K & B .28 Sportster

[Mike Griffin]

I have never owned a K & B Engine in  my life but am flirting with buying a K & B .28 Sportster.  If anyone has used this engine I would appreciate any feedback on this engine either pro or con.

Thank you

Mike

[Dane Martin]

Definitely one of my favorites. An underrated engine in my opinion. That in a light nobler or primary force. Oh man. Last one I flew was in a shoestring stunter. Awesome set up

[john e. holliday]

Didn't a young lad with last name Londke(spelling) take a first place using one?

[Mike Griffin]

Thank you Dane and Doc.

Mike

[mike londke]

Mike we have 2 of these on identical Rugged Stunt Trainers that I built for Samuel. They start easy, run great and are super quiet with the stock muffler. Mine are both R/C versions converted. One was gifted and the other came off Ebay super cheap. A friend made venturis for them and I put ST NVA's in them from Jim Lee. .230 or .235 I think was the size. Not a 4 2 4 stunt motor for sure, but they pull Sam's planes around just fine. I think this would be a fine sport motor for any Skyray, Ringmaster, Flite Streak sized plane. I've added this motor to my "look for"  list when I attend RC swap meets. We are running a 9x5 APC, Hayes 3oz clunk tank and Sig Champion %10 with castor added.http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=44565.0;attach=259536;image

[Mike Griffin]

Mike thank you very much,  When you buy these engines, say from MECOA, are they RC with a carb or are they set up for CL?  I guess the better question would be where to buy them.

Thanks again for the input guys

Mike

[mike londke]

They sell both. Mecoa sells a version already set up for CL for $79. Website shows in stock.

[Motorman]

Anyone try the 65 sportster?

[Mike Griffin]

They sell both. Mecoa sells a version already set up for CL for $79. Website shows in stock.

Thank you very much Mike

Mike Griffin

[david beazley]

So does County Line hobbies (in the vendors section)
http://www.countylinehobbies.com/kb28colien.html
Plus they have a $5.00 Black Friday special.

[phil c]

The only issue with some of the Sportster line is that they can take quite awhile to break in.  With the aluminum liner and iron-plated piston they had some problems getting the piston fit and sleeve taper just right.  They would still run just fine but the RC'ers tended to have problems with idling and quitting unexpectedly.  For C/L just run it like an ABC engine-no prolonged 4 cycling, run it just rich enough that it breaks into a rich 2 cycle in the air.  Keep the initial runs short, 2min. or so, and let it cool between runs.  Once it's broken in you can run it anyway you want.

[dennis lipsett]

Anyone try the 65 sportster?

The Sportster 65 is large and weighs 19 oz. I converted one and a Sportster 45 also. They are incredibly strong running engines, easy to handle. I had Jim Lee make me a venturi and used a Randy Smith NVA for them. I just don't have a model large enough for a 65 or short nosed enough to handle it. The same for the 45. They are cheap on fuel and after mufflers are not readily available. The ones shown are old Slimline mufflers that fit
Also physical strength would be needed using these engines as they are more like tractors. The 65 handles 14 inch props effortlessly and actually can probably do well with a 15 in the right circumstances. I dieselized one and ran it with an 18/6 for about 5 years. Still have that engine. Also have an OS 61 FP that I picked up cheap from Peabody just because it was interesting. Also is 19 oz

Dennis