By the way, if anyone has a K&B 5.8 (or 6.5) that doesn't get flown very often, keep an eye on the rear bearing.  This engine ran fine last fall and then was hung up for the winter - when I got it out last week it felt 'funny' and I found the rear bearing cage broken into 4 pieces - 3 of them still keeping the balls aligned but one had disintegrated and almost disappeared.  The pieces of it fell out in my hand when I pushed the crank out of the front housing.  I think that it is made of brass but can't be sure. Thankfully, the full-web crank kept them from going through the cylinder.

Well, you can tune up by turning the lid so its handle points away from you and hooking that a couple of times.

I've never used anything BUT dual bellcranks up to and including .60 size Class 2's.  Sometimes I fabricate my own, usually I just use two foxes.

Well, this is a direct copy of the hand-me-down that I flew some last year as far as areas and moments.  It had a Magnum .36 and weighed 50 oz.  (Same as my MO-1+5.8.)  That plane did about 80 mph high and I had a 4 minute competition low at Fargo and MANY times was flying anywhere from 45 to 60 second low speed laps in practice, with emphasis on not exceeding 60 deg. or stopping - ie: possible 5 to 6 min. low.

This plane weighs 44 oz. as it sits - I may need a little more tip weight but it already has 1.5 oz.  I may need a little more tail weight - say a max of 2 oz.

Nahh - I think the weight will be OK.      

Besides, when I noticed that the 5.8 might be shelled out, I did a quick search on RC Groups for "Webra" and "Thunder Tiger" and lucked into a seller who had one of each.  Got a Webra .35 ringed and a Thunder Tiger .36 Pro for <a really GOOD price> so if I'll  be trying both of those before the end of the summer.  The Webra only weighs about 9 oz., the TT .36 about 10.5, - The 5.8 is about 11.5 with my exhaust baffle and other hardware hanging on it.

This was run last year on Sig 65% 'boat' fuel with added Klotz - but I don't think it was the fuel, just age.  The engine has been around a long time.  I had been losing a little high speed over the last few contest runs, but I don't fly enough of those to really notice a trend.  Mostly it flies slow practice laps and half a dozen contest type runs a year.  Anyway, to fix it I took a front end off a 6.5 and it's ready to run this weekend.  Once we get this contest out of the way, I'll start messing with the Webra and Thunder Tiger.

Mike & Dave,

I never had one of the brass retainers let go, but had several that I caught just before they would have.  Usually found the when I did my spring engine teardown.  Normally the week before the Omaha contest.  It isn't the nitro that attacks the brass.  It is the methanol.  That and vibration that leads to work hardening and failures at the bends and rivet points.  At one time K&B had a plastic cage replacement rear bearing for the 5.8.  I don't think I have any.  In fact I'd be hard pressed to find my stash of 5.8 engines or parts.  You may want to check with the MECOA folks to see if they have any of the plastic retainer bearings.

http://www.mecoa.com/kb/

Failing that, measure the bearing and see what Boca has available.

Dave

I'm not sure of the bearing width, but it's 17.0 mm ID and 28.0 mm OD - I tried Ebay, because a couple of the bearing suppliers advertise heavily on there but there wasn't any that mentioned any of the K&B line at that time.

Now, as long as I have Dave's attention  ,  I have an off-topic question for him:

Dave- do you remember (way back when) when we were trying to get a Class 2 Goodyear event going we used to add some paint-thinner type chemical to the fuel to get a few extra laps.  I keep thinking MEK but I don't believe that was it -- do you remember what it was?

(I'm doing a little research on chemical hazards and I wanted to look up some data on whatever that particular additive was).

Thanks in advance ...

Yep - Xylene it was ...  Thanks

You guys have a great flying site, pretty nice carrier also...I'm envious! 

Finally got this one into the air yesterday afternoon --- engine runs very well (again) and the plane itself flies pretty well, for being fresh off the building board.  The slider worked very well with no spring or rubber band.  Needs a little tail weight, maybe a little more tip weight.  I'm happy ...