I'm looking at replacing my Super Tiger 40 with one of two engines. The OS 46 AX or the Thunder Tiger Pro 46. I'm looking for reliability, good power, quick tuning, and a solid engine well assembled. These are all things I have fount at-fault with the Super Tiger, I guess "getting what you pay for" is true after all. Though I'm sure there are people out there who have gotten a good Super Tiger engine, I was just one of the unlucky ones.
I have owned many OS and Thunder Tiger engines in the past and I have never gotten a bad one yet. Out of the two engines above which would you pick?

Hi!
OS. 46AX!

Thunder Tiger .46 Pro ! Why pay more for the same performance ?

I've been flying an AX46 on a Wot 4. It has about 4 gallons through it and it just gets stronger with each flight. Phenomenal engine and highly recommended.

Here we go again...

Buy the TT and save money.

Buy the OS and spend more.

Buy a YS and spend even more and blow both away.

Didn't know YS made a .46 2-stroke.


Buy the TT or get a Magnum. I have owned a TT Pro 46, an OS 46FX and a Magnum 46.

The Magnum was purchased recently for a pylon racer. It ran like a raped ape right outta the box. Ran 2 tanks through it at the field and flew the snot out of it. Tunes easy. Holds a needle setting--I don't have to fuss with it more than a click either way from day to day--depending on humidity and barometric pressure on that particular day. Same as any other good engine.

For my money, I'd get the Magnum again in a heartbeat. OS is overpriced. They run good, but they are overpriced when you can get the same performance from a different engine for 40% less cost. I haven't bought an OS in 5 or 6 yrs. Never will again.

TT is good too. They are ALL good engines. Run right outta the box.

I love YS engines. They really are great power plants! But I was just looking for a good simple two stroke that is reliable. I put YS on its on high pedestal above all other engine. Their not even in the same category as other engine in my opinion. This plane dose not deserve a YS engine which has be sent to us from god!! Its just a little simple 40 hand launcher for quick little flights in the evenings after work.

You can get a Magnum for $69+shipping. I picked one up in the RCU marketplace NIB for $72 shipped. Can't beat that with a stick.

One thing to consider with the TT is getting parts if you ever need them. It's not always easy to get the parts. You can order Magnum parts from Global just about any day of the week.

I have owned three engines roughly in this size. An OS 40, TT 46 and SK 50 and the TT was by far the easiest to break-in and operate. It started every time by back flipping it off of compression with the throttle set to idle and it is notable quieter than the other two in the air. The fuel economy is also good. I have had zero problems so far with my TT and if I needed another 46, I wouldn't spend the extra money for the OS. Maybe if I had the OS 46 first I would have the opposite opinion but for me the TT came first so that is how it worked out. I would say the TT, on average, is similar in quality to the OS as well. You are always going to find lemons in each brand although some a more likely than others. A YS is more powerful but you typically have to run 20-30% nitro to get that performance and live with the slightly shorter flight times unless you increase the tank size and wet AUW. I like to run 15% nitro so that rules out YS for me in most cases.

If you easily want to find spare parts for your engine, just in case - I'd say go with OS 46AX -
I got mine from my friend with ~5 gallons thru it, i put at least 5 more, and now its just sitting on my plane as decoration in my room - but i know if i fuel it up and flip it, its gona start right away..

extremely easy to start & tune.

for TT, i guess its just as reliable, but still i'd go with OS for 2 strokes.

I can only speak for the OS 46 AX. Great running engine, very reliable, no deadsticks.

I am used to OS so that is what I buy but can't complain about TT either. I don't own one but have helped new flyers with theirs and the engines surprized me to find that they are just as easy to adjust and break in for reliable strong running as the OS (unlike the finicky ST engines). I prefer the OS remote needle valve to stay clear of the prop but the new TT engines have an angled valve so thats not much of an issue any more.

Exactly

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFV71&P=SM

Why not this one, I have one, it is excellent.

It's a myth that Thunder Tiger parts are hard to find. You can buy engine parts from a variety of online Thunder Tiger dealers:

http://www.thundertiger4u.com

http://www.infinitehobbies.com

http://www.ehobbies.com

I own two TT Pro .46 engines, a GP-61, and an F-91s. I'm planning on selling off my O.S. engines because I'm running Thunder Tiger on everything, for the most part. I'm no longer using most of my O.S. engines and I know they'll bring more in resale value.

