Evolution 46
 

What is the diffence between the evoultion 46 and the evolution alfa trainer system is there a power diffence or what is the better deal.

RE: Evolution 46
 

Both engines are pretty much the same...I have one of each.
The Alpha TPS comes with a prop that unless you are a complete novice, is pretty much useless. And the flywheel is extra weight...

What kind of airplane are you thinking about putting one of them in?

RE: Evolution 46
 

A Seagull Harmon Rocket

RE: Evolution 46
 

The .46NT would be a good choice but there seems to be some "pot luck" involved with Evo's? I have an Alpha that has been great...but I was given a .46NT because the original owner couldn't get it to run right.
If you don't mind taking a chance, and have the ability to tune an engine, get the .46NT...

But...IMO if you want an engine that will give you probably the best bang for the buck get a Thunder Tiger .46 Pro...
They're about the same $ and the QC of the TT is better.

Edit: By "tune" I mean you might have to tinker with it...like take the blue limiting collars off, or seal an air leak around the carb...something like that

RE: Evolution 46
 

As I recall, the trainer engine is a .455 cu. in. displacement which is a common size for the OS .46, Magnum .46, Tower .46, etc. The Evo .46 is closer to a .47 and has a smaller bore and longer stroke.

It is not uncommon for some Chinese engines to require nearly a gallon of fuel to break in well enough for a really good idle. OS & Thunder Tiger will take less time. Maybe Evo since there are run at the factory, but I can't say for sure. Most people have no trouble at all with them.

RE: Evolution 46
 

I just purchase a Royal Trainer ARF never flown with an Alpha engine installed. From my library, the Dave Gierke Engine Guide publication #2, has put the whole breaking procedure
in a great form to follow. While it has been said that the EVO engine was broke in at the factory,
what harm would be done if it was run through Dave's procedure? I removed the engine, and
ran the breakin. Installed it into another trainer which had been crashed by another pilot that
I rebuilt, and has three test flights on it. The castor oil dripping out of the muffler after each flight has a color similar to normal castor oil in a bottle indicating to me that the engine is broken
in for max power use if desired. Moorman is right in saying that some engines need a gallon of
fuel run through them to finish the wear in necessary to give them a long operational life.

My EVO .455 really runs well, and did not give me any dead stick landings. You could use this
engine, or the .46, and be happy. My preferrence is for the Thunder Tiger Pro .46, but then
again, I really like my GMS .47 engines as they seem to have a nice bark to them when going
from full throttle to idle. I lost my first one on a fly-away.

Enjoy yourself with the new plane and engine of your choice.

Rich S.

RE: Evolution 46
 

The Alpha is a .40. The TPS is a .455 and was marketed as a .40 by Horizon/Evolution for a while. The Alpha and .46NT share the same crankcase, bearings, carb, and cylinder. You can turn a .40 into a .45 by using the .46NT piston and liner. The crankshafts are slightly different. The crank pin on the .46 is slightly farther out. The .40 is better balanced but you could turn it into a complete .46NT by swapping crankshafts.

I remember my .46NT as taking a couple of tanks of fuel to smooth out and fly like it was broken in. I put it on a plane that previously had a TT Pro .46 and OS .46FX in it. The Evo had more power than those two on the first flight and it just got better. Of the two engines, my .455 is the better one.

RE: Evolution 46
 

I have a 46 and 61. Had no problems with the 61 but the 46 kept stumbling or dead sticking on me. Took the muffler apart and found the drain hole on the baffle was upside down. Re installed it and it didn't dead stick any more but kept stumbling. Finally took out the baffle completely and problem solved. I also took the baffle out of my 61 just because, and it transitions like a dream even after extended idles

flynte

RE: Evolution 46
 

Here's a pic of the baffle from the 46NT.

flynte

RE: Evolution 46
 

While good advice, be careful removing the baffle...

It will reduce pressure to the tank a bit... not a lot though.

It made a difference with my plane, so I drilled out the holes in the baffle and re-installed it giving me a median option.

RE: Evolution 46
 

Is the Alpha you refer to as a .40 an older evo engine or are you talking about the .45 evolution trainer power system used on the Aplha 40 RTF airplane?

RE: Evolution 46
 

From what I've read, the .455 PTS engine is newer. The Alpha trainer is in a 40 and 60 size. The 60 size uses the .61NT Evo with a different flywheel weight and a 3 bladed prop.

I took the baffle out of my .46NT before I ever started the engine.

