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Author Topic: My new OS 46LA  (Read 5568 times)

Online Carl Cisneros

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My new OS 46LA
« on: May 16, 2014, 06:29:17 PM »
I replaced all the Phillips head screws on my new motor today with socket head screws.
Decided to take a look at the inerds of the motor as well.
The thing I noticed was that there was no Boost porting on the motor.
I check it with the sleeve in the case and no fluting or anything
to even suggest there was or might have been one on this particular
motor I got.
I have had other motors from the OS line that were built like this LA is
and there were always fluting up the boost section (if you will) of the sleeve
and then naturally leading to the boost port window.

Makes me want to say: HHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMMMM

any comments guys?

thanks

Carl
« Last Edit: May 16, 2014, 07:08:37 PM by Carl Cisneros »
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Offline Mark Scarborough

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2014, 07:15:35 PM »
not uncommon,, in fact I would go so far as to say that this "omission" may be the reason it works so well for a stunt motor,, and so poorly for an RC motor
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Offline Steve Helmick

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2014, 07:18:02 PM »
OS .46 LA's have never had a boost port. The .40 LA's first had boost ports and then later production ones didn't. Since the .46 is slightly lighter than the .40, and it is easier to get to run well (stock), it's a real gem. Changing the pull test rule to 10G's made the .40 pretty unpopular, but it can work pretty well.

Boost ports are not evil...it's the timing...and the prop load/muffler restriction and resulting overheating.  H^^ Steve   
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Online Carl Cisneros

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2014, 08:24:25 PM »
thanks guys. :)
thought I might have gotten one that slipped by the QC folks at OS. (HEAVEN FORBID!!!)

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Offline Andrew Tinsley

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2014, 09:27:42 AM »
Well the OS QC isn't always that great on the LA 46. I have had liners out of round by 3  thou. That isn't a one off either. Don't forget that OS 46 LAs are rather cheaply produced. I was going to say cheap and nasty, but thought better of it. They do run extremely well on smaller Nobler sized stunters. They just don't last very well, the bushings can wear (especially if the prop is out of balance) and the P/Ls don't last all that long. I have worn out several! BUT they are an excellent stunt engine, you get what you pay for, so it isn't too bad, but don't expect PA or Ro Jett lifetimes.

Regards,

Andrew.
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Online Carl Cisneros

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2014, 03:18:41 PM »
Yepper, I know about the crank bushings and the ABN sleeves and such.

Would be great if they made one with ball bearings and actual ABC set up.
BUT that would be a rather expensive motor then.

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Offline Andrew Tinsley

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #6 on: May 21, 2014, 02:40:35 PM »
Such an engine doesn't have to be expensive, 2 ballraces are cheap enough. The ABN plating doesn't have to be as lousy as that on the OS liners. Take a look at the Thunder Tiger 42. That is a proper electroplated nickel layer. It adheres to the brass far better, it is much thicker than the OS nickel layer and it is also denser than the OS dipcoated nickel. In case anybody is wondering, I do mean denser (it is the normal nickel density, the dipcoated one is less dense than normal nickel), one of the other reasons it is a very poor product. OK the TT42 isn't ballraced, but both the bushing and the nickel last far longer than the LA46. The other thing is that the TT42 is an excellent stunt engine too and it only costs the same price as the OS. So you can get a better engine than the LA46 for LA 46 prices.

Andrew
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Online Brett Buck

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #7 on: May 21, 2014, 06:22:41 PM »
Quote from: Andrew Tinsley on May 21, 2014, 02:40:35 PM
Such an engine doesn't have to be expensive, 2 ballraces are cheap enough. The ABN plating doesn't have to be as lousy as that on the OS liners.

   But the 46LA is darn near bulletproof in our application. Why do anything beyond that?

