I've had my Rascal for a few months now, got maybe 25-30 flights on it total. I have an OS .48 FS in the nose and it flys it around just fine.

Today I was taking the engine off, was thinking of putting on a Magnum .52 FS. When I was removing the motor hold down plates I found one had broken in half. I never had a hard landing on this plane, in fact it lands like a dream. I'm not sure when the plate broke or how.

Has anyone else had or seen this problem.

Here is another pic of the broken mount.

Those aluminum hold down straps are probably just weak. I had the same problem with the earlier "EZ" ARF kits from a few years ago. I broke several. They looked just like the ones in your pic. Get rid of that complete mount & replace it with a black composite mount. Drill the holes clear through the beams & use socket bolts, washers & lock nuts. Its also a lot lighter. Of course, you probably already know this, & if so, just ignore this post!

Barry

I use those mounts on all my other planes, never did like the metal mounts. The problem is this plane uses wooden beams for the engine to mount on. The plate is used to attach the motor to the beams. You can't take out the beams without destroying the nose of the plane. The nose is one solid piece on the plane, not a removable cowl as we are use to seeing.

I'm probably going to end up building another plate like this one, unless someone has an idea on what type of material to use that can withstand the vibration of a 4 stroke.

Thanks.

Get some hard maple and laminate it in on top of the factory stuff in place of the aluminum strap. Common problem on the Hanger 9 Pizazz which uses the same mount and thats what we do to fix 'em. The maple doesn't break and you can screw right into it.

Salty25,
I've had my Rascal 40 for a year now. Over 100 flights. Mine broke exactly as yours did. I replaced mine with steel instead of aluminum.

I also check the engine mounting bolts before the first flight of the day. Mine seem to have a tendency to become loose. I expect the vibration from a loose mount is what is breaking them.

This is the first plane I've had with wood beam mounts. Perhaps as the wood looses moisture they shrink?" All I know is the last 50 or so flight have been fine - no broken mounts, and seldom are the mounting bolts loose.

The Rascal is a fine Sunday Flier.
John

Typical 4 stroke vibration issue.
Anyway to perhaps get a wee bit of anti vibe rubber in there somehow?

I had the same problem, I ordered new plates, threw them in and kept right on flying. That plane is to much fun to keep on the ground.

Mike Bogh,
4-Stroke vibration? Not here. Flying mine with a TT .46! I tried 2 replacement aluminum plates before I switched to steel. I've found the mounting bolt to the beam comes loose. The engine mounts are always tight. Since I religiously check the plate mounting bolts and switched to steel, I've had zero problems. I sincerely think just keeping the mounting plates bolts tight should solve the problem.
John

John,
I was replying to Saltys problem, who is running a 4 stroke, who started this thread.

Mike,
Sorry, just thought that since it's the same aircraft with the same problem of busted mounting plate it might be relevant.
John

No worries, John.

My mounts and 3 others at our field broke just like yours. We all went with steel instead of the Aluminum. The only problem I still have 2ft 9inch left on the flat steel stock from the Home Depot

I was thinking of making some out of steel.

Checklst you can send me some of that, LOL.

I checked at the LHS today and didn't see anything thick enough to work. Did you get the same thickness or something thinner?

Thanks for all the input on this. Mixed emotions on the matter; glad I'm not the only one, but think SIG should remedy this issue so it's not one later.

Salty25,
My steel mounts are the same thickness. I would try and get them the same or a little thicker. I think thinner stock would be subject to the same vibration failure.
John

Mine broke as well with an FX .46... No 4 stroke vibration there. Since I collect a lot of scrap aircraft grade sheet aluminum from the aircraft facility where I work, I built new mounts.

They are probably the same soft aluminum that the original wing joiners were made out of.