Looking for votes from people who actually own and fly these.


It seems just as I've made up my mind, someone brings a new one to the table!

Have a look at this http://www.zrcgf.com/store/Details.c...=33&category=0 Have almost 5 gallons through mine very happy!

I see the DL is off to a good start, this is kinda' what I expected however the Area is getting some good feed back as well in the forum.
Keep it going!....Thanks guys and gals.

If I wasn't so sceptical..... and cheap, I would have just purchased a DA or Evolution by now! Six hundred bucks its hard to part with for 3lbs of aluminum and steel.

And ridiculously overpriced in my opinion....

I understand all about mass production and how it can lower prices, (addressing the fact that you can buy a chain saw or other tool with a similar sized engine for 1/3 the cost), but I just can't see paying that much for an engine.

I've been very happily flying numerous airplanes with engines converted from other equipment for years now. They perform extremely well, and the most I ever paid for one was $80.00; most I got used for 10 bucks or so and rebuilt for less than 20 dollars.

AV8TOR

Twin cylinder 48cc engine made from two Echo leaf blower engines, APC 20 X 10 prop at 7000, super smooth:

One thing you might want to keep in mind - virtually every DL50 in my field (4 or 5 so far), had to have the bearings replaced after about a year. In some case, when the bearing parts floated elsewhere in the engine, the ring or cylinder, got damaged as well.

It's a strong and cheap engine, but definitely uses cheap bearings.

After the repairs, people found themselves suddenly at the cost of a DA-50, which seems to use better bearings as they do not fall apart...

QUOTE: AV8TOR

Twin cylinder 48cc engine made from two Echo leaf blower engines, APC 20 X 10 prop at 7000, super smooth:


That is sweet.... did you mill the crankcase yourself? Did you design it? Specs? You gotta' fill me in here!

""That is sweet.... did you mill the crankcase yourself? Did you design it? Specs? You gotta' fill me in here! ""

and glow too ..

Jim

Thanks guys, it is a fun little engine!

The crankcase was sold to me by Keith at BME engines. It was a project they had started and got sidetracked and never got around to doing for sale. He sold the lot of crankcases only. Unfortunately all the crankcases have been sold. Here are three available, (I believe still available) that are very similar: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_54...page_14/tm.htm

It is made by cutting and joining two Echo 23.6cc engine crankshafts, and using their cylinders, pistons, etc. It runs incredibly well. No vibration at all, but then it is a twin, and also I was extremely careful to get the crank halves all lined up and indexed before I welded them together. It, as well as numerous other engines I have, runs on a system we have invented that we call "Gas/Glow". The Gas/Glow mix is one part of 10% oil, 10% nitro glow fuel to two parts of high test gasoline. You use a four stroke plug; no glow power needed after start up. It is a cheap, lightweight system that runs and works really well. Here is all the info: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8009384/tm.htm

Note: The needle valve on the firewall and the red tubing coming from the engine is for my impulse pump type smoke system.

Take care,
AV8TOR

AV8TOR


Thats incredible and impressive. I even work in a machine shop and would not find the time for all that. Holding up the equipment for any substantial amount of time would not be in my best interest.


As for the poll....looks like people are getting bored with the whole which engine is best thing. Sorry guys I just thought a point and click thread would be easy and fast for everyone.

The bearing issue of the DL would be easily remedied for me. no prx. nocking out a couple and pressing in/on some top quality stock

The Area 51's billet crank case an attractive feature!! Cast has never been top on my list, however it seems to be proving itself in the field.

I have repaired two DL 50's of the Marymoor club members and sold the parts to another so he could do the repairs himself. All three gentlemen were using the same anemic fuel/oil mixture. If you put some quality oil in your gas and mix it to the engine manufacturers recommendations, which is not 80-100:1, your engine will last you a long, long time. I have a first generation DL 50 with about 40 gallons through it in 2-1/2 years of hard flying. It's just like the energizer bunny and strong as a mule.

Jody

agree. use 35:1 or 40:1 oil max and keep engine running under 7200RPM. keep your engine long life. and if need more thrust . use bigger prop like 24 inch prop .you will get what you want of thrust to fly

Sorry I had to add the MT57. Seems to also be getting some good feedback.
Every other day seems to be a new one thats bigger and better.
I Know as soon as I click the submit button for a DL there will be the 50 to beat all 50's released!
I've seen many posting about having owned or own multiple engines. Unfortunatly My wife will cut my nuts off if start with that, so I've only got one shot at choosing this engine [X(]

Area 51 and damn proud of it !!!

Deleted

I have owned the DL and the Area 51....no firsthand on the other engines. Both have moved on to good hands as I moved up to 150cc.

Speaking of DA....I like all kinds of engines but find the newcomers trying to give, "DA Like Service." We all know that DA has set the industry standard and that is good for us modelers. The DL service I experienced was good. I took a picture of the cracked muffler and they sent it the next day while I mailed in the defective part. I got the same out of the Rc ExtremePower gang when the Rcexl ignition went out early in the game....only this guy work's weekends. My problem happened on Sunday afternoon, by 10pm I had exchanged two emails and he had a new unit out Monday morning.

