Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k?

GallopingGhostler Sun Dec 21, 2014 10:10 pm

Just now I came across this "Buy It Now for $5,500.00 US". Is this engine really worth that much? - George

E-Bay OS Max DR15 Racing Engine $5.5k US

Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k? Os_max10

Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k? Os_max10

Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k? Os_max11

Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k? Os_max12

**Cribbs74** Sun Dec 21, 2014 10:20 pm

Not to me, Looks pretty uncommon, but I have little knowledge of OS racing engines. Maybe Ian (Ian1954) will aee this and comment. I bet he knows.

Sometimes when I see outlandish prices I think that maybe the wife is forcing the husband to sell his junk. The husband puts a price on it so it won't sell.

crankbndr Sun Dec 21, 2014 10:22 pm

Ya, man I would only go 3.6K tops! Bad Xmas Gift

Oldenginerod Sun Dec 21, 2014 11:28 pm

crankbndr wrote:Ya, man I would only go 3.6K tops!

SOLD!! Congratulations. It will make a great Christmas gift for someone you love Lighting The Tree

Seriously, that's lot of dough. I'd be suspicious about the claimed conversion from diesel to glow, although it does say "MAX-D" on the case. I think I'd need a certificate varifying that OS actually did the work.

Rod.

OVERLORD Sun Dec 21, 2014 11:29 pm

According to the OS website, it's a 1960 DR15. I think the cone is added to make it look fast.

http://www.osengines.com/history/ostimeline02.html

Lieven

GallopingGhostler Sun Dec 21, 2014 11:51 pm

It could very well be 1959. I noticed the diesel version as 1958. They are missing my OS Max .10R/C from 1965.

Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k? Os_max13

Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k? Os_max14

ian1954 Mon Dec 22, 2014 3:59 am

This is a very strange one. I don't know any OS engine collectors, they don't have the following that Cox, Fox, PAW, ED, Oliver Tiger ........... have inspired.

While I do believe that this is a rare engine, it is an obscure rare engine and certainly not worth $5,500.

It does look new and unused but it is one that time has passed by. An OS modified to a competition spec to promote the sale of other OS engines.

I liked it and made a $101 offer. It was declined instantly but that was hardly surprising.

When I see a buy it now price like this though, I wonder if it is a typing error and should have been $550. To the right person that may be OK - Oliver Tiger 15s go for between £250 and £350 in the UK.

balogh Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:27 am

I do not pretend to be an OS expert but I bought my brand new four-stroke OS56 FS alpha engine in the neighborhood of 300USD this spring. (These are terrific engines and worth the price providing one wants/is allowed by the spouse to afford them)

roddie Mon Dec 22, 2014 4:21 pm

I think that Lieven pegged this one as a 1960 model. Looking at that cylinder head.. and also the shape of the casting where the nipple is (directly under the venturi) Those features are unique to that engine.

Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k? Os_max10

Notice that the below photo of the 1960 DR15 from the OS 1954-60 archive also shows a glow-plug... What?

Was this engine ever a diesel?

Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k? Osm-1910

I have a 1959 MAX-III .29 (never knew the year until looking through that same OS archive today)

Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k? Os_max11

At 8.4oz.. it's a heavy engine compared to 6.6oz. for my Fox .29 Stunt.

OVERLORD Mon Dec 22, 2014 4:39 pm

An article dated september '61 from the Sceptreflight site:

http://sceptreflight.net/Model%20Engine%20Tests/OS%20Max-D%20Racing%2015%20Glow.html

Article says: "this impressive engine first appeared some 18 months ago"

ian1954 Mon Dec 22, 2014 4:48 pm

The glow was based on the 1958 DR 15 diesel engine. My pal has one of these but he didn't buy it until the 60s. You can see one of these in Reginald Luycx collection (scroll down and stop gawping at all the other engines - he has it pictured in two places)

http://www.reginaldluycx.be/collectie.html

This is a glow DR 15 running.

Naturally, I prefer the diesel!

GallopingGhostler Mon Dec 22, 2014 11:04 pm

rucina2001 on E-Bay wrote:1959 OS Max DR 15 factory racing engine unused 1 out of 28 made. This engine were modified from diesel to glow by OS Factory Racing Division and handed or sent directly 2 each to 14 speed plane racers in the world in 1959. This is one of spare engine survived not being used other than factory test run. Turns smoothly with excellent compression. Also engine is going to be shipped from Japan. $26 shipping to US Mail with tracking number and $38 to Europe via USPS Mail with insurance and tracking number. (Brazil will be higher, please do not pay until I get actual shipping cost) will pack with extreme care. Please do not bid if you're not paying.

I'm thinking that this may have been a special pre-public production run done for marketing purposes, which may explain the 1959 date prior to the 1960 shown on the historic OS web page. OS then was trying to establish themselves as a viable option to other already established manufacturers back then. Therefore, they'd want favorable comments from those already competing to check it out. The diesel version has a 1958 date.

Thus, this engine would be rarer than the others. Regarding shipping being seemingly exhorbitant, cost includes additional insurance to cover loss. I wouldn't want "insured for $50" for something that I paid several thousand for. Plus, I'm sure the seller would want signature delivery.

I don't know if Mark Boesen or one of the other collectors on Yahoo 049collectors Group could chime in on what they know.