    Brett
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Offline Andrew Tinsley

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #8 on: May 22, 2014, 04:07:07 PM »
Hello Brett,
As I said the 46LA is an excellent stunt engine and even better considering the cost. I don't think it is quite as bulletproof as you say. I have worn out several 46 LA engines without any real intensive use. I find the TT42 to be even more stunt friendly and I have not got anywhere near wearing one out yet. I now make my own venturis for the 42 so I just need an NVA, so no big deal for me.
If you consider the 46LA to be a cheap expendable engine and just buy another when it wears out then fine. It is a good stunt engine, but I don't find it bulletproof.

Regards,

Andrew.
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Online Brett Buck

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #9 on: May 22, 2014, 07:41:31 PM »
Quote from: Andrew Tinsley on May 22, 2014, 04:07:07 PM
Hello Brett,
As I said the 46LA is an excellent stunt engine and even better considering the cost. I don't think it is quite as bulletproof as you say. I have worn out several 46 LA engines without any real intensive use. I find the TT42 to be even more stunt friendly and I have not got anywhere near wearing one out yet. I now make my own venturis for the 42 so I just need an NVA, so no big deal for me.
If you consider the 46LA to be a cheap expendable engine and just buy another when it wears out then fine. It is a good stunt engine, but I don't find it bulletproof.

   OK, I won't debate your experience. There are plenty of people with hundreds of flights on them, which is more than most engines ever get, and disposable is not a word I have ever heard used.

    Brett
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Offline Mark Scarborough

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #10 on: May 22, 2014, 09:06:52 PM »
Quote from: Brett Buck on May 22, 2014, 07:41:31 PM
   OK, I won't debate your experience. There are plenty of people with hundreds of flights on them, which is more than most engines ever get, and disposable is not a word I have ever heard used.

    Brett
as Brett says,, I have hundreds of flights on LA 46 s ,,,, I only ever had one go bad and it was a 10$ ebay special that was already pretty well abused when I started using it,,

I was very happy with mine,, they are reliable, consistant ( when propped right) and light weight,,
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Offline proparc

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #11 on: May 23, 2014, 07:17:59 PM »
Maybe the wrong time to mention this but, the Thunder Tiger 46 is a killer. The one with the 2 ball bearings.
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Offline Andrew Tinsley

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #12 on: May 24, 2014, 08:04:03 AM »
Hello Graham,
Always interested in using other engines for stunt. Is this one of the newer Thunder Tiger engines (the pro series). If so how does it compare in weight to the TT42 or LA46? How do you run it? I prefer a wettish two stroke.
I am sure that the TT42 isn't just another one off R/C engine. I suspect that a lot of the engines ignored by the stunt community are in fact decent stunt engines if used in the low pitch higher rev mode.

Regards,

Andrew.
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Offline Andrew Tinsley

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #13 on: May 24, 2014, 08:11:13 AM »
Hello Brett,
 I too have no wish to debate the longevity of the LA 46. My experiences have not been too happy with the quality of the engine. Others, I am sure, have had perfectly satisfactory results. I have no complaints about the way it performs (well perhaps I would expect a little more power!). What isn't up for debate is that the TT42 is a much better quality product than the LA46. Although I suppose that both will perform satisfactorily for the average flyer.

Regards,

Andrew.
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Online Scott Richlen

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #14 on: May 27, 2014, 07:01:55 AM »
I'm with Brett on this.  My LA-46 runs like a champ and it has over 200 flights on it.  A bunch of guys in our club have LA-46s and all of them have had good experience and no trouble from them.  Frankly, if I were starting over, that is the only engine I'd have and I'd only have LA-46 sized planes.  Life would be easier...

Scott
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Offline Gerald Arana

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #15 on: May 27, 2014, 12:17:05 PM »
Milton,

Although the TT 46 BB may indeed be a great stunt engine it is "discontinued" on the Tower Hobbies site. (I just checked)

Andrew,
The TT 42 (I had one-Ebayed it) has the carb mounted with two screws staggered on the CC which (IMO) is a PITA to machine as I'm NOT a machinist, although it to might be a good engine for CL.

