to much info about the subject. What items are needed in the conversion? I'm assuming a new muffler, prop adaptor, engine mount, and carb. Also, I've read that everyone puts some sort of ignition on them. What's the main problem with using the pullstart? It would be nice is there was some info showing everything needed in converting them, and some price guesstamates.

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

I just found this site. [link=http://jagengines.com/instructions.htm]Jag Engines[/link]They sell converted Ryobi 31cc engines for $178. How does this sound? Would I still need to buy some sort of ignitor?

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

Do a search for Ken lambert, Whacker engines, ch ignitions and carrprecision these are all people that cn help. With a little enginuity a hack saw and some simple tools you can start yourself and just buy supplies from above list. You would not want to use the pull start because it is just toooo heavy with a capacitive discharge ignition you can flip the porp with on finger and it will run providing you choke the carb. The engines I mentioned are all weed eater class. The chains saws can be easy also but you have to have the right one.

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

check out (www.rcfaq.com)theres pics and explanations on how to convert 2 or 3 engines.look under weedie conversions. also get in touch with (aeronut) here on rcu.he sells a ryans rebel with a 31cc ryobi,all built,covered,engine,arf for about 3-4 hundred dollars i think.other than that go to rcfaqs,do your own on a 31cc ryobi.then put it in a balsa usa 120 size stingray.theres a guy here on rcu that has one and it does evrything in the book.it will just hover for a few swconds then tailslide as to his comments.the stingray is a kit but not hard at all.also try ([email protected]).he has about 30 different converted engines for sale right now.tell him buck from superior sent ya and he will give yu a good deal.

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

Check wackerengines.com. Peter sells everything you need to convert your engine, or you can buy one already converted really cheap.

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

If youare looking for a conversion gasser for a 25-27% Edge, Extra or Cap, your best bet is a Poulan 46 or Homie 45 chainsaw with elec ign. They require very little work and give better power-to-weight ratio than the weedie conversions.

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

Hey DKF,

Unlike yourself, I simply lost interest in the normal everyday glow engines, and acquired a homebuilt 120 size "stik" type plane that I put a McCulloch chainsaw engine on that I got from my neighbor. That's where all the fun began (see "test bed trauma", crashes thread). Biggest problem I had was interferance that was corrected by using a resistor type plug, and of course vibration that shakes the engine from the firewall if not properly done. Other than that, the sky is the limit, as far as type of engines, etc...If you can mount it on the firewall, it will work.....

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

Hi
You can check
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaver...216/webww.html
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaver...6/geobook.html
or put in Yahoo search "Joe Guzzardi how to teach Ryobi" This is the easiest description of convert an engine I have seen.
I dont know your skills at mechanic but you can also bought pieces.
After it go to "rcfaq".
You can go to the local repair shop and dig in the dump to see engines, if you have luck with the owner you can buy for a couple of dollars good chainsaw engines, BUT before you buy take number and maker and go to RCuniverse to check for conversion posibility.
Good luck
Jose

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

I agree with Volfy. If you go with a weedeater motor you will want more power. I like the homey 45. Just test flighted a Wild hare 300 special 28% with a 45cc with great results. I also dont like to spend big bucks for a motor!

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

dkf1979
Check this out for Homie 45 conversion. ChrisSpad's site has full pictorial.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_18...tm.htm#1962616

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

The Homelite 45cc engine is an awesome engine! I convert them along with the 33cc and 38cc sizes as well, but the 45's are the best for stunt planes. I am currently having some carburator manifolds machined to convert the new type of Homelite 45cc engine. All of the refurbished old type Homelite 45cc Timbermans are no longer available through Harbor Frieght. Every now and them you can find one on ebay but you have to know what your looking for.

The new type does not have a bolt-on manifold which makes it difficult to convert if you don't have a machine shop. My new manifold forces me to install a remote crankcase pressure tap on the engine block and carburator to allow the carburator diaphram pump to work. This is not a big deal to do, you just have to know what your doing.

I normally sell a brand new, beautifully converted Homelite 45cc engine for $250.00. That includes a polished muffler and prop adapter, engine mount and rails and modified carburator with a straight-shot linkage. The engine pictured has the old bolt on manifold. This type of manifold you have to use a bel crank to actuate the throttle. Tricky, but do-able.

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

My partner at work gave me his old trimmer. It's an older 30cc homelite. I'm not sure how old it is. It fired right up despite him saying that it needed to be tuned up. Is there an aerobatic scale plane like a cap, extra, or edge that would work well with this engine. Hey, you can't beat free!! :D

What do I need to look for in order to identify which engine I have. Have the homelite engines changed much in the past years? Will the parts from WackerEngines fit all the homelite 30cc's? So many questions!

Oh yeah, what kind of paint to you guys use to on your engines?

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

String trimmer engines are really not suitable for those kinds of planes. They don't have the power to weight ratio that chainsaw engines have. For a Cap or Extra you really need to be up around a 38cc or better to really do them any justice. It would be great for a 1/4 scale Decathlon or a clipped wing cub.

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

dkf1979,i put a 30cc homy on my sons balsa usa Dv111 1/4 scale.with engine it weighs 14.5 lbs with 83inch ws.it does loops and rolls and thats about it.you(WOULDNT) want to put one on a 27-28% aerobatic plane.it would fly but you wouldnt be happy.if you want to start into gassers cheap and have fun find aeronut and get a ryans rebel rtf.save the 30cc that was given to you and put it in say a balsa usa citabria.my sons 30cc has 2 rings and actually weighs about 6oz less than the single ring 25s.wher just using the stock flywheel and coil and i can hand start it on the third flip.good little engine,hold on to it.

RE: First Gasser. Which engine. What do else is needed?
 

You can see my 30cc Homie mounted on an 86" Super Decathlon in a recent thread. It flies just fine with it. I would not recommend it on CAP, Extra, or any of those kinds of aerobat. A big high-wing constant cord like Decathlon, Taylorcraft would be a better aerobatic choice.

I don't think I'll do these Homie weedies any more. They require a lot of grinding and cutting (for those of us who don't have machining equipment) on the crankcase. I trimmed mine as much as I can, and the whole engine still came out weighing almost the same as my Poulan 46cc, which needs absolutely no cutting and is ready to use right out of the saw.

That said, the Homie 30cc is probably one of the better conversion weedie engines. It is built well and has good hotrodding potential. Mine is bone stock and turns 7000rpm with a MA 18x8. I have read that other folks have gotten more than 8000rpm with 18x8 after porting and rasing compression. The Homie 30 has twin-rings, whereas the 25 has single ring.