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Webra engines coming back?

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Webra engines coming back?

Old 04-19-2014, 03:34 AM
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Rudeboy
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Default Webra engines coming back?

http://www.webraengines.com/

I sure hope so...they made some of the finest engines on the market. Top quality, and real good runners.
Old 04-19-2014, 09:46 AM
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combatpigg
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I've owned a 50 GT for about 25 years. I ran it stock with 11 x 6 props in .25 to .40 sized sport planes and also ran it stock with 9 x 8 props on a 32 inch delta Diamond Dust model. It was always a crowd pleaser.
Finally it needed a new set of internal parts and I set the exhaust timing close to 180 degrees, opened up the intake and propped it with 7.4 x 8 APC pylon props and Macs pipe and a home made "open chamber" head button. It responded with 170+ mph runs without even getting hot. The typically small .40 sized crankshaft is what limits it's potential to run any stronger..in other words to move up to the Nelson .40 level of power.
Back in the day, Webra ranked very high on the list of mass produced engines for power to weight ratio. The high price was offset with many years of rock solid performance. The high price only hurts for the first couple hours until you get a chance to fly it and see how great it is.
Old 04-19-2014, 03:01 PM
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Yes they are good engines. some near the end of production had way different tolerances though. timing was way different on the same size engines. Webra 36's with a bit of work kind like CP did would turn 8x7 at 21,500 or more. The Webra 55 is a great little engine also. If they do start making them I think the 145 would be an awesome engine as it has a big stroke and has same size bore, meaning its a square engine.
Old 04-21-2014, 08:43 AM
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Wow! This is great news!
Old 04-21-2014, 06:30 PM
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Might be just another Mecoa acquisition.
Old 04-21-2014, 07:52 PM
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I hope not as they are just not the same then.
Old 04-22-2014, 11:00 AM
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Well, sadly I just noticed the address on the top of the "Webra Engines" webpage...it is that of MECOA...I guess that means they are really gone forever...
Old 04-22-2014, 12:29 PM
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*** that really sucks. Meccoa is trying to do a good thing but i dont think their engines are the same even though they are the same molds. I hope they atleast have them in stock when you order one.
Old 04-22-2014, 08:07 PM
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They collect the rights and tooling....but it can take years for a limited production run... I have been waiting 12+ now for the Conquest .15
Old 04-22-2014, 08:46 PM
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They wait till they get enough orders for them to make money. They dont have engines stocked up. If one person orders an engine they would loss money big time.
Old 04-23-2014, 12:41 AM
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You cant sell what you don't have. Nobody will wait 12 years for a backordered item.

Makes me wonder...If Webra made the engines for Weston UK (Magnum)... Did Weston have a stock pile of inventory or did they sell out and game over.
Old 04-23-2014, 06:01 AM
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I got tired of waiting for Mecoa parts for the Conquest .15 too. Just have the Conquest sitting, and getting Foras and Magnum .15's instead. (Magnum is Sanye, SC or ASP in Europe. Not sure of the Weston name) I guess it is just buying old stock and liquidating it. Only making very basic parts to get rid of the others. Maybe it is just a retirement business and age is creeping up, don't know any details, but it seems like that. Too bad because there is a lot of nice old motors there.
Old 04-23-2014, 09:30 AM
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What would be awesome is if someone like Jett or PSP bought them and started production again.
Old 04-23-2014, 09:53 AM
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The engine business is just a hobby for guys like Dub Jett. They make them because they have the machinery to do so. If the market dries up any further, I wouldn't be surprised if even he throws in the towel. I certainly don't expect any major development...there's just no way to break even on a few hundred engines.
If guys like Jett come out with something new, it is basically out of love for the hobby.

I broke in an ASP .36 yesterday, 8x6-8x7 props, mousse can muffler, FAI 80/20 fuel: 18K+ rpm. It runs and throttles fine, but it is just not as sweet as a Webra. You can tell the engine is maxed out in it's stock trim. Behaves fine up to about 14K, then it starts to vibrate. It is not balanced for higher speeds. A good sport engine, if you run it on a 10x6 or 10x7, but other than that it is just a run of the mill chinese cheap engine. So basically, I'm disappointed even before the engine gets flown.
I'd gladly pay two times as much for an engine that is 10% better...
Old 04-23-2014, 10:55 AM
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Then buy a Jett engine. His best sport engines are the 35 and 56
Old 04-23-2014, 01:01 PM
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I saw that Mecoa has the Kavan 50 listed for sale at 6500.00.
One Kavan 50 (germany) sold local hobby shop about 15 years ago at $1200.00.
It passed thru my hands, 4 years ago, for an estate for $850.00 it was a series 1 motor.
real nice work down to the Continental script. on the valve covers
Old 04-23-2014, 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Rudeboy
The engine business is just a hobby for guys like Dub Jett. They make them because they have the machinery to do so. If the market dries up any further, I wouldn't be surprised if even he throws in the towel. I certainly don't expect any major development...there's just no way to break even on a few hundred engines.
If guys like Jett come out with something new, it is basically out of love for the hobby.