I own several Magnum engines, a Super Tigre G-61 ringed engine, a Saito .72, and I've flow GMS in the past as well. 2-stroke or 4-stroke, the Thunder Tiger line is simply the ideal mix of quality and value. Anything cheaper doesn't run quite as easily and anything as good is more expensive.

Aviator, both engines are very good - you can't go wrong.

The TT .46 Pro is very consistent from engine to engine, lasts well and is a very good performer (about 12k with an APC 12.25 x 3.75) with a great unload in the air. They work really well on Q500s.

The AX .46 is a fantastically consistent engine that is a little more powerful at lower rpm (11000-12000) than the TT by about 300 rpm. At higher rpm (14,000 - 15,000), the TT appears close the gap or exceed the AX slightly, based on anecdotal observations we have made.

Both engines carburate really well - as good as you'll see on a .46 engine.

Summary: you can't go wrong.

When someone responds with this type of post in response to advice regarding purchasing an OS, always take it with grain of salt.

"Never will again" - yeah, there's a real open-minded approach...

I'll put my vote in for Thunder Tiger also.

Virtually all the guys at our club that have had OS engines now fly Thunder Tiger -- there's got to be a reason for that!

However, if you buy a Thunder Tiger, do yourself a favour and also fork out for a GMS47/Tower muffler. These make an incredible difference to the top-end power, giving a lot more RPMs for free (well a slight noise penalty).

My oldest Thunder Tiger engine has over 300 hours on it now (with at least 20 of those using a fuel with 12% oil) and it is just 200 RPMs down on a brand-new one.

Unfortunately, it seems that the US TT distributors have wised up to the fact that the TT46Pro is every bit as good as an OS 46AX and as a result they hiked the price a few months back. A TT46Pro used to cost about US$74 but is now around US$90. That's a big "overnight" price hike but even at $90 they're damned good value.

I Have the O.S. .46ax and it runs great. Easy to tune and holds the settings well.
I have a really old Magnum.45 and it runs like a raped ape!!! Very old but still outperforms my other 46 engines.
A friend in my club swears the "TT"46 has the most power.

Oh yea......I have a supertigre as well. Hate that engine. Hard to tune(Near impossible) Shoddy muffler/header.
weak. etc... I will never get one again, and the one I have will live out it's days back in it's box!!

Good luck.........Murph..........

Chris,


They don't!

Their engine is a .45 and yes, it will blow away the OS, the TT, even the Rossi and most other engines; even with its normal muffler.
It may only capitulate to the Jett .46 and even then, not decisively.

It does have the big advantage of having its integral pump-regulator, making the tank location unimportant.


It is no longer offered by YS, but they are frequently offered NIB on that auction site, as well as in the RCU marketplace.

Why do you want to replace your ST GS-40? They are good engines and should not be causing you a problem if all is normal with your sample.

I doubt if you will see much difference in power between the GS-40 and the OS .46AX. A little, perhaps, but not $60 worth. At least, not to me.

ST engines do have a good warranty. If you are happy with the power the GS-40 is producing, which is considerable, I would give the folks at Hobby Services a chance at fixing it, even if you decide to buy a new engine anyway.

I like both the OS.46AX and the TT.46Pro. Both are good engines.

Is the OS worth the extra money? It is to me.

If you are looking for something less pricey, don't forget the Magnum, SK and the K&B .61, which produces great power and is about the same size as the schnuerle ported .40 to .52 sized engines without weighing much. There's no replacement for displacement. <G>


Ed Cregger

I have a TT .46 Pro and it is a very good engine. However, Ace Hobby has very poor service and if you send your engine in for warranty work you may not see it for six months. I would probably try the Magnum, or Super Tigre.

Between OS's "ABL" plated cylinder and TT's Nickel plated cylinder, TT is by far better. It has a nickel plating that is 4X's as thick as OS without the past problems[>:]

Re: "Oh yea......I have a supertigre as well. Hate that engine. Hard to tune(Near impossible) Shoddy muffler/header.
weak. etc... " < exactly, and whats with the rod poking out of the middle of the needle valve supposed to do ?!?[>:]

The rod in the center of the Super Tiger needle valve is for forming an extension. You can solder a short piece of tubing over it as a coupling for a longer extension or you can just take the existing rod and bend it 90 degrees for a lever/position indicator. You also can just saw it off flush with the needle valve body if you don't like it?

So we are to give some creedance to a post which claims this is a shoddy engine which cannot be tuned, but did not bother to read the directions enough to understand the needle valve? Or is this sarcasm?