But! Why bother when the LA's are available  ???

Just my 2cents worth......... y1

Jerry
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Offline Steve Helmick

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #16 on: May 27, 2014, 01:31:33 PM »
I have to wonder if Andrew's fuel might be a problem with his .46LA's? R/C fuel from the hobby shop?

As for myself, the only .46LA I've run has been on three airplanes...only one crashed. It is an early production version, and the early ones were known to have thin and dubious nickle plating. So, my first gallon of fuel was GMA 10-29 Powermaster, then changed to 10-22 Powermaster. I'd guess that it's got 5 gallons through it, and it's still in good condition. I don't recall a big change in engine run quality (except in flight time and 'wing gorp') when I changed its diet from 10-29 to 10-22. Some say they run better on 10-18 Wildcat Premium (we think 20% of the 18% is castor), but I haven't run mine on that. Not to say that they last as long on the 18% oil.   H^^ Steve
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"The United States has become a place where professional athletes and entertainers are mistaken for people of importance." - Robert Heinlein

In 1944 18-20 year old's stormed beaches, and parachuted behind enemy lines to almost certain death.  In 2015 18-20 year old's need safe zones so people don't hurt their feelings.

Offline Matt Colan

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #17 on: May 27, 2014, 03:22:46 PM »
Quote from: Steve Helmick on May 27, 2014, 01:31:33 PM
I have to wonder if Andrew's fuel might be a problem with his .46LA's? R/C fuel from the hobby shop?

As for myself, the only .46LA I've run has been on three airplanes...only one crashed. It is an early production version, and the early ones were known to have thin and dubious nickle plating. So, my first gallon of fuel was GMA 10-29 Powermaster, then changed to 10-22 Powermaster. I'd guess that it's got 5 gallons through it, and it's still in good condition. I don't recall a big change in engine run quality (except in flight time and 'wing gorp') when I changed its diet from 10-29 to 10-22. Some say they run better on 10-18 Wildcat Premium (we think 20% of the 18% is castor), but I haven't run mine on that. Not to say that they last as long on the 18% oil.   H^^ Steve

I ran my LA 46 in my Vector ARF with Wildcat 10-18 premium and it ran just fine. I didn't notice anything bad by running that fuel since it was my only choice of fuel at the time.  Now I have Powermaster 10-22GMA, but I wasn't able to use that fuel in the LA because I broke the motor in half the day I bought it.

We have two LA 46's at home in my grandfathers P-47 and P-51 and they both run fantastic with a majic 12.25-4.25 or 12.1-4.5 on an LA 40 size venturi. Randy sent us a couple and it tamed the motor down when it goes into a two cycle and helps it run more consistently.

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Offline Andrew Tinsley

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Re: My new OS 46LA
« Reply #18 on: May 27, 2014, 03:30:15 PM »
Hello Steve,
No rubbish fuel for my engines! I use only the best available. I use the same stuff in my TT42 engines. I have had short lives with my LA46 engines. Usually the compression goes after a couple of hundred flights or less. I have then put in new P/Ls  and by the time they lose compression. the bearing bush is shot. OK, they give a very good stunt run, no doubt about that. However I find the TT42 to last much longer and give a better stunt run. They are simply better quality engines than the LA series.
  Jerry, if you can't machine a venturi to bolt on a TT42, then the simple answer is to buy a venturi from Len Neumann over on Stuka Stunt.
  If you ever buy a piston liner for an LA46, try some measurements on the bore. I did and the 3 I have had so far have been out of round by between 2 and 3 thou (measured with a professional bore gauge). That confirms my feelings that the LA series are not exactly the best of the budget engines.
   Look, if you are happy with your LA46s then fine, I am sure I must be in a minority.  I just like the TT42 better than I do the LA46!

Regards,

Andrew.
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