RE: Evolution 46
 

I think the Alpha 40 airplane is getting mixed in with the engine talk here
I believe from looking at horizons web site that the Alpha airplane called the ''Alpha 40'' has what's called the trainer system a .45 engine

RE: Evolution 46
 

There was an Evo .40 for a while...haven't seen it advertised lately though.
The engine that comes in an Alpha and X-tra Easy 2 is the .455 with the lower case a (looks almost like an @ without the "tail" ) on the head and below the exh. port.

I think the .40 was dis-continued for the .36?

I had an Alpha engine and a .46NT dis-assembled right next to it, (put bearings in both of them ) just last week, the .46's piston being smaller in bore (a few thousandths) The only real, measurable differance was the stroke of the crank.

IIRC the Alpha .455 TPS came out first installed in the Alpha trainer ...then the .40 and .46 were introduced simultaneously some months later...and somewhere in between the TPS "Alpha" engine/3 blade paddle prop/flywheel/spinner was made available as a unit (sold seperately from the trainer )

RE: Evolution 46
 

Horizon still has the evo .40nt for sale.
either way the .45 trainer system is still a good engine the 3 blade prop is so so it does slow the plane down well but a blade of grass will break the prop
a 10x 6 ,I used a apc sport worked very well also after a while a knocked off the flywheel weight and pulled the baffle really help the transition

RE: Evolution 46
 

I ran an APC 11x7 on my .455 without the baffle and flywheel weight. It would pull the XE2 off the ground in about 6' and go almost vertical. The XE2 is a heavy trainer too. I have plans for some .40 sized planes and I'll put it on one with a Towers muffler. I gained 1000 RPM with my .46NT with one. Also, these engines really need a hotter plug than the OS 8. You will be surprised at the power increase with a Towers plug.

The .40 and .46 have the same pistons. The liner is thinner on the .46 to give a larger bore. The crankpin on the .46 crankshaft gives it a longer, but less balanced stroke.

Our hobby shop has the .40, NIB for $62.99.

I have about 3 or 4 of those 3 bladed props. Every one of them were severly out of balance on one blade. It took a massive amount of shaving with a Dremel to balance them.

RE: Evolution 46
 

i'm a begginer to gas and i've got a hobbico airvista. right now its got an mds .40 mounted on it which is missing the prop driver so it is practically useless unless i get a new one. i was looking at that evolution trainer power system with alot of interest. would this be a good choice or what would you guys recomend
Jarrod

RE: Evolution 46
 

Dont mess with the Trainer Power system... The 3 bladed prop has HORRIBLE performance and the metal engine mount that comes with the engine is very heavy [:'(]

The Evolution engine are GREAT though, get the .46 NX and put it on a glass mount with an APC prop and you will be happy :) The Evolution starts easily, runs good, and has lots of power ! What else could you ask for. You will not be dissapointed with this engine.

JettPilot

RE: Evolution 46
 

I think you meant the .46 NT anyway yes that is a good one

RE: Evolution 46
 

There is nothing wrong with the TPS engine as well, provided that you do NOT use the three blade prop.

If you grab the TPS from say a TPS P-51, make sure that you also remove the flywheel...

RE: Evolution 46
 

what is a good .40-.46 size engine that doesn't cost that much $

RE: Evolution 46
 

The .455 PTS. I disagree about the 3 bladed prop being horrible. It is pretty good for a beginner and has great braking action. Use it to learn, then toss it and the counterweight. You have a high revving, super reliable engine then at a great price. One piece, machined crankshaft. Hard chrome liners. Excellent carbs. Tremendous power. I don't like the Hangar 9 mounts that came on the XE2.

RE: Evolution 46
 

Around here, the Evo .46NT and TT .46 Pro are the same price...about 80.00

If I had to choose, I'd take the Thunder Tiger .46 Pro for a trainer or a "newbie" to learn on.
Nothing against the Evo's, but for the same $$, IMO the TT .46 is a better engine, has better quality control, and a little lighter too...
(and ya don't have to mess with that stupid baffle in the muffler )

RE: Evolution 46
 

BLW: I'll conceed that one to you. Yeah for the purpose for which it is designed it's pretty good.

Protop: The TPS cannot be beat for a beginner. (with one caveat).

There is no setup involved, no tuning, etc. Mine started up tuned very well the first try out of the box.

The TT .46 needs initial setup, even though there is nothing wrong with it.


The caveat with the TPS, is the #$%* "walking" low speed limiter for the idle mixture. This needs fixing by Evolution.

If the "walking" low speed mixture valve is prevented from moving, most TPS's will go from box to being in the air w/o any required additional tuning... there are some that are poorly tuned from the factory, but of late these have been fewer and farther between.

RE: Evolution 46
 

Try a SK .50 .Im very happy with them ,also my friends too.
http://www.kangkeusa.com/Engines/skengines.htm