I broke in an ASP .36 yesterday, 8x6-8x7 props, mousse can muffler, FAI 80/20 fuel: 18K+ rpm. It runs and throttles fine, but it is just not as sweet as a Webra. You can tell the engine is maxed out in it's stock trim. Behaves fine up to about 14K, then it starts to vibrate. It is not balanced for higher speeds. A good sport engine, if you run it on a 10x6 or 10x7, but other than that it is just a run of the mill chinese cheap engine. So basically, I'm disappointed even before the engine gets flown.
I'd gladly pay two times as much for an engine that is 10% better...
I think the ASP series of engines are powerful by design but the manufacturing isn't up to the design criteria in some cases. I would tear your's completely down to just an empty case and check everything with a fine toothed comb. I did this with a ASP .12. The bearings fit the case too loosely and fit the crankshaft too tight. By the time I corrected the problems it took 2 reassemblies until I got the bearings back into the case just right to achieve the free spinning crankshaft that comes to a gradual stop after you twirl it.
The piston had excess material that I removed free hand. The engine ran smooth, but correcting an out of balance engine can be as simple as removing material from the piston. If the condition worsens, no big deal...just remove material from the counterweight until it runs smoothly.
I raised the exhaust timing to 170 degrees [without a liner shim] and made a liner shim that gave 180 degrees of exhaust. I spent a couple nights with this $30 engine, but it is part of my hobby, anyway.
Old 04-23-2014, 04:30 PM
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Yes with that engine and some work you should see 20,000 on a 8x7
Old 04-23-2014, 05:19 PM
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I might give it a good look in the future, if I feel it is worrth the effort.
The crank and bearing fit was ok actually (I found something like lapping compound inside the hollow crankpin however, and 1 small piece of aluminium swarf stuck to the bottom of the sleeve). The crankpin isn't pressed in, it is machined in one piece with the crank, and then hardened (and precision ground I hope).
After a few tanks on the stand the piston crown looks perfect, as is the fit. I'm quite amazed by the piston fit in fact...

If it doesn't shake itself to pieces during the first half gallon or so, I will probably start grinding away.


CP, how do you make head and liner shims? I have experimented with hand cutting them from various materials...but it is a tedious job. I usually try to find a shim that fits as good as possible from another engine, and modify that if necessary.
Old 04-23-2014, 06:20 PM
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I am not CP, but cut my shims from beer can stock with a compass with a cutting blade. It won't cut much thicker than .005" and is hard to get an accurate size, but not too bad. For liner shims that are thicker, I use a lathe to turn and bore it to size, and then part it off to thickness. It will have to be about .020" thick to not disintegrate or deform. A slightly lower tech liner shim can be made with a piece of soft copper wire. It will flatten out a bit when tightened so start a bit thicker than what you want, and maybe squish it in a good flat machinist vise. It can fit around the locating pin if the motor is equipped that way.
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Old 04-23-2014, 07:23 PM
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adding shims under the sleeve is ok but the not the best way. really need to see where the transfers are in relation to the exhaust port. measure the blow down. for that engine a simple clean up of the crank, widen exhaust some and put an angle on the exhaust port facing the transfer port. run a Jett 25 size gold pipe and should hit 20,000 with no problem. an 8x8 is a better speed prop for this engine though.
Old 04-23-2014, 10:57 PM
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I got a Webra 50 from Paul Swany for my Primo about 10 years ago. Run on 10 or 15%. It is a fuel miser. It screams WFO. Never let me down. One flip starts are the norm. Probably the sweetest engine I have ever owned.
Old 08-06-2014, 10:32 AM
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Weston in England, as far i know, have buy all the molds from the Webra factory.. I have two Engines from Weston, one West 52V1 who the Webrafactory made for them.. That one revs 26.000 rpm with 8*8 APC and a Macs pipe, and pull my Weston Magnum up to 227 MPH...Fantastic Engine..! But the West 52T1 that they made themselves and sells as a special for the new Hanno Prettner Curare..This Engine is a big joke.. They say it will rev 1300 rpm, with 11*9, but my came only Close to 9000. And the Engine dont idle at all, no matter how i tune it.. And it spitting fuel from the carb all ower the the plane... And they will thake ower the manufactoring of Webra.....!
Old 08-06-2014, 06:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Arrow 50
Weston in England, as far i know, have buy all the molds from the Webra factory.. I have two Engines from Weston, one West 52V1 who the Webrafactory made for them.. That one revs 26.000 rpm with 8*8 APC and a Macs pipe, and pull my Weston Magnum up to 227 MPH...Fantastic Engine..! But the West 52T1 that they made themselves and sells as a special for the new Hanno Prettner Curare..This Engine is a big joke.. They say it will rev 1300 rpm, with 11*9, but my came only Close to 9000. And the Engine dont idle at all, no matter how i tune it.. And it spitting fuel from the carb all ower the the plane... And they will thake ower the manufactoring of Webra.....!
I do not think the Webra .50 has the air handling capability to produce that much power. The entire bottom end would need to be redesigned with a MUCH larger crankshaft diameter like the Nelson and Profi .40s have.
Old 08-06-2014, 08:11 PM
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I have to agree with CP here. A 52 that turns an 8x8 at 26k is hard to believe.

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