I just received an email from Mr Royce Lin at Thunder Tiger in China asking about the popularity of Club 40 racing. Thunder Tiger is considering discontinuing production of the 40 Pro and replacing it with a newly developed engine. Needless to say, I immediately responded requesting that they continue production of this excellent value in an engine.

It is possible that this "winding down" of the 40 Pro line is why we have seen 46 parts in 40 cases in the hobby shops. They may have run out of 40 parts

I would like to suggest a "media blitz" from all Club 40 and 424 racers to Mr Lin.

Send emails of support for the engine to: [email protected]

Here is the email that I just received from him and my reply:



Dear Gary,


We are not sure if this email address still works for you, and hope this email can find you well.


I have some questions those are important for all flyers who loves club 40 racing.

May I know how many flyers are still in this race?

So that we can decide to discontinue the Thunder Tiger Pro-40 or develop a brand new one.


Few years ago, Pro-40 was exclusively engine for the race, but now the race has Super Tiger GS-40, too.

As the manufacturer of Pro-40, our responsibility is much less.


Looking for your reply.


Best Regards

林崇安 / Royce Lin
總經理室 / G.M. Office
雷虎科技 / Thunder Tiger Corp.
Tel：+886-4-23591616 Ext.：814
Fax：+886-4-23590400
Email：[email protected]
Website：www.thundertiger.com




Mr Lin:

Thank you for your message.

It is VERY important that you do not discontinue the Thunder Tiger 40 Pro engine. The Club 40 racing event is becoming more and more popular with each passing year. Also, the TT 40 Pro is the only engine officially used in AMA event #424 "Sport Quickie" racing. I am not aware of the use of the Super Tigre GS-40 in any official or provisional event here in the United States. It is possible that the ST GS-40 is used in other countries but not here.

Recently, several Thunder Tiger engines have been found for sale in hobby shops that are labled as TT 40 Pro engines but have been found to contain parts from the TT 46Pro. This may be due to the factory deciding to reduce inventory in preparation for discontinuing the 40Pro. This situation has created a big problem here in the US because the purchaser of the engine believes that he is getting an engine that he can use in racing events, only to find that he has purchased an "illegal" engine with too much displacement.

This fall, there will be the first Club 40 "National Championship" race. It is attracting a large number of entries. Also, a recent Club 40 race at a local field had 20 entries. The event is growing larger each year.

Your 40 Pro engine is a very popular engine and is a great value for the money. I believe that to change it or to discontinue it and replace it with a new engine would be a mistake. You will have development costs associated with any new engine but you have already covered the development costs of the 40 Pro.

Please continue the production of the TT 40Pro.

I would be pleased to be able to answer any additional questions that you may have.

Sincerely,
Gary James
AMA CD 68845

Okay, I sent my email to Mr Lin asking for him to continue production of the TT Pro 40.

Next?

Tim

Thanks Gary,  I have sent mine to him.

I too have sent an email to Mr Lin and Mr Fassbinder.
Thank you Gary.
John

I sent my plea to Mr. Lin.

Ken Erickson

I too have sent an email to Mr Lin and Mr Fassbinder.
As I will request our club members from NEPRCC and other area clubs to do the same.

Thanks Gary

"Hi Ken"

Texacobob
Northeast Phila. Radio Control Club
Philadelphia, Penna.

here is a copy of my response to Mr. Lin and Fassbinder

"Dear Mr. Lin, Gary has forwarded your e-mail to as many Club 40 racers as he could. First I would like to thank you for being concerned with your customers that use your TT PRO 40 engine. This is a very good engine for sport racing because it complies with our long history of using 40 size engines here in the United States. The TT PRO 40 is used not only in Club 40 but also in the 424 class which is an AMA event.
Here in central Texas there is about 40 of us that race club 40, and most of us have several engines, I have 4. I hope everyone worldwide that uses your TT PRO 40 will e-mail you so you can get a better idea of how many engines are in use and how large the market is for your 40 engine. I understand that you must make a profit on the products you sell and I hope the market base for the TT PRO 40 is large enough for you to continue producing this engine.

Thank you for your consideration,"

Bob Petrinec

I received a reply from Mr Lin and I think that there is some miscommunication going on.

He asked me not to post his reply here but it looks like they want to go to a 46  sized engine and discontinue the 40. I'm confused because they already have a 46. Maybe they want to stop production on the 40 <u>and</u> develope a new 46. Who knows at this point.

Tim,
lets all hope that is not the case with them wanting to discontinue the 40 and put all their efforts toward the 46 . I hope all folks that are using the Pro 40 will hit him up with their request for it to stay around a long time .
So far, I have not had a reply from Mr. Lin.
John

Did Mr. Lin happen to address the issue of 46 parts in the 40 cases some people have purchased recently? If not, It seems he would be a good point of contact to clarify these "Mystery" engines of late.

