Author Topic: Brodak .40 (Read 2918 times)

Brian Massey · « **on:** October 08, 2009, 01:39:07 PM »

I just received a nib Brodak .40 I purchased from a private party and couldn't be happier

. The motor looks beautiful, and seems to be beautifully made; it backed up the looks with easy starts and strong running.

Thinking I would like another, I looked on the Brodak site hoping to find out when they will have them back in stock, but they have been dropped from the website. Anyone know what's going on?

Brian

Matt Colan · « **Reply #1 on:** October 08, 2009, 01:43:11 PM »

They have been on back order and not for sale forever. From what I've heard, the guy who was making the engines, somewhere in Europe (Slovakia I think) didn't want to make them anymore. That's what I heard but not sure.

Best thing to do is wait until somebody decides to sell one and the nsnatch it up.

Leester · « **Reply #2 on:** October 08, 2009, 01:44:46 PM »

Better check the web site again, it's there.

Wayne J. Buran · « **Reply #3 on:** October 08, 2009, 01:52:18 PM »

Quote from: Leester on October 08, 2009, 01:44:46 PM

Better check the web site again, it's there.

The .25 is the .40 isnt.
Wayne

Brian Massey · « **Reply #4 on:** October 08, 2009, 01:52:49 PM »

Yep, it's there. That was the darehobby web lisitng of Brodak engines that it's no longer listed on.

Brian

Leester · « **Reply #5 on:** October 08, 2009, 02:10:30 PM »

Wayne I was talking about the listing being there, not the availability.

Brian Massey · « **Reply #6 on:** October 08, 2009, 02:22:12 PM »

I've got about 15 2 minute runs on the Brodak .40; all without the muffler per the instructions. So now I pick up the muffler and see it has no nipple for muffler pressure, nor is it tapped for one. I thought I would drill and tap it myself, but the muffler is very thin wall material.

Are most Brodak .40 owners running without muffler pressure?

Does the engine runs better with muffler pressure?

Is the muffler too thin to tap?

Brian

Leester · « **Reply #7 on:** October 08, 2009, 02:26:11 PM »

The 2 I'm running run great and are not taped for pressure.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #8 on:** October 08, 2009, 02:41:51 PM »

I'm running pressure, that muffler is a pretty quite one too.

Alan Hahn · « **Reply #9 on:** October 08, 2009, 03:06:12 PM »

Quote from: Brian Massey on October 08, 2009, 02:22:12 PM

I've got about 15 2 minute runs on the Brodak .40; all without the muffler per the instructions. So now I pick up the muffler and see it has no nipple for muffler pressure, nor is it tapped for one. I thought I would drill and tap it myself, but the muffler is very thin wall material.

Are most Brodak .40 owners running without muffler pressure?

Does the engine runs better with muffler pressure?

Is the muffler too thin to tap?

Brian

I have never felt a need for pressure with my two B40's.

Peter Hess · « **Reply #10 on:** October 08, 2009, 03:31:30 PM »

Neither of mine uses or shows any need for muffler pressure.

Brian Massey · « **Reply #11 on:** October 08, 2009, 05:01:36 PM »

Thanks for all the resonses; sounds like I don't need muffler pressure, so that will be my starting point.

Brian

Alan Hahn · « **Reply #12 on:** October 08, 2009, 05:59:06 PM »

Brian,

Just to be clear, I don't use muffler pressure because at least in CL with the venturi's I use, I haven't found it necessary.

That doesn't mean that it doesn't work. I think the motivation in RC was to help offset the pressure drop the RC engine carb sees as the standard tank empties---that was back in the days when RC planes mainly flew in horizontal paths with the wings nominally level (even if inverted)!

Also in the attempt to get as much power ( at high rpm's) in the RC setup, the carb was often pretty big at wot, and the fuel draw as a result was poor. Muffler pressure helps in that case.

As you have noticed, our venturi's are pretty small by comparison with the RC carb--at least most RC engines.

So if you want to try pressure, go ahead, it may work well for you.

