Garry Morgan Posted July 2, 2013 Author Share Posted July 2, 2013 The brigs and strattion motor only clams small horse power but it would appear that a 20 hp Briggs but is as good as a 50hp 503 Rotax and it only cost about $1600.00new with an electric start two cylinder 4 stroke and 5.5 ltrs an hr fuel burn, and weight 80lb, theses has been used for many years in the US. a good motor for a single seat aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj_richo Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Once upon a time I used to think the larger Briggs and Stratton engines were bullet proof... then the alloy conrod cracked at the big end clean in half on my ride on mower.. The repair shop could not give a reason why. Engine was maintained correctly and subject to frequent oil changes, even used the proper Briggs and Stratton branded oil. Kind of went off them after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morgan Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 Every time you hit rocks with you mower it could be called a prop strike. after all it is a motor and all can fail at any time. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexrbetter Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Once upon a time I used to think the larger Briggs and Stratton engines were bullet proof... then the alloy conrod cracked at the big end clean in half on my ride on mower..The repair shop could not give a reason why. . At it's peak Briggs were making an amazing 80,000 engines per 24 hour shift from it's 3 US factories - there's going to be the odd failure here and there, the numbers/stats just can't avoid it and remember what they are made for. Briggs make about half that nowadays per 24 hours, still pretty impressive numbers though! There's aftermarket "proper" conrods by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimG Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 From what I understand, Valley Engineering in USA make a pretty good engine package with there 'valley big twin' ( Briggs ) with some aftermarket billet components, redrive and culver prop. Looks impressive and possibility a good match for this kind of single seat aircraft. JimG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza 38 Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 The John Deere zero turn mower at work has a Kohler V twin 22 HP . It has so far 380 trouble free hours. It may be a good candidate as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerin Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 We have both B&S and Kohler V-twins on the farm. The B&S, like all B&Ss we have had, has had issues....the latest one being the the diodes on the magneto kill wires burnt out. It also runs pretty rough at idle, the governor hunts around and I have had the carby apart several times. That being said it works in a pretty tough environment and it seems to be well built with a nice twin carby. But it is not a engine I can rely on to start first time every time. The Kohler is a similar age and is on a fire pump. It always starts and has not missed a beat yet. It runs much smoother with less vibration than the B&S. I don't know what sort of carby or quality of build it has because I have yet to take a spanner to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morgan Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 Yes the Kohler motor, I have heard is better, no need for a reduction as they have a max of 3,600 RPM and the same price and both have an electric start about 80lb in weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev25 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Yes, I'm sure there would be interest in an affordable, simple, plans-built 2 seater. Yes particularly if it has folding/removable wings 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulh Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Don't know if this engine has merit for the application http://www.poweredparaglider.com.au/_ParaToys/Engines/(6)_HellCat_360/HC_360cc.html 35 hp four stroke flat twin water cooled, made for tandem powered para gliders on quads Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morgan Posted July 7, 2013 Author Share Posted July 7, 2013 The new plans of the Super Diamond are available. You can also buy as a mostly material kit with a cowl how about 5K. If you build it with a Kolher V twin motor building off plans only, you can get it into the air for $7,100.00 with all new parts and a radio. If you would like it as a two seater, talk to me as it may not be far away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev25 Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 The new plans of the Super Diamond are available. You can also buy as a mostly material kit with a cowl how about 5K. If you build it with a Kolher V twin motor building off plans only, you can get it into the air for $7,100.00 with all new parts and a radio.If you would like it as a two seater, talk to me as it may not be far away. Any Idea on the cost of the Plans . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morgan Posted July 8, 2013 Author Share Posted July 8, 2013 Plans are $450.00 In the near future we will have more simple to built cost effect aircraft and self launch gliders, also as plans only option. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev25 Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 How far of is the plans for the 2 seater Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morgan Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 If you are interested ring me, if there is interest I will do it before the single motor glider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diddy Pilot Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 "The new plans of the Super Diamond are available. You can also buy as a mostly material kit with a cowl how about 5K. If you build it with a Kolher V twin motor building off plans only, you can get it into the air for $7,100.00 with all new parts and a radio." What am I missing here? $7,100 is not a lot of money to get flying. Has the Kolher V twin been used in a similar aircraft before? 40hp? any details on performance, reliability etc? Any more info on this path, "mostly material kit with a cowl about $5000" this then leaves $2100 for motor and instruments etc. This all sounds too good, it has got me thinking about starting a project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza 38 Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 "The new plans of the Super Diamond are available. You can also buy as a mostly material kit with a cowl how about 5K. If you build it with a Kolher V twin motor building off plans only, you can get it into the air for $7,100.00 with all new parts and a radio."What am I missing here? $7,100 is not a lot of money to get flying. Has the Kolher V twin been used in a similar aircraft before? 40hp? any details on performance, reliability etc? Any more info on this path, "mostly material kit with a cowl about $5000" this then leaves $2100 for motor and instruments etc. This all sounds too good, it has got me thinking about starting a project. The Kolher V twin engine in my experience is a great choice. The John Deere mower at work has approx. 353 hours on it, and the only maintenance done on it, is oil changes at no where near the recommended intervals. I did a oil change at 285 hours, I think the oil was only previously changed once before that. The engine doesn't miss a beat, and doesn't burn any oil. I would fly behind one no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rankamateur Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 The Kolher V twin engine in my experience is a great choice. The John Deere mower at work has approx. 353 hours on it, and the only maintenance done on it, is oil changes at no where near the recommended intervals. I did a oil change at 285 hours, I think the oil was only previously changed once before that. The engine doesn't miss a beat, and doesn't burn any oil. I would fly behind one no problem. I would fly behind a 100Hp one too, on grain augers you can't kill them. Oil change optional, air filter optional, occasional use no problem, they don't like water down the intake but I guess most people would try to avoid this in an aircraft application. I hadn't seen a 40Hp, thought maybe 28Hp pulled them up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulh Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 http://www.kohlerengines.com/onlinecatalog/serieslanding.htm?series=Command PRO Command PRO CH1000 rated at 40hp horizontal shaft - EFI version I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winsor68 Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 There are some great small industrial motors with aero potential. Single seat suitable only... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winsor68 Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 http://www.culverprops.com/big-twin.php 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morgan Posted October 25, 2013 Author Share Posted October 25, 2013 We now have the plans available for the two seat Cheetah, non tapped wing. to make it easier for the builder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvercity Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 How will the non-tapered wing model perform compared to the standard wing Garry ... and what engines would you recommend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morgan Posted October 25, 2013 Author Share Posted October 25, 2013 It will be a bit slower (10kts) and motors around 80- 100 hp most motors will fit or you make them fit. also if you know any one wanting a good cheap motor i have a 80hp Rotax but it will be sold with all the extras needed to get it complete for an airframe. The tapered wing ribs can be purchased from us . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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