Are these a good deal?

Oldenginerod Sun Jun 18, 2017 5:25 am

Just picked up a couple of engines today. The guy had a heap of 30 year old R/C planes and gliders as well but nothing was complete or undamaged so I passed on them. Also a heap of 30 year old Futaba radio gear which I didn't think I needed.
Cox Babe Bee, dirty but looks & feels ok. Like I needed another one Huh...

O.S. MAX SR 40 R/C. Complete with muffler & used in original box with papers. Stuck but should clean up well.
O.S. MAX S 36 R/C. Complete and used with mufler. Free but has plier marks on prop driver- ouch!
A box of scrap balsa, ply, hardwood bearer material, push rods and dowel, plus a few rolls of covering material.

I'm looking for your thoughts on value. Remember, to ship any of these to Aus would add about $25 to the cost. These sorts of things (O.S.s mainly), while not rare, don't become available all that much here. Before I tell you what I paid, I'll ask for some estimates, and opinions on how useful these engines might be. I'd need to convert to C/L. Venturis and NVAs are available on ebay but not all that cheap.

Rod.

P.S. Dropped them in my "used once" crock pot for a clean and straight away blew my electrical safety swich. Darn. Investigation needed.

Ken Cook Sun Jun 18, 2017 7:15 am

In my opinion the SR series was the best engine OS made. These were offered as ringed engines however they did a lot of experimenting at this particular time. OS just introduced some big changes in their line up and the entire operation underwent a major shift in new machinery. Strong runners and I'm not certain which morphed into what but the FSR was introduced equally offered in a ringed and also ABC not ABN version. The sad reality that no one can accept is that glow is on the out. It's even becoming more and more difficult to give this stuff away. I have seen these engine sell new in the box for less than $40. $40 is generally the opening bid for this engine on EBAY. I have seen it go completely the other direction on EBAY as well, which is why EBAY is not a credible source of value. Ebay reaches out to those that suffer from the I gotta have it disease. This engine is unlike traditional MAX engines in stunt. This is a high timed engine which isn't going to lope around. It's going to want to run fast. Therefore it's going to want a larger prop like a 12" and low pitch like a 4 to utilize the power to speed ratio. Shtterman on Ebay offers a venturi for the FSR. Understand that a venturi and needle assembly is going to run you close to $30 for the two items.

I never knew of a MAX .36 S. I owned several MAX .35 S engines and Max .40 S engines. The MAX .35 was the staple engine for control line use and still is popular today. However, the engine as quality built as it was for the time, it suffered from poor quality rods that were too soft and wrist pins that scored up the cylinder walls. Condition is everything and the R/C crowd expedited this by not using proper fuels. The screws are specific to that engine and are slightly hard to source. In addition, the engine is prone to air leaks under the venturi due to the shoulder in the casting at the venturi. The stock rubber o-ring compresses overtime thus allowing air to enter. Either source a thicker )-ring or double the existing or better yet, RTV. Nonetheless. it's a wonderful engine and runs terrific. The muffler on the MAX .35 S is worth more to most than the engine. If converting to control line, the spraybar was specific to that engine equally. A newer FP/LA OS spraybar fits but the diameter is much wider. This engine is very sensitive to proper calibration in regards to venturi size. Jim Lee Machine shop could provide you with the proper venturi and also needle and spraybar or might offer you the proper dimensions. Cost of this engine varies and without having it in hand, I can only speculate. I would place a value low of $25- $45 for a used example with muffler. As I mentioned, the muffler typically by itself sells anywhere from $25-$35.

Rod, I wouldn't be concerned with value. Are you happy with your purchase? If your engines are in good shape, I'm quite certain they will be very enjoyable.

Oldenginerod Sun Jun 18, 2017 8:49 pm

Ken Cook wrote:I never knew of a MAX .36 S. I owned several MAX .35 S engines
Rod, I wouldn't be concerned with value. Are you happy with your purchase? If your engines are in good shape, I'm quite certain they will be very enjoyable.

Sorry Ken, a typo made my 35 a 36. It is indeed a Max .35 S.

Also, the value is only an issue in that I need something to tell my wife. Embarassed

fredvon4 Mon Jun 19, 2017 9:58 am

Hell Rod that is simple...

"Hey honey, sorry but I exceeded my monthly allowance an hour ago...some old guy was selling off his model stash and I got a few engines I was looking for at about half the price others on e-bay are asking" -- "I also got about $100 worth of balsa and other stuff for $10" " one of the engines I got is one of the best made for stunt and has been out of production for 30 years"

Vague enough to not be lies and true enough she might think you are a pretty crafty and frugal shopper

I am pretty fortunate in this area, my wife's hobby has grown and grown to the point where she currently has more materiel and other stuff in HER shop that make the typical WalMart fabric / craft section look small
A few times she has admitted the she bought (with her girl friend) the entire stock of a failed business for pennies on the dollar

She called me one time from Houston quilt show to ask to transfer $10,000 out of savings into checking...she and her GF conned a product sales man into a $6000 discount (per machine) and throw in the new software ($1200+) if they pre -ordered 2 of the 6 needle ($16,000+MSRP) embroidery machines

Oldenginerod Mon Jun 19, 2017 5:31 pm

fredvon4 wrote:Hell Rod that is simple...