Phil Spillman · « **Reply #13 on:** October 08, 2009, 07:16:57 PM »

Muffler pressure in general is like brasiers some use um and some don't! As for my preferences I use it and feel .....uplifted and secure...others don't...feel the need and just leave um flapping! I'd rather be firm in my fuel draw in ALL attitudes..muffler pressure...lifts me up and holds my fuel flow even and strong!!!!!!!!!!!!! Phil Spillman

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #14 on:** October 08, 2009, 07:57:27 PM »

Quote from: Phil Spillman on October 08, 2009, 07:16:57 PM

Muffler pressure in general is like brasiers some use um and some don't! As for my preferences I use it and feel .....uplifted and secure...others don't...feel the need and just leave um flapping! I'd rather be firm in my fuel draw in ALL attitudes..muffler pressure...lifts me up and holds my fuel flow even and strong!!!!!!!!!!!!! Phil Spillman

Phil:
words fail me

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #15 on:** October 08, 2009, 09:21:34 PM »

Sounds like Phil has already lifted and separated!

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2009, 09:32:59 PM »

So Phil since you are obviously enjoying muffler pressure (maybe a little too much). Where exactly did you...ummm...locate the nipple?

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #17 on:** October 08, 2009, 09:43:47 PM »

Well, the B-40 is one of my favorite engines and one of few that I use muffler pressure on. I install the pressure fitting on the muffler "stalk", between the can and the mounting flange. As the muffler can is not centered I like to put it on the bottom so that if the engine is mounted inverted the fitting will be facing upward.
If you are mounting it on a cowled ship drill it close to the can so that it does not interfere with cowl fit. As stated, some's like pressure, some's don't, I try both and let the engine decide.

David Shad · « **Reply #18 on:** October 09, 2009, 09:26:28 AM »

I have several B-40's and have tried pressure and without. They are very easy engines and ran great
both ways. I have two on an RSM LA Heat...tongue mufflers and pressure. One on my Smoothie with
a tongue muffler without pressure on uniflow...great run...ask Bob Zambelli...he launched me at KOI this
year and was amazed at the consistant run everytime.

Robert Zambelli · « **Reply #19 on:** October 09, 2009, 12:54:41 PM »

I still have Brodak 40 #1, the very first one, belonging to John Brodak.
It's been on many planes including the first ARF (Cardinal) and now rests on the prototype ARC Smoothie.
It has been run on a wide variety of props, tanks and fuels and seems to behave well on most.

To this day, it runs flawlessly and the Brodak 40 is, in my opinion, the best all-around stunt/sport engine ever made.
A few people swear that it has to be reworked to give a decent run. Doing so will accomplish one sure thing - a voided warranty.

I recently spoke to John and he informed me that a new group should be here in the near future but they are mostly if not all spoken for. Also, there is a waiting list.

The best way to get information regarding delivery/schedule is to call Brodaks directly.

Bob Z.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #20 on:** October 09, 2009, 01:26:46 PM »

I remember the first B-40 I had seen or heard. the young fellow was having nothing but trouble with it. Could not get needle settings and would quithalf way thru the tank most of the time. I inquired if it was broken in and was told it didn't need breaking in. I turned around and got my plane ready to go. I also have several of the B-25's and they are just as dependable. DOC Holliday

Matt Colan · « **Reply #21 on:** October 09, 2009, 02:35:46 PM »

The Brodak 40 I have in my Smoothie ARC does run flawlessly, I really don't know how people have been having trouble with this motor. Our motor has been crashed twice, and just got a new needle valve and that thing just runs the same run after run after run. You do need one flight to set the needle and that is it.

Alan Hahn · « **Reply #22 on:** October 09, 2009, 04:28:13 PM »

I have two (as I said) that run great.

However I will believe that any industrial produced product will have a few that just don't work right, so my belief is that those who have issues generally have one of the outliers

--and are not necessarily incompetent (but of course their are a few outliers

in the user category too!)

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #23 on:** October 09, 2009, 05:01:26 PM »

I have a B40 on my flapped 526 Ringmaster, which Pat Johnston designed specifically for that motor, and has run consistently from the first flip. A perfect combo and very dependable.

Author Topic: Brodak .40 (Read 2918 times)

Alan Hahn

Alan Hahn

Alan Hahn