mds 2.18
 

I am putting together a big bingo and would like to know if the mds 2.18 would be a good engine. I don't know much about the bigger engines and would like some feedback. Thanks.

Kelly

mds 2.18
 

Yeah Yeah, I keep looking at this engine as well. I think it looks perfect for a plane I'm building. I could use it in place of a Moki 2.10 (even uses the same muffler as the big Moki).

It has the new carb design. This could be a superb engine. Several interesting posts on this and other MDS engines:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...highlight=2.18

http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...highlight=2.18

http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...highlight=2.18

http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...highlight=2.18

I'm thinking the advantages would be:

1) faster break in (Moki's take a long time).

2) Seems to tolerate 10-15% nitro (Moki is tuned for 0% nitro). The would allow me to stay with 10% fuel for all my two strokes. I also think the needles settings are less critical with some nitro in the fuel (I aint no engine guru - I need all the help I can get).

3) might even be able to get away without a pump or cline regulator ... not so sure about this.

If they really fixed the carb this could be the ticket. Tough decision ... MDS ... Moki .... MDS ... Moki ...

Mosess

The More Dead Stick 2.18
 

Our LHS can't even give these eng. away. They started the line when they first came out. Because of the profit they Could make on them. One thing they found out was nobody would buy them.People had heard to many bad things about this line of engine. Some ran OK ,some Blew up during break-in, Some would suck in the Oring under the carb and lock up the engine or brake the crankshaft . if you like to be the one in the club with the
Most Dead Sticks or would rather fiddle with the engine rather than fly the plane. By all means Buy the MDS Personally I would rather go with the more reliable brands and Fly Fly Fly!!!!

MDS 2.18
 

I have one and it is a great engine. The MDS 2.18 is a one flip starter and has never quit for any reason, the .68 quit once during break in because I had the low end too rich, now it's a one flip starter, after priming of course. I also have two .40s and they are OK too. The 2.18 might be a bit much for the Big Bingo, my next project is to build a Big Bingo for my Maloney 125. The 2.18 turns an 18x10 ProZinger at 9,200. Ya gotta love guys like Jerry, every club has at least one.

mds 2.18
 

MDS doesn't stand for "mostly dead sticks".

I have it from a good source that it refers to the design team:

mostly dumb soviets

:D

mds 2.18
 

I have experience with one. It ran very well out of the box and produced good power. You can fly one after a couple tanks of break-in. The engine performed flawlessly with no pump or regulator, and it does like to run relatively rich just like other large glow engines. The engine wasn't large enough for a 21 pound fun fly airplane, so it was replaced with a gasser. But the engine would be great for 15-16 pound airplanes. The one I worked on was pulled after a couple gallons had been run through it, and it was starting to produce more power as the break-in process was coming to an end. Be warned that it will drink a lot of gas at full power.

mds 2.18
 

jerrysu31, thanks for the comments ... as painful as they are to hear. I am aware of the ... uhm ... colorful ... history of the MDS line of engines (trying to be nice here). You may be right.

I have read many posts on MDS engines and the dead stick problems. I was hoping the issue was related to the old style carb design/mounting. A review of a the MDS Pro Series manual even includes a big warning regarding O-ring inspection - so MDS actually had to put precautions in the manual to deal with that issue. No doubt MDS has had some problems.

But this is the 2.18 we are talking about. The 2.18 has the new design carb. The 2.18 manual does not even mention O-rings. This new design could solve all of those dead stick issues. This could be the engine that restores customer's faith in that MDS reputation ... Ok ... perhaps I'm getting a bit carried away.

But, so far I see only positive comments about the 2.18. Unfortunately, most of these seem to relate to running well on a break-in stand. So it is still early - really early. We need some more flight reports.

Moses

Edit: I got distracted by work ... I was responding to post #3 and all the other posts got in before me ...

Mostly Dumb Soviets
 

Well you know they all run good on a break in stand. Wait until you put it in a plane. I would rather pay more for an engine that is reliable and go fly, and not have to worry about it quiting on take off. I will admit Some I said Some of the MDS engines run OK, but there is a bigger % that don't I would like to know, if they are so good why is Horizon dropping the line? and in 3 to 4 years from know where are you going to get parts for one if you can?

mds 2.18
 

I guess I wasn't clear that the engine that I helped with flew a couple gallons' worth in the air. We were flying it after a couple tanks had gone through. Throttle transition, idle, and high end were very good.

mds 2.18
 

Quote from jerrysu31:
__________________________________________
... if they [MDS] are so good why is Horizon dropping the line?
__________________________________________

This is the first I heard of this. When did this news come out.

Moses

Horizon Dropping MDS Line?
 

I got this info from the person that owns the LHS in this area. Our LHS here is advertising an MDS engine below cost with the purchase of any Kit or ARF, just to get rid of them. I have sold a number of my older OS 40s 46s to guys in our club that have had nothing but grief with the MDS engines I know that when you do luck out, and I'll repeat myself, luck out and get a good running MDS engine their fine and I will agree that some I said some will start just by flipping the spinner back against comp. the first time every time, and that's OK, but there are very few that will. I can safely say that Almost every and any OS will start with one flip almost every time or the ST or the FOX ,etc. What I'm saying is that the MDS line has a problem with quality control, Kinda like the Edsel of the RC comm.

mds 2.18
 

I just got off the phone with Horizon, regarding sending my Saito in. While I had them on the line I asked them about the MDS line. The technician said that MDS is doing very well for Horizon and they have no plans to discontinue it. He said that there were some carb problems last summer but they have been taken care of now. I think that Jerry's LHS owner is just blowing smoke, because news from the source is on the contrary.

