Ken,

Thanks for the update. I knew they were waiting on parts, but didn't know when they were coming in. They've had one of my 50's since Feb 25, and my second one since March 23. Looks like I'll get them back in time for some fly-ins come the end of April.

I sent mine in, I talked to them yesterday and decided to get the updates even though it ran fine. Figure better to wait a bit now, than in July. Thanks for any updates you all bring here.

I got my NEW DA50 engine running today. This one came all modified and let me tell you it is a whole different engine than my other one. This thing PURRS and you can lift the tail with out it dieing. I am thrilled with this engine. Now if DA could only get my other engine back to me. It's going on 4 weeks since I sent it off. ARG.

I seemed confused, i want to get my first gas airplane, the new Hangar 9 Extra 260 27% ARF, and Mike McCOnville recommends the DA50, but now im hesitant if I should buy the DA50, does it just plain stink, or has DA fixed the problems?

Buy it you won't be sorry.

DA engines do not stink, after talking to DA at the toledo show, you can run one of these engines til you have a problem, they are lifetime warranty items, so just run it was what they said. you can lean the low end to remove the bog and choking going on, if you like, or you could send it back and they will do the mod to it for free.
Pound for pound there is no better motor for the money, no matter what is slathered on this forum, DA makes and services the best engine in the RC community.

I would not hesitate to order a new one, mind you they are backlogged about 6 weeks.

I just got my DA's back with the carb pulse line modification. It made a different motor out of it. No more quiting while taxing, or lifting the tail. The low needle also responds like it should to adjustment. Also helped out on the richness when inverted. You won't be sorry if you get it.

If you read this entire thread, you'd notice that the majority of people didn't have major problems. This thread is what caused most of those problems. How many people have had a motor come apart because of the rod/bearing issue? None that I've read! How many people said they just sent their motors in because everyone else is sending theirs in? Most! NOW, how many people have sent their motors in for any upgrade/modification available and have not been pleased? I haven't read any. What I've notice is people that haven't had really anything wrong with their motors, have been sending them in and are absolutely pleased with what they get back.

Just think about it. How would you like to buy a TV, Stero System, Cell Phone, Lawnmower or just about anything else and have the company support their products like DA? Now that would be getting close to the "perfect world".

So, we ought to put this thing to rest. Desert Aircraft has not been directed by the government to do anything (like the Firestone tire recall) with their motors. They stand behind their products and with the most courtious and expeditious service because that's what THEY apparently think is the "right" thing to do. So, how in the world can you go wrong with DA?

Tell me exactly how this thread caused ANY problems with DA engines. Did this thread cause a single engine to die on landing? Did this thread cause a single engine to quit while taxiing? Did this thread cause a single rod bearing to go bad? Don't think so.

My point being... How many people (including myself) sent a good running motor in for a checkup because of what they've read in this thread? That's all. Sure, there were problems with SOME, but they are taking care of these problems. That's all.

Well, my motor that I sent in ran like *****. I had the tail lift, idle P.O.S. from hell. I found out about the "FIX" and was desperate to send it in to get it taken care of. I have now been waiting 4 full weeks for it's return to me. I spoke with DA 2 days ago and they said it was fixed and needed to be bench ran and then it would be sent off. I am hoping I will see it early next week.

When I read through this entire thread back when I got this motor, I found in the beginning DA was in denial, then they gave in and said there is a problem. Now they have a solid fix for it. I blame this thread for helping get others like myself to get on DA's butt and getting them to fix a problem. That's my perspective on the matter.

I personneally can't say that DA is the super engine maker that some seem to think they are. I have always said, it's great to have good customer service. but I NEVER want to have to use customer service.

Yes, I started this thread just about exactly 1 year ago because my freinds engine would not run right. DA and fans told us it was because we were not able to adjust the engine correctly. They sent us a new carb and new ignition. My friend asked them about this in private at the Toledo show and they said they knew there was a problem with the engine.

But it took a YEAR to get them to fix the problem. Now the DA 50 is probably the best 50cc gasser on the market, but I still like the BME50 also.

Those that did not have the problem can't accept that thier beloved DA could have a fault. But those of us that had the problem have had a year of grief. Having to restart the engine numerous times to make it to the runway and having to retrieve the plane from the runway every time the engine quit on landing, and being totally puckered when flying hopeing the engine would keep running.