"Hey honey, sorry but I exceeded my monthly allowance an hour ago...some old guy was selling off his model stash and I got a few engines I was looking for at about half the price others on e-bay are asking" -- "I also got about $100 worth of balsa and other stuff for $10" " one of the engines I got is one of the best made for stunt and has been out of production for 30 years"

Vague enough to not be lies and true enough she might think you are a pretty crafty and frugal shopper

I am pretty fortunate in this area, my wife's hobby has grown and grown to the point where she currently has more materiel and other stuff in HER shop that make the typical WalMart fabric / craft section look small
A few times she has admitted the she bought (with her girl friend) the entire stock of a failed business for pennies on the dollar

She called me one time from Houston quilt show to ask to transfer $10,000 out of savings into checking...she and her GF conned a product sales man into a $6000 discount (per machine) and throw in the new software ($1200+) if they pre -ordered 2 of the 6 needle ($16,000+MSRP) embroidery machines

Well Fred, if you knew my wife you'd know that wouldn't work. I've not found anything in relation to my hobbies that's able to justify, in her mind, any expenditure.
$10,000??? That's serious stuff. I thought my wife's $1,600 bicycle was a huge concession on my part. Funny that she can justify the bike, but try buying $1,600 worth of hobby gear for me. It ain't gonna happen. No!

NEW222 Mon Jun 19, 2017 8:56 pm

I'm kind of partial to the OS FSR here myself. I just aquired one as well and mounted it on my airboat. Only thing was the rear of the stock muffler was misplaced (by the previous owner) so he included an older helicopter muffler to use as a strap on muffler. A couple of mods later and it is now attached to the engine aboard the airboat. Seems to be a very nice engine with a lot of power and easy starting.

Oldenginerod Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:52 am

The 40 is an SR, not an FSR. Is there much of a difference? I've given them both a good "cooking" and the 35 S has come up looking like new except for plier marks on the prop driver. The 40 is a little tarnished so will need some elbow grease, but both are free & smooth with good fits. Apart from the prop driver there appears to be no damage. Both mufflers are like new. When I get them sorted out I'll take a couple of pictures.

I'm thinking that if I ever get my 40 size RC trainer together I may use the 40 on that & hang on to the 35 to convert to CL if I ever feel like going a little bigger in my aircraft.

Ken Cook Tue Jun 20, 2017 6:54 pm

Rod, the MAX-S is the engine that the Fox .35 should've been. The MAX works terrific on profiles, Rings, Flite Streaks, Shoestring, etc. I have flown them on large full bodied stunters like the Oriental and the Skylark. They're just a friendly engine that offers power when you need it. I love the Fox but the burp is something that you have to incorporate into your flying style when mounted profile.

NEW222 Tue Jun 20, 2017 8:58 pm

I believe that they are both one of the same. Mine is only stamped SR inside a circle on one side only. The 'F' was just added for Front Carburetor and R stood for Rear carburetor. I have not ever personally seen myself one physically stamped FSR.

michaely Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:02 am

NEW222 wrote:I believe that they are both one of the same. Mine is only stamped SR inside a circle on one side only. The 'F' was just added for Front Carburetor and R stood for Rear carburetor. I have not ever personally seen myself one physically stamped FSR.

Ditto the above.... all my front carb OS .40 FSR engines are stamped "SR" on the cylinder.

Michael in Ontario, Canada

Oldenginerod Sat Jul 08, 2017 6:28 am

Still haven't managed to get any pictures, but just fired up a new phone, so when I figure out how it all works I'll post some pictures for you all.

Regarding my 40 "SR" engine, one can only assume that the SR & FSR used the same crankcase, with the difference being the front & rear housings. Yes, I was wrong in as much as the box for the engine says "40F" (presumably standing for "front" intake) and the case says SR as mentioned previously. An SR is obviously rear intake. Having heard much about FRS engines, I just assumed that it would state so on the case, but obviously if it has a front intake it's clearly identified.

Going back to the shared case between the SR & FSR, I wonder if it is reversible like a Torpedo .40 to place the exhaust on either the left or right?? I'll check tomorrow to see if the front & rear housings are interchangeable.

I can see some test runs coming up. The .35 S just has that real nice feel when you turn it over by hand. You know the feeling. Very Happy

You just can't keep your hands off it and keep turning it over compression. I have an Enya .15 sitting in my office and every time my son comes in he just has to pick it up and flip it over a few times. He has no interest in anything mechanical, but for some reason still gets a buzz from feeling that compression. Must be something hormonal Laughing

balogh Sat Jul 08, 2017 6:42 am

Rod,

does the F not stand for the Four-stroke? Sorry for the blunt question, in OS engines F indicates 4-stroke.

My wife also has the habit of asking for my freshly oiled 010 engines and flip the prop as this tiny engine emits a funny chirping sound when flipped with light fresh oil in its cylinder and crankcase.

Oldenginerod Wed Jul 12, 2017 11:20 pm

Here they are finally.

Note the cut-out in the box. Obviously for the rear induction model.

Unfortunately, if you look really closely you'll see a fine crack from the carb mount screw hole. The other side's the same. Not sure if it will cause any problems.

Mark Boesen Thu Jul 13, 2017 12:29 pm

Back in the day (eighties) the .40 FSR (the box is .40F SR?) but was always known as FSR was a pretty hot engine, Thunder Tiger/Magnum sold a clone to it for years, also i think the Irvine from England looked like it.

fit90 Thu Jul 13, 2017 2:46 pm

I had a .45 FSR back in the late 80's and/or early 90's. It was a great engine. It was a real power house for its time. But, it was also a very user friendly engine. I am sorry I let it go. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoyed mine.