Mark Boesen Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:22 am

Thanks for the referral, but my area of expertise (yeah right) is older 1/2a engines and plastic "RTF" planes. l do understand supply and demand, while there's very few of these engines, there's probably even fewer buyers. I believe the seller is a little on the optimistic side. I can't think of anybody who would want that even for 1/10th the asking price. You could buy 2 nice Morton M-5 radials for the same money.

GallopingGhostler Tue Dec 23, 2014 12:44 pm

Mark Boesen wrote:Thanks for the referral, but my area of expertise (yeah right) is older 1/2a engines and plastic "RTF" planes. l do understand supply and demand, while there's very few of these engines, there's probably even fewer buyers. I believe the seller is a little on the optimistic side. I can't think of anybody who would want that even for 1/10th the asking price. You could buy 2 nice Morton M-5 radials for the same money.

Mark, as far as expertise goes, when someone goes through the trouble of gathering thousands of photos, has an extensive collection of engines and RTF's, knows the marketing conditions even mainly of half-A engines and RTF planes, certainly has gained considerable overall knowledge about engines. So, in essence I consider you as an expert.

You have a point though. 1/10th asking would be $550. Indeed this makes that $200 Cox P-51A Mustang RTF with rubber banded wing and postage stamp back 290 engine a bargain. Wink

roddie Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:34 pm

If I had the money........ Laughing

I'd rather put fifty five hundred dollars into building a small-block Chevy.

Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k? Small-10

"Merry Christmas to all.. and to all a Good Night"!!! Santa

**Cribbs74** Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:06 pm

Psssh...

Mopar brother. Wink

Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k? R5Ak6Rd

Actually I am getting ready to install one of these in my '72 Pickup.

The old 318 is getting tired at 194K miles. Going to go with a 360 this time around.

Ron

GallopingGhostler Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:14 pm

I've got the 150 cc big bore kit to upgrade the 1971 SL125S motor in my 1971 Honda CB100.

Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k? George11

I paid less that $200 for it on E-Bay, comes with new sleeve, piston, rings and piston pin.
Regarding $5,500, I'd rather put that toward a new touring motorcycle. Santa

Ken Cook Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:43 pm

Ron, I hope that Road Runner horn is going in as well. Ken Ron, that's just breaking in with that mileage, mine has 273k on it and still going strong. Very Happy

TDbandit Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:46 pm

5,500 Dollars? Shocked

That would put a new engine with upgrades in my Honda CBR600F4i wow.
(Bandit)

**Cribbs74** Tue Dec 23, 2014 4:25 pm

Ken Cook wrote:Ron, I hope that Road Runner horn is going in as well. Ken Ron, that's just breaking in with that mileage, mine has 273k on it and still going strong.

Ken,

That mileage doesn't surprise me, 300K on a 318 is pretty common. Early on in my ownership I overheated the old girl really bad. I had a bad voltage regulator and my temp gauge was reading normal when it was actually overheating. By the time I stopped the truck it was knocking and oil was spilling out of the valve covers.

About a year later when I changed the pan gasket I found an oil control piston ring jammed in the oil pump pickup. That was 50,000 miles ago. A testament to the engines durability.

The final straw is the block cracking at the water jacket. Autozone keeps giving me bad radiators so this past year I was running mostly water, due to the constant leaking. I went away on a trip and we had a cold snap. Well.... The freeze plugs didn't give.

Ron

edit: sorry for the hijack George

Mark Boesen Tue Dec 23, 2014 11:27 pm

GallopingGhostler wrote:I've got the 150 cc big bore kit to upgrade the 1971 SL125S motor in my 1971 Honda CB100.

I paid less that $200 for it on E-Bay, comes with new sleeve, piston, rings and piston pin.
Regarding $5,500, I'd rather put that toward a new touring motorcycle.

Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k? Sii_pi10

Is this 1959 OS Engine worth $5.5k? Sii_pi12

Ken Cook Wed Dec 24, 2014 4:27 am

OK Mark you know have my full attention. That CB 450 Nighthawk was my first new bike purchase in 83. I believe the one you show is the 82 due to the Comstar riveted wheels. I loved the smoothness, the simplicity of adjusting the rockers and just everything about it. My newer Kawasaki 1500 is a pain in the rear end. It just took me 40+ hours to change a leaking rocker case gasket due to having to remove the entire engine. My Nighthawk was candy wineberry red which looks similar to yours.Gas mileage was tremendous and at one point I was getting between 70-80 miles to the gallon with that wonderful 6th gear. Probably one of the most reliable 450's ever made. I used to ride from Phila to Connecticut on a monthly basis on that bike. I sold it for a VT1100 Shadow and while I loved the Shadow bigger isn't always better. Is that a RD 250? Ken

**Cribbs74** Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:54 am

DT Ken, quite a transformation from an Enduro Mark!

I wish MC manufacturers would start producing standard small cc displacements again. Suzuki makes a nice standard 250, but thats about it.

Ken Cook Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:50 pm

Currently I have a 73 Kawasaki Z-1 900 in need of a lot of help. I would think $5.5K would pretty much get me where it needs to be. I just need the gonads to ride it again. Somehow they got lost as I've aged.

706jim Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:54 pm

They're not really "freeze plugs".

Those sheet metal plugs are used to seal the openings to the water jackets.

These are required for the casting cores (made up from green sand and what looks like coat hanger grade wire to position them).

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Freeze plugs

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