OPS Maxi 30 engine
 

Anyone still running one of these? I found this one pretty cheap. I want to use it in a 1/4 scale biplane.

It appears to be very well made.

RE: OPS Maxi 30 engine
 

Yes, I have one but I converted it to run on gas. I'm using it in a Balsa USA 1/4 scale Nieuport 28 and it is perfect.

RE: OPS Maxi 30 engine
 

They are good engines. Very well made. OPS added a lot of cooling fins to help the engine when it is in a scale plane with a cowl all around it. So the engine works well where other engines would tend to overheat. Now it doesn't make as much power as some other 30cc engines, but it has a lot of torque to it, so it runs good in any case. The extra weight is a plus when you put it in a scale plane with a short nose on it too. I remember guys having to add extra lead weight on their planes to get the CG forward more. So with this engine you may not need to add any extra lead weight to get a plane to balance OK.

You run 0% to 5% nitro glow fuel and after you get it run in you can lower the oil content down to 12%, some buys say 5% oil works on them. If I remember they have a needle bearing rod inside, so they can run with lower oil content. It tends to like a 18x10 prop where other 30cc engines like a 18x8 prop instead.  Quite a few fellows converted their engines to spark ignition and gasoline too.

Here is a video of someone flying the OPS engine in a Stampe SV4 bipe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLd5RRALkSs

They have the MAN article engine review  MAN June 1998, Vol 126, page 66 by Dave Gierke.
If I find the article, I'll let you know.

RE: OPS Maxi 30 engine
 

Good engine John, I had one for a few years, as you can see it has a very long stroke, that's why it likes that 18x10 that Earl mentioned.

RE: OPS Maxi 30 engine
 

What does the propeller nut look like? This one didn't come with one, also does this engine use a long set screw as the propeller shaft like the Jett engines do?

(You can see in the picture that it's pretty short)

RE: OPS Maxi 30 engine
 

John, the nut had a phlange with a long sleeve that went inside the prop to engage more threads. It was made of brass or bronze. I came up with a shot of the engine with a nut on it. You can make out the sleeve that goes through the washer into the prop. The prop requires a rather large hole.

RE: OPS Maxi 30 engine
 

Thanks, I'll see if I can make one...