Face it what are they going to do?

Keep the product line, Pro 40 and sell a thousand a year?

Or go to the 46, which has become the standard for the "40" size, and sell ten thousand a year.

As for what are WE gonna do?? I have no idea!! Any word on what the AMA 424 is going to do? remember that is why we used the Pro40 was to transfer up with the same engine.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_11161103/tm.htm

Mr. Lin did not comment on the 40/46 problem. It's not out yet, but be watching for the NMPRA news letter. Jim Allen has been working with <span class="squiggly" title="To see spelling suggestions, click this word" word="HOBICO" state="new" splc="splc">HOBICO</span> on this problem and will have a report on it.

I will be contacting the Club-40 CD's in this area to set some standards for checking engines at races.

This is something I have been lax in doing.

Some things you can expect to happen at the <span class="squiggly" title="To see spelling suggestions, click this word" word="nats" state="new" splc="splc">nats</span> race.

1. Visual inspection of engines, carburetors, &amp; mufflers and possible check of stroke prior to race.

2. Dedicated fuel station with some one there to monitor fueling.
a: you will be required to defuel your plane, and then refuel it.
<span class="squiggly" title="To see spelling suggestions, click this word" word="b" state="new" splc="splc">b</span>: After plane has been refueled it will be placed on the ready line.
You will not be allowed to take it back to the pit area.

3. Winning planes will be impounded after race and torn down for final inspection.

These are in addition to the normal inspections done.</p>

why not add the Fox 40 to the line. I know it may not be a strong engine but you will get a high quality engine made in AMERICA supporting AMERICANS and get it for a good price....... problem solved

The Fox 40 is allowed in Club 40. The engine rule is a SPORT 40 engine costing less than $120. I have owned several of the Fox 40 engines. The Deluxe 40 is okay but the TT is a far better built engine. The standard Fox 40 is a minature paint mixer......it vibrates so bad that the muffler will break off.

I have been seeing a lot of Evolution 40's lately. They are very competitive with the Pro 40. There are options if TT decided to drop it. It surprises me that they would lean toward the .46. Truth is aside from us racers, most of the planes that require a 40/46 size motor are turning to electric.

TT is trying to find a way survive in this industry. ACE went out of business a couple years ago. Then Tower took them in and now they lost the gig with Tower so now they are trying to find a way to make money.

<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS"><span style="font-size: small">The Evolution is not a 40 it's a 41

<h3>Product Specifications</h3><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><span>Type:</span></td> <td>Lite Case 2-Stroke</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span>Displacement:</span></td> <td>.41 cu. in. (6.74cc)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span>Bore:</span></td> <td>.845 in. (21.69mm)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span>Stroke:</span></td> <td>.717 in. (18.21mm)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span>Cylinders:</span></td> <td>Single</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span>Total Weight:</span></td> <td>12.5 oz. (356g)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span>Engine (Only) Weight:</span></td> <td>10.0 oz. (285g)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span>Muffler Weight:</span></td> <td>2.5 oz (71g)</td> </tr> </tbody></table></span></span>

<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS"><span style="font-size: small">The NV 40 might be a contender.

It even looks like a racing engine.

They used to be called Norvel, but they are back on the market. I wish they had a bigger intake, the carburetor looks like it belongs on a 25. They still run good and they are blight.</span></span>

the foxs are very crude engines, with many of them needing work or replacement of the carbs, very big variations on performance out of the box......locally they are called briggs&scrap iron engines...

The Evo 40 displacement is 0.402 cu in. based on the specified bore and stroke. Did the math.

I measured the Evo 40 in my shop and the displacement is 0.395 cu in. Bore 0.851", Stroke 0.694". Measured it several times.

I don't have one to measure, just going by whattheir specs say.

Which one do you have?

They had the 40NT. It was a .40

The 40NX is not what you measured unless Horizon can't measure their engines and the Evolution 40NX is what is available for purchase now. The specs are in the manual here [link]http://www.horizonhobby.com/pdf/EVOE0401-Manual.pdf[/link] and on the products page here [link]http://www.horizonhobby.com/products/40nx-rc-glow-engine-with-muffler-EVOE0401[/link]

Pardon my short answer. I shouldn't respond while I'm working on a problem.

EVO 40 NX.

Measured again:
Bore 21.62mm, 0.851",
Stroke 17.63mm, 0.694"
6.47 cc, 0.395 cu in

Very interisting.

You guys are splitting hairs. The Evolution 40 are good engines and should absolutely be legal for Club 40. We have had several at ours, both the NX and the NT, without a problem.

My $.02