I wonder if OS has a warrenty... (bad day)

[olds97_lss]

Well, I was all anxious to take my revo out and see how it handled with the new 3.3 chassis and P3 rockers. I was running for about an hour in 30F temps running around 225F at the GP with a sock wrapped around the head. All of the sudden, while on the throttle, it just died. Any time I've had that happen, it's always bad, so I didn't even bother trying to restart it.

This is what happened, a freaking ball bearing broke in half!

Kind of makes me rethink the old reliable OS21RG... This is one I bought last summer off of one of the Mod's here that was new and untouched. I have only run about 5 gallons through the thing... Makes me kind of sad. Unfortunately, the gouge in the piston is so bad that I don't think even replacing the bearing and cleaning out the case will fix it. So, it's junk.

 

[TalonOne]

Ouch!!! Not sure on the warrenty, I would imagine you are stuck at this point. But it is worth a call.

 

[robmob]

Yikes.

Sorry to hear about your bad luck.

 

[FastEddy]

5 gallons I would say is past any kind of factory defect. 5 gallons is longer then most people mills last. IMO you were on borrowed time.

 

[jetmechG550]

OS until recently used poopy bearings. You're lucky to get 5 gallons.

 

[on_my_can_sp2]

Sorry about you bad luck

 

[bourney2006]

5 gallons is loads to have out of an engine, i normally get about 1-2. Any engine tips to keep it going well?

 

[vbgagnon]

1-2? Man that is not alot of fuel through an engine. Clean your airfilter, and don't run too lean.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

Olds, OS is pretty good about customer service. It's worth a call to see if they'll replace the engine or, at the least, replace the P/S on it.

I guess I'm a bit surprised so many folks think five gallons is a lot to get out of an engine, especially one that is used primarily for bashing. If you take care of them, don't overly absue them and make sure you stay on top of their maintenance, I can't see why an engine wouldn't last that long (except for those manufacturers that use inferior parts or materials).

 

[olds97_lss]

5 gallons is loads to have out of an engine, i normally get about 1-2. Any engine tips to keep it going well?

I average 9 gallons before an engine needs pinched again. I have an OS21Rg that I got 12 gallons through, had it pinched, ran another 4 through it. Then when I was putting it away for storage, I noticed the front main bearing was a bit sloppy, so I replaced the front and rear bearings. I haven't run that once since.

To me, 5 gallons isn't a lot. I got 4 gallons through my first engine into the hobby and I didn't even break it in. I read the manual about 6 months into owning it. By then, the damage was done. That was 6 years ago with a mach 15 in my xxx-nt.

1-2 wouldn't even be worth being in the hobby for me. In the spring,summer,fall, I burn two gallons a month on average.

As for tips, here's a list of what I do:
1) Always clean out the engine before breaking it in.
2) always use ARO.
3) Keep the temps at the GP between 210-270.
4) Don't over gear. To tall of a gear makes you lean the engine out to get better performance, which raises temps and minimizes fuel flow since the engine is running relatively low in the RPM's trying to pull the tall gears.
5) Don't under gear. This allows you to over-rev the engine too easy. Find a happy medium for your engine that gives you a good hole shot and decent top speed.
6) Use decent fuel (trinity MHP 20% is what I use).
7) Always put the piston at BDC any time the engine gets shut off. Not just during break in.
8) Take the engine apart every 2 gallons to inspect parts for wear and tear.
9) clean the air filter every 1/2 gallon
10) clean and inspect one way every gallon

For break-in, I have been using the heat cycle method. Get the engine up to 200-210 as soon as you can for about 3 tanks while letting it cool with the piston at BDC in between every half tank. After 5 tanks, start tuning for performance.

I don't buy expensive engines. I'm a basher. I buy what works well and what has been claimed as being dependable and easy to tune. The most expensive engine I've bought was the OS18TM @ $210 at my LHS for my revo. Now you can buy them at tower for $150, which is the price I try to buy engines at.

I just sent an email to OS. I guess I'll see what they say about it. I'm not expecting much though.

 

[bourney2006]

cool!
on number 3 u said to use ARO, what is that?
i have just started buying engines from the staes (i live in the UK) and they are so much cheaper than here in england (even with shipping they still work out about £50 difference on some engines even more)
I havnt had much luck with engine since i have being in the hobby, my first car was the REX-X it came with a force .21 and that lasted about 3 months (1 gallon, (if that)) then i put a kyosho GX-21 in my REX-X that lasted about 3 weeks) then i bought a second hand lightning stadium a month a go and the engine in that was great (standard hot bodies .26) until the con rod broke 2 weeks ago, i replaced the con rod but it hasnt worked since. I have a team infinity .21 and a force .26 coming, so i hope they last longer than my other engines.
I also race electric and its so much easier than nitro easy to start electric engine with nitro it takes a while and just altogether easier to use electric but the sound and speed of nitro is what makes me stay in the nitro part of the hobby.

 

[SMaxxin]

Nice list on engine maintenance! I'm anxious to here what what OS has to say about the bearing failure.

cool!
on number 3 u said to use ARO, what is that?

ARO is After Run Oil

 

[bourney2006]

ooooohhhh, yeah lol.
I very much doubt you will get a reply by e-mail it has probably gone staraight into trash/spam your best off ringing them

 

[scoobydoo2u]

Get the engine up to 200-210 as soon as you can for about 3 tanks while letting it cool with the piston at TDC in between every half tank.

just pointing this out just encase some one else reads this you said TDC when you meant to say BDC like i said I'm not trying to be a idiot just saying just encase.
and hope you can get it replaced they told me where to send my os 18tm for replacement and i did sent me a brand new engine but i had just finished the break in on mine and it started to lock up

 

[godale03]

Hey Olds.... The OS RG is not covered under OS's warrantee. The .21 RG is considered a "Race" engine and will not be covered under any kind of warrantee. It is printed in the paperwork that comes with the Mill. Sucks I know... I just bought a brand new .21 V-Spec and it is also not covered under any type of warrantee.

Tom

 

[travis4380]

I usually take and put ceramic bearigs in all of my engines after break-in. OS has been known to have bearing problems, mainly in the os v-spec. IF they don't fix it put some ceramic bearings in it and a new p/s/r in it or I am hearing good things about the new .21 vg.

 

[vbgagnon]

The vspecs that have been made recetly have had updated bearings. As far as I know there have been no problems with the new vspecs.

I don't like ceramics because they are just that ceramic. I'll go with an updated steel bearing before I go ceramic. My buddy landed hard with his prospec with c5 and cracked a ceramic. Too much money to rely on hard clay.

 

[godale03]

I do believe my Spec has the updated bearings. I know OS switched Supplier's after the bearing problems too.

 

[olds97_lss]

just pointing this out just encase some one else reads this you said TDC when you meant to say BDC like i said I'm not trying to be a idiot just saying just encase.

I didn't notice that. I don't know why I'd type TDC as I never type that or would need a reference for it.

I updated my post. Thanks for the catch!