flycatch

My Feedback: (26)

Don't buy one of these engines. I have purchased three off of ebay. All three were NIB anf now they are history. I'm not an expert on engines but I can honestly say they are junk. They will last about one hour and fifthteen minutes total flight time. After this time period they will self destruct internally.
If you decide to purchase one don't pay more than $89.00 dollars. They are not worth anymore than that.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

I'll have to strongly disagree, they will last a long time using 5% nitro and 20% oil, for a ringed engine they have excellent compression and are fairly frugal on fuel.

Homebrewer

My Feedback: (8)

I think that flycatch is badmouthing the engine so that others do not buy them and run up the prices on fleabay. I agree, MDS is junk and no one but me should buy them for pennies on the dollar.

dpitcock

I agree.these engines are junk. My 1.48 has 3 hours on it now and with the help of Hobbsy it will only reach a low earth orbit and burn up on re-entry.But with my 2.18 I bet I can reach escape velocity before the piece of junk explodes.

Texastbird

Yeah, my flying buddy wants me to chunk my MDS and buy one of his OS1.60s but I'll wait till the rod flies through the side of the crankcase or something. I know this thing can't last too much longer

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Hey Tex, how about five years from now when the rod still hasn't come through the side I'll buy it from you or you can buy one of mine.

flycatch

My Feedback: (26)

I stand by my opinion. As far as the nitro and oil content you use, I did also. All three of my engines suffered from internal problems Engine number one the bearings seized in-flight. Engines two and three had the cyclinder head gasket warp in-flight causing major internal problems. The odds of getting an MDS engine to stay together after time IMOP is very low.
I though I was saving money. Since my MDS engine saga I have switched back to O.S. and am very pleased with my 1.60 FX.

j.duncker

My Feedback: (2)

MDS 148 is a great engine. I learned to prop hang with mine so it had to be reliable. Yes it did quit once. that was about 2 years ago when the engine was about 18 months and 10 gallons old. [ TOUCHING WOOD]

Most ringed MDS engines will take at least 30 mins and maybe an hour before the idle settings settle down.

Read the manual on the carb set up and follow the instructions. Make small adjustements on the slow running jet. Once I set mine up I adjust the needle twice a year, winter is about 3 clicks richer!

If you buy one and want help find someone who is running MDS engines, OS guys will usually make jokes about deadsticks and mess up the settings.

I did upgrade my engine to the new style carb. I new that the US distributor was doing this so I asked the UK distributor about this. Yup they sent me a new carb [ attached to a new engine ! ] and returned the old engine in bits. I reassembled the old one switched carbs and it is still going strong.

Texastbird

Flycatcher, a warped cylinder head gasket is a new one on me. All my head gaskets are clamped securely between the liner and head. Even on my OS engines they're the same way. Did the head bolts get loose or something?

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

There is no way that happened.

flycatch

My Feedback: (26)

The head bolts did come loose. This problem occured on two different engines. I went through the proper break-in proceedure and tightened all the bolts on the engine after break-in.

DStrus

I have a MDS 1.48 with the C2 Carb in my 27% Edge 540. I never leave half throttle.!!!!!!! is like a rocket out of hovers!!!!!! I run methanol with 15-20% Castor oil. NO NITRO, seems to run the best on just methanol.

CrazyHerb

My Feedback: (1)

FYI

Don't know if anyone had mentioned it...
I was having hard time finding a good muffler for this MDS 1.48...
(It seemed that the aftermarket mufflers didn't quite have enough backpressure for my taste).

Just got a GMS 1.20 Muffler from Tower for $19.99 and it BOLTS right to the MDS...

Looks good too...

Oh ya...I did their $20 off deal on $50 purchase....got a little 910mah lipo and pretty much got a FREE muffler if you look at it that way...
Add that up with the $70 NIB 1.48 off Ebay and I'm good!

Now I gotta find a good airframe for this thing....maybe a GIANT delta foamie thingy...or somthing...
I was thinking about a 8 ft Shockflyer....(ok yes I'm nuts)...

CrazyHerb

balsa brain

Crazy Herb, I got one last night off the bay for $81 plus $10 shipping. I don't even know what they sell for but it just seemed to good to pass up And thanks for the heads up on that muffler.

texasskydiver

My Feedback: (8)

Hey guys...been wrestling with my MDS 148 for a few weeks and many deadsticks. This past weekend I finally got her dialed in. I am using the MDS 148 in my Funtana 90 swinging an 18-6 prop with a pitts style muffler. I had been using the 5% per what I had read on many forums. I could run it all day long on the ground...but in the air...it would only run for about 5 minutes or so then just die. I changed to an OS #8 plug...actually got a full 12 minute flight out of it...but it the transition was not desirable...so I tuned up the low and high end and got it good on the ground...next two flights resulted in deadsticks. I was pretty much at my witts end...as were the other guys at the filed. Someone suggested that I try some 15% Cool Power...I figured...what have I got to lose....so...filled her up and started her up. MAN!!! Could tell a difference from the get go...left everything else the same and took to the air. 12 minutes later I was landing with a prop still spinning. I was very happy...but figured I should fly another tank to make sure I was not dreaming. Same results. I have since tuned the low and high end and have put over 8 flights on it this past weekend without having a deadstick. The transition is great...the power is awesome and I think I can go ahead and cut and install the new cowl I have.


See ya,
Howie

cam1468

My Feedback: (2)

Hi. I have a mds 148 and i am trying to find a muffler ext 2" to 3" long , Do you know where you can find any engine asse..

Thanks Tommy
Email @ [email protected]

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Please be more clear about what you want to know, any muffler that fits the Webra 120 will fit the MDS 1.48. For example.

http://www.bissonmufflers.com/en/muf...ting_id=114477

APIA

I believe what he is needing is a stand-off for the muffler. Tommy, You might check the Annual Tower Hobbies catalog. I have seen what you are talking about but not sure of the applications. If nothing else you can always email Tower Hobbies.
-Tom

NM2K

My Feedback: (14)

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If you saw more than a 200 rpm difference (increase) between 5% and 10% in a two-stroke, you inadvertantly solved a problem that you didn't know you had. Two-strokes are not inclined to provide much of an increase with just adding 5% nitro. Could it be that your previous gallon of fuel had become contaminated, or was a different brand?

NM2K

My Feedback: (14)

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I doubt that it was the 10% nitro that was causing the engine to quit and die. More than likely, it was overheating because it was still tight.

NM2K

My Feedback: (14)

The pump can provide too much fuel. The carb adjustments let you adjust the top and low speed, but the midrange is fixed. Adjust the pump so that the midrange is fine, then readjust the top and low speed needles.

NM2K

My Feedback: (14)

Because many engines made overseas (not OS) are set up with compression high enough to run 0%-5% nitro satisfactorily. Putting 15% or higher nitro in these engines leads to preignition. Adding a head shim or two (Horizon) will let you run the higher nitro percentages without a problem. I wouldn't waste the money. The engine will produce fantastic power on 5% nitro and will provide you with longer flight times with the same size tank while doing it.