I Guess I can't Trust LHS thats Sad
 

I guess next time I better go to the source before saying anything. I do think it's rather sad that the LHS owner would lie to me about such a matter. I guess he's just trying to get rid of the engines he can't sell. As the Senoir Instructor of our club the MDS is the only engine I will not recommend to any one. IMO it is the worst engine on the market, the GMS & Tower line run a close 2nd and 3rd. the carb problem they talk about did not solve the bad and erratic settings on the engines

Students
 

Jerry, hopefully your students will not be as easily mislead as you have been about MDS engines. As senior instructor I would think you above that sort of thing.

mds 2.18
 

OBSERVATIONs at the field of how well others' engines run are not as telling as you think.

One of the last few times I went out to the field, I dead-sticked twice in a row. If you don't know any better, you'll take one look at the engine brandname and say: "don't mess with those XXX's, they are a POS. Get an OS next time." In reality, the first deadstick was caused by the high speed needle being too lean for the conditions that day. When I dialed it in correctly the second time, I was having so much fun I ran out of fuel!

MDS had its share of troubles, but the new carbs are doing quite well. I would not hesitate to try one, especially given the excellent service Horizon gives to this engine line.

Students!
 

I would rather have my students in the air learning how to fly, then sitting in the bleachers because there waiting for their MDS to get back from horizon for the third time! I don't mean to offend anybody but there is nothing to get above or beyond other than having a reliable running engine. Like I have stated in my earlier posts about this engine line, Some run, Some don't!! and the consenses around my neck of the woods from almost everybody, not just myself, is to stay away from them, if you like to fly. On the other hand if your one of those guys that likes to tinker in the pits all day to get your engine to run by all means buy a MDS. Just because I don't recommend them doesn't mean the student will not go out and buy one, it's their choice.

mds 2.18
 

The original poster is asking about an MDS 2.18 in a Big Bingo. Doesn't sound like a "student" to me. :)

Anyways, back on the subject at hand: the 2.18 supposedly is the first of the latest series of redesigned MDSs. Does anybody know if this engine can take low oil fuel like the big Super Tigres?

Also, how much is a Pitts muffler for it?

MDS 2.18
 

Vol, I haven't run anything but Fox 5% with 20% lube that is half castor and half syn, I have about a half gallon through it now and I believe I'll see 9,500 out of it soon running the 18x10 ProZinger. So far it has not quit, hesitated, bogged or shown any other malady and I'm confident it won't. The only bad thing it has done so far is blow most of the pine bark out of my wifes flower garden.
But she doesn't go out there in the winter.

mds 2.18
 

hobbsy, yes I remember you're also a fan of that 5% 10/10 fuel. It's my default 2stroke fuel. It's also great for break-in running.

I was just wondering if it acts like the big Tigres, which were my perennial favorite big bore glow engines.

Those are good numbers. Obviously not the maximum RPM champion of the world, but plenty good enough for general fart around kind of sport flying power.

MDS 2.18
 

IMO the Moki 2.1 has more power and is more reliable than the MDS. In the long run I believe you will be happier with the Moki of coarse, it is twice the money but longevity and reliability doesn't come cheap. just my 2 cents

mds 2.18
 

Jerry, no doubt the Mokis are great engine. However, I do not agree that you need to pay a great deal more to get longevity and reliability.

The big Super Tigres are every bit as reliable as the other big bore motors out there, and they last practically forever if well taken care of. The G3250 (1.98 c.i.) or the old S3000 cost roughly the same as the MDS 2.18 - around $200.

Even the OS FX1.60 is only a little over $200. I hope you're not saying that it too doesn't measure up to other expensive engine just because it doesn't cost much.

Preaching this "pay more for better quality" bit is okay for rank beginners that don't know any better. It saves them from having to deal with more temperamental engines they may not yet be equipped to handle. But for those of us who have run our fair share of engines and know how to get an engine to run right, this overly simplistic "expensive=quality" just don't carry much weight.

mds 2.18
 

Jerry, do you hae actual experience with the 2.18, or are you just relating some experience with another MDS engine?

mds 2.18
 

I wouldn't buy a new MDS today. The problem with MDS is that you never know what you're gonna get. Could be great. Could be a nightmare. That lack of an even level of quality makes it very hard to recommend buying it.

MDS 2.18
 

I have broke in 5 of the 2.18 MDS 2.18 engines for Fellow flyer's.Out of the 5 only one ran descent. 2 had such vibration issues while running on the stand we couldn't see or adjust the High end needle valve, before you even ask yes the props were balanced perfectly One seized at the beginning of the 2nd tank of fuel, and no we did not over heat the motor, at no time did we get the engine above 195 degrees. After further investigation of why the engine seized we discovered a piece of the engine casting had chipped off and seized the crank to the block, Why we asked. I looked at the area that was chipped with an eye piece I use at work in metallurgy. I found I stress riser caused by a dull chattering tool die used in the machining process.On to the last engine about 1/2 way through the first tank of fuel the RPMs started to drop off rather sharp. I pulled the fuel line to stop the engine. after checking the problem we found small flakes of aluminum had scored the piston and cylinder liner that were sucked in and had come out of the uncleaned carb. Know if that is not very bad quality control I do not know what you would call it!!! But you guys are right about one thing Horizon is good about getting another one out to the poor soles that could have been flying rather than worrying about the next engine being sent to them!! Maybe You have had better luck with MDS but I for one will never buy one!

The story
 

Jerry, I find that story highly improbable, I purchased my 2.18 from one of the largest and best Hobby Shops in Va. The only one he has sold so far is mine and it was the display model that Horizon sent him. I have serious doubts that they have sold five in your entire state let alone to five guys in your area. Way too much of a stretch.