Engine Usage Statistics
10-03-2006 | 12:43 AM
#26
Senior Member
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RE: Engine Usage Statistics
ORIGINAL: Roary m
Artisan, yes, the very first run of Saito's in I think the early eighties was not good. The design was a little different, and while the engines stayed together they were heavy and produced little power. Then they went through a design change and became a whole new product. The basics of the Saito are just as they were from that change. Yes on your K&B remark, they were very good engines. I had a very unfortunate experience at the IMS show in 1991 with the K&B rep. I asked if they would consider building a hot pattern engine. He said they did, everybody used it and then went back to import stuff. He just didn't see the need to pursue the market. My thought was that they were making hot marine engines, why not make something fore the precision crowd? Any, it was a little depressing and I oblidged him going out and purchasing a couple of OS 61 VFs. Did you see the Webra 61 r.e. with a pipe at the sell site? he's got the trap door carb as well.
Artisan, yes, the very first run of Saito's in I think the early eighties was not good. The design was a little different, and while the engines stayed together they were heavy and produced little power. Then they went through a design change and became a whole new product. The basics of the Saito are just as they were from that change. Yes on your K&B remark, they were very good engines. I had a very unfortunate experience at the IMS show in 1991 with the K&B rep. I asked if they would consider building a hot pattern engine. He said they did, everybody used it and then went back to import stuff. He just didn't see the need to pursue the market. My thought was that they were making hot marine engines, why not make something fore the precision crowd? Any, it was a little depressing and I oblidged him going out and purchasing a couple of OS 61 VFs. Did you see the Webra 61 r.e. with a pipe at the sell site? he's got the trap door carb as well.
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The only guys that I knew that had those early Eighties Saito engines never flew them. In fact, I think they are still NIB in their closets. <G>
I never understood K&B's mindset. They were brilliant engine designers. But they lacked marketing skills.
I had an OS .61 VF too. Nice engine.
10-03-2006 | 03:09 PM
#27
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From: lancaster,
CA
RE: Engine Usage Statistics
I've only had a couple of Saito's but I would recommend them to anyone. Having said that, I just bought a O S 91 surpass/pump job so we'll see how he does. It's just that when I began to read all of the stuff on peeling liners, a few of the guys at the field were losing bearings in their 46 and 50 fx's. not just one set per engine mind you, but several stainless included. This led me to believe that that there was some align bore issue don't know for sure.
10-04-2006 | 12:35 AM
#28
Senior Member
My Feedback: (14)
RE: Engine Usage Statistics
ORIGINAL: Roary m
I've only had a couple of Saito's but I would recommend them to anyone. Having said that, I just bought a O S 91 surpass/pump job so we'll see how he does. It's just that when I began to read all of the stuff on peeling liners, a few of the guys at the field were losing bearings in their 46 and 50 fx's. not just one set per engine mind you, but several stainless included. This led me to believe that that there was some align bore issue don't know for sure.
I've only had a couple of Saito's but I would recommend them to anyone. Having said that, I just bought a O S 91 surpass/pump job so we'll see how he does. It's just that when I began to read all of the stuff on peeling liners, a few of the guys at the field were losing bearings in their 46 and 50 fx's. not just one set per engine mind you, but several stainless included. This led me to believe that that there was some align bore issue don't know for sure.
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Over all the years of the past several decades, I have always had good experiences with OS engines. No, they were not perfect, but I was generally satisfied with them. Of course, I never bought into the philosophy that OS was "the best". I knew better, since I was with them since the Sixties when they were sold and known as Japanese Junk here in the USA.
I have replaced ball bearings in engines, but only in used or crashed engines that I bought from others. Don't get the idea that I didn't fly a lot. I did. Was I just lucky? Could be. But I prefer to think it was more from good maintenance practices. I have had some very good teachers and mentors over the years, so I can't take credit for my good fortune.
My OS.32F ABN engine did peel its liner, but the engine still ran great. I would never have suspected a thing if I hadn't removed the muffler in order to remove the engine from my plane and just happened to glance in through the exhaust port and saw the liner wall devoid of nickel.
I still like and buy OS engines. Today I buy mostly four-strokes though. I have one ringless OS engine that I have bought within the last twenty years and that is the FL-70. Can't wait to get that going. <G>
11-07-2006 | 10:45 PM
#29
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From: El Paso,
TX
RE: Engine Usage Statistics
Here is my four stroke list:
Saito 40
Saito 72
Saito 82
Saito 91
Saito 100
Magnum 120
My two stroke list is:
K&B Sportster 28
OS LA 40
Super Tigre 40
Super Tigre 51
Merco 60
ASP 61
I have good experiences with all of them beeing the most liking the Saitos and the magnum, maybe because I fly the most of time with them. If I had to choose only one engine to have it would be a Saito. It is the easiest engine to handle, the easiest engine to repair, you can have all parts in a hurry, the price of the parts are reasonable and you do not have to be an engine guru to have these engines running properly. In the other hand I love the way my Magnum runs, best idle than all my Saitos, but you I can't get parts the easy way as with saitos. OS are expensive to repair, I do not own any OS 4 stroke but I do not wish any of them by now.
Saito 40
Saito 72
Saito 82
Saito 91
Saito 100
Magnum 120
My two stroke list is:
K&B Sportster 28
OS LA 40
Super Tigre 40
Super Tigre 51
Merco 60
ASP 61
I have good experiences with all of them beeing the most liking the Saitos and the magnum, maybe because I fly the most of time with them. If I had to choose only one engine to have it would be a Saito. It is the easiest engine to handle, the easiest engine to repair, you can have all parts in a hurry, the price of the parts are reasonable and you do not have to be an engine guru to have these engines running properly. In the other hand I love the way my Magnum runs, best idle than all my Saitos, but you I can't get parts the easy way as with saitos. OS are expensive to repair, I do not own any OS 4 stroke but I do not wish any of them by now.
