What do you guys use for a test stand for 50cc+ gassers?

Big Black and Decker Workmate..Take the top off, bolt on a 2x12 with a 2x6 vertical..Test anything up to a 3W 150..Folds down out of the way when not in use..On the second one in 12 years.....

I c-clamp the 2 X 6 to the side of a classic saw horse that has torque arms added to the feet. I set some weights on the torque arms.

You have to keep an eye on the c-clamps at first. It also works better outside than on the concrete floor.

Seems to work ok.

Good luck,

Jim

Glad you guys talked about this, I was running my MDS 2.18 in the other day and it was very apparent the my J-Tec test stand mounted in a 3x12x24 inch solid oak plank was not adequate. I'm going to have to figure how to mount it on my American Hobby Products giant test stand, I saw a radial back plate for it, I may get that.

Dave,

Back in August 1991, I went to the LHS. And I saw all these American Hobby Products boxes with a test stand on top of them. I assumed it to be a AHP test stand too. It was made of that Oriental Pine that they used to call Philipine Mahogany. I thought that meant that American Hobby Products is just an importer? This wood is harder than balsa and white pine but doesn't compare with a true hardwood. I was informed, lately, by the maker of the American Hobby Products, that what I saw must have been an imported model just setting atop his products still in boxes and not his? That there is no Philipine Mahogany used in his test stands and never has been. Further more, his products are all made in the USA.

But the bottom line is that any test stand should use good old rock hard maple at least in the stress area's.

I really like the layout of the AHP test stand, I wish I had one.

Mine is the old E-Z-Just model from back in the 50's. I blew it up with a ASP108 on it. It ate the end off my Glow Bee tach. I re-made it with new unsoaked maple and it has been ok but I don't put anything bigger than a 60 on it and I never stand in front anymore.

I bought a TNC tach. Anybody need a slightly used Glow Bee with the front of it missing?

Good luck,

Jim

Is there any way to get us a picture? I'd be interested in seeing that device. What do you hold it back with_bob

Hey Bob I just bolt my gassers to one of the 6X6's that hold up my deck, A "L" bracket on the otherside holds a 1X6 for the tank and ign. It's dumb but it aint goin' nowhere.

Bob, it is built in such a way that you can lay a 50 lb. cement block on it, it has two verticle hardwood posts 2x2 inches by about 16 inches tall as the front corners, the base is 12x24x1/4 with hardwood perimeter underneath, two 1/8x1 inch braces go from the rear bottom to the top of the front posts. Two 3/4 in by 3 in hardwood boards go across the upper front with various adjustable holes and slots, all 1/4 in bolts. I use a solid 10 inch cement block which probably weighs more than 50 lbs. The largest engine I've tested is a Mustang 50 and it was piece of cake.

For the replies. This is obviously something that's gonna take a bit of work to do right. I might as well build something that can handle a DA150 the first time.

One other question: do you typically bolt the engine directly to the wood? I would doubt that. All the larger gas engines have rear-facing, direct-to-firewall mounts, correct?

There's a nice test stand that the guy is running the radial on in the video clip on here from RCS. Did anyone notice it?

Jim

During Christmas, I came across AHP test stands at the LHS and being impressed by their quality of manufacture. I purchased one of the larger 120 size ones.

It is all Northern Rock Maple or Baltic Birch plywood. All the grain of the Maple is running in the correct direction and the retaining bolts are large.

I cannot wait until all this snow and colder weather subsides somewhat so that I can put it to good use.

Enjoy

Jim