So, I have a DA100 and love it, if I had an older DA50 I would send it in, my friend that I started this thread for has, and he has bought a second. If I was in the market for a new 50cc engine and the DA50 met my requirements I would buy one, now.

my da50 ran like a clock until recently(about 3/4 gal)and now all of a sudden it started playing up, quiting on the ground and sometimes suddenly in the air as if you cut the ignition no warning or burble like running hot or lean - just cut and thats it and the engine is nowhere near hot - ran it in at 50:1 ashless and now synthetic still at 50:1 - do i have this problem everybody talks about. and does anybody have a contact email as i am in the stiks not easy for us to just send it back - interesting thread thanks guys.

http://www.desertaircraft.com/page.php?Page=Contact

Well, I got my DA 50 back today. They changed the crank, conecting rod, 2 crank bearings and the carb mounting plate. All those items changed on an engine that had only 3 gallons through it. Mind you the only reason I sent it in was because the darn thing exhibited the exact problems that where in the beginning of this thread.

So tomarrow if all goes well I will fly the engine and see what I get.

My Engine is 4 months old, how I know if my Engine has this modification?

Thanks.

if your engine has the carb modification there will be a fuel line from the carb to the reed block thats the black block between the carb and the crank case mine dose not have the update and it has this tube from the carb to the crankcase not the reed block here is a pic of a none updated carb. By the way only one flight on this and it seemed fine so far.

FWIW, I got to fly my updated DA yesterday. All I can say is WOW, this all made a huge difference with this engine. No more complaints from me.

If anyone is thinking that this modification can't help them they are fooling themselves. Just DO IT!.

Well

JBrannon - I'm glad you started this thread. I received a DA50 today as a surprise gift and if this thread hadn't been started I wouldn't have known to verify that the engine has the updates. As far as the question in an earlier post asking if anyone has seen one of the non-updated engines come apart - Yes, I have. Last weekend a guy was hovering his plane a few feet off the ground when all of the sudden you heard a loud knocking. As-soon-as he applied throttle to get altitude the motor came apart. The plane is now scrap. He said he had thought about sending the motor in for the updates but hadn't gotten around to it yet. He's a student and not in a position to replace his pride-and-joy. It doesn't matter if there are only a very few where this happens if one of those few is yours. Anyway, thanks again for starting the thread. RCU is for keeping people informed and that's what the thread did; both when there where problems and when the updates were available.

Dan

Oh my gosh. I havent read through this thread, but I'm amazed that it could generate this question. The DA-50 is probably one of the sweetest gas engines I've ever run. I havent touch the needles on mine yet in the 260.

Its unquestionably an EXCELLENT engine.

Hi All,
I started my first gas DA 50 engine. The engine started on the first of its flick after choking. Now after running the engine for about two tanks the engine become quite difficult to start and bit ruff with lots of Vibration . After lots of flicks and tweaking the engine, I found that the engine would only start when the fuel is injected through the carb which is not normal.

To my surprise the problem was not the engine it was the crankcase with a missing set screw. I wish just the set screw is a problem. How do you make out the difference between the new DA 50 R and the old one.

Regards

Sharad

A buddy of mine had a pretty hairy experience with his da-50 as well. I have no doubt that Dave and his staff at DA will work it out. There simply are very few companies I have dealt with, in RC, that have a better track record for customer service than Desert Aircraft.

I bought a DA 50cc for my Katana and have 34 flights on it now. I bought the engine in January, 2005. This one I think has the update with the fuel line. Its been running fine. I have 3 1/4 gallons through it, and the only "querk" I have with it is @ 32:1 with 91 octane shell gas, there is some pinging at WOT. The engine has full power on the up lines for a slightly rich setting, and I know its not overheating. My theory is its the gas. I know it is not recommended, but I added the correct amount of 104 octane boost for one gallon of gas which is .8 ounces or 4/5 of an ounce to see if the pinging would stops sence the timing is controled by the box. The engine ran fine, But, the one flight, that I got in yesterday, was with some other guy in the air sceaming his 33%cap 232 with a DA 100 at WOT. In additon to the wind, it was too loud for me to hear my own engine, so I could'nt here if the pinging went away. Now it raining. maybe tomorrow.

I don't want to start a long-ish argument about this "ping" problem but as far as I know, and it's been written about in many articles in many magazines, that octane just doesn't matter in the small cu. gassers as we use. Octanes as low as 70 will be just fine to use in a DA50, as it is in many small cu. motrocycle 2-stroke engines.

If you hear a "ping" then I'd be looking elsewhere, perhaps timing too far advanced but it aint going to be the octane of the gas.