Webra engines coming back?
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Kortessem, BELGIUM
Posts: 3,607
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes
on
11 Posts
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.
I sure hope so...they made some of the finest engines on the market. Top quality, and real good runners.
#2
Senior Member
My Feedback: (3)
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.
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.
#3
My Feedback: (66)
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.
#12
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.
#14
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Kortessem, BELGIUM
Posts: 3,607
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes
on
11 Posts
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...
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...
#16
My Feedback: (540)
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
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
#17
Senior Member
My Feedback: (3)
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...
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...
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.
#19
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Kortessem, BELGIUM
Posts: 3,607
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes
on
11 Posts
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.
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.
#20
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.
#21
My Feedback: (66)
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.
#23
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SödertäljeStockholm, SWEDEN
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.....!
#24
Senior Member
My Feedback: (3)
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.....!