A question from a newbie.

Looking at some of the design of planes, I have notice that they usually have the engine on the front, which tends to be buried in the ground on a crash.

If say we put the engine on the back, just behind the wing as a pusher, would a engine, say like a OS 46LA, have a problem with that?

The OS LA is a bushing engine & will not operate properly as a pusher . It would be too hard on thrust washer & possibly the
rear cover. You should use a ball bearing engine for longevity.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>big max 1935>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Would the OS FX series help, I understand that it has a bearing.

The FX series would be much better.

Keep in mind that there can be a serious over heating problems with a pusher (rear) engine. You cannot run the engine on the ground with the pusher prop or the engine will over heat in short order.

If you need to get the engine set up (needles adjusted) on the ground, put a tractor prop on the engine to break it in or get it adjusted.

Once you start it with a pusher prop, you must take off immediately.

Good luck,

Jim

W8ye: I have run a few pusher installations over the years , the last was with a ST 61 ringed engine on a plane called a "Nosey". I feel that as long as the engine cylinder is exposed there is not a cooling problem with a pusher engine . Don`t seem to make any difference if the air is pushed or pulled over the engine ,it`s about the same. Once worked with a "Old" Msgt. that was crew chief on the Bell Airacuda ,twin pusher that they had to tow to end of the runway before starting engines! They over heated that bad, but they were liquid cooled. More of my rattling on,sorry.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>big max 1935>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Big Max,

what is a "Nosey" ?

It was about a 75" pusher made in Ill. About 10 years ago , a sort of an ARC . Very different & fun plane to fly. Our LHS has one in stock yet, he was always going to build it but!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>big max 1935>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hi!
I have run a few planes with pusher engines including engines with bushings and they have all worked fine. At least in Sweden with summer temperatures ranging from +18 to +30degrees centigrade.
The importent thing is to always run a little rich.
My latest model was a sport 40 "Pushy Cat" pylonracer with a OS FX .40 engine equipped with a MVVS short minipipe and running on 80/20 castoroil fuel and no nitro. Prop being a cut down 9x6 APC (now around 8,5x6).
I have also run small OS FP .10 engines in pusher configuration and they all have performed fine.



Regards!
Jan Karlsson
Sweden

Do you have to run a special prop? or any old prop will do

You have to use a pusher prop unless you have an engine with left hand rotation.

Jim