It may make it sound like the engines were not very good, but to the contrary they are good engines for the price. The Rcexl ignition is used in a lot of engine brands today (including these two) and I treat it as a fluke, one in a hundred...happens. To me the muffler problem on the other was an early issue that likely has been resolved. That muffler was pretty darn light, going for all out broke in the engine weight wars I am sure.

Both engines right out of the box (Area 51 has a prettier box) easily cranked up. The DL took some carb priming, normal for a brand new engine. The Area 51 popped on the second throw and when the choke was off, ran on two more flips. After flying, whether you sit 5 minutes or an hour the 51 was a one flip restart. The DL might be two or eight and had to be choked if it sat until cold.

On running, both will idle well and transition well too. The Area 51 has a mid range that is "Smooth as Silk," and impressed me the most. No noticeable gurgle that the DL had. It also impressed Chris Hinson when he went to China to fly an EF prototype with that engine on it. By the time he came back to the states he had picked up the line and now sells Area 51's,

Top end on the DL after several gallons would turn around 6800, after 5 tanks of gas the 51 was hitting 7k on the same Vess 23A. Reports are that when broken in they get nearly 7200 or so.

The DL has more units out and more track time so I can understand if someone is skeptical about the newer engine, as they should. At some time all engines are new and have to prove themselves. Having said that, I still like the Area 51 (voted for in poll) better based soley on the way it runs. I have met the owner Milton, at a huckfest event. He is one of those guys that has been contributing to model aviation all his life and he is a grandfather. I did also have great phone and email conversations with Bob at DL, he is also good people in my book. I have the impression that he too is a businessman that came from models - not the other way around.

Here is a vid of the Area 51 runup after 5 tanks of fuel. Sadly I traded that plane away to get my 150cc otherwise I would still be huckin' it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLptMPUOj70

Here is a vid from last year of my DL sold to a buddy that has fun with the 88 inch Yak.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RBCZOPJs5w

Good luck with your choice.

Richard

Richard,
Very informative write up. A buddy of mine and I are in the same position regarding comparing these tow motors side by side. Only difference is both of our motors are too new to make any conclusive statements about their performance and reliability. I have the DL-50, he has the Area51. I have mine in a WH Sukhoi26, his is in an Aeroworks Extra. In the beginning his motor had some transition problems idling down. After receiving an new carb from Milton his problems seem to be gone. My DL performed flawlessly from the start and, so far, still does. Comparing power, I really can't tell, which one is the better performer. We fly different props and both engines are not broken in, yet. I know the DL is a tad lighter than the Aera 51, but I think that's negligible. I know my DL is a brut. It pulls my Suki vertical below half throttle with ease. But when I watch him fly his Extra I cannot say he is lacking any power either. In the mean time we will continue with comparing our motors. A lot of people who fly with us are getting interested in those two motors, simply because their attractive price tags.

I guess the Chinese instructions are not that clear then... I have 3 DA-50s and all of them are running extremely well on 80:1 Amsoil which is the recommended mixture.

The guys at Marymoor are typically running their DL-50s at 75:1 to 80:1 Amsoil Saber, which is higher than the recommended mix for this oil (100:1). If Amsoil is not high quality oil, then what is? The 50:1 Amsoil is the Dominator brand.

I guess what you are saying is that the DL needs a different mixture than the DA?

Check out the other thread about "Fuel/oil mixtures", if you haven't done so already. Pretty interesting stuff said in there. Personally I still hold on to a richer mixture for all my motors.

Richard D Bahmann aka/Wrongway


Thank you Sir! Lots o' good stuff said. Thats some of the input I was looking for, although not expecting from anyone. Due to the fact that this topic is getting beat to death early in its life. This is why I set up a simple poll, nice and painless.
So I thank you again for taking time from your day to post your experience with these engines.


Mike

ok... If we are talking about the mains, this is just stupid talk.....the main bearings are permanently sealed with grease. So you could run Zero oil and the mains shouldn't have a problem...

Mike, you are welcome. I hope you enjoy....One more thing I forgot. The RC Extreme Power (area 51) is offering I believe 2 years warrantee on the engine and 1 on the ignition (although Rcexcel says it warrantees for two years and the unites are dated) The last time I checked DL was one year warrantee which is still good.

Richard

All of the bearing failures that I have seen have been connecting rod bearings, both ends. Although I do not use Amsoil, I will not say it is not quality oil, I'm not looking for a fight. All I wanted to say is that the manufacturers know thier engines and design them to be used within a given set of parameters that are clearly disclosed in the instruction manuals. If you think that the Chinese manuals are unclear then you have not read them. Even with some of the poor translation in the manuals, thier recommended oil mixtures are very clear. If you are unclear about anything in the manual that could possibly mean the difference between life and death for an engine, please ask the selling dealer for clarification of what the manual says. These people are extending a warranty to the end user and at least for the length of time that warranty is in effect we should follow thier recommendations.

Jody

Hey outssider;
first of all, I don't think it's the proper way of arguing using words like "stupid". Secondly I think you are wrong. I have never seen main bearings in a combustion engine that were sealed on both sides. They have a seal on the out side of front bearing, but not on the inside. Show me one motor with sealed bearings.

Here we are arguing about oil again. I think someone should just start a new forum called lets_fight_about_2-stroke_oil.com. Wouldn't that be awesome? Then we could just talk about what the threads are about instead of always going off on oil tangents.