Merco 40 ?

LAST EDITED ON Aug-11-03 AT 03:32 AM (CDT)
 
This appears to be a nice handling motor (although I've only run it in the test stand and it looks like new) I've had it for a while and am thinking I should put it to use, has anyone flown with one of these and do you think it's suitable for the Skyray 35 kit I have? I'm after a Sunday flyer, "just for fun" type of model that I can pass around others to have a go on......

Phil.

I think this is a Premier production engine, probably ABN. I would only say suck it and see. If it's good that's great. I do have one myself for old time's sake, but the point I must make is don't confuse this basically 1959 motor with my new Rustler-Merco 40. Completely different animal. Best wishes, Ian R.

>I think this is a Premier production engine, probably ABN. I
>would only say suck it and see. If it's good that's great. I

I gotta ask - is this a typo?

>do have one myself for old time's sake, but the point I must
>make is don't confuse this basically 1959 motor with my new

The begs a question for the older Merco 40s. Some had cases that were painted black, others were left natural (like the one show above). I was once told that the black cased versions were ABC or ABN, and the natural cased versions had cast iron pistons.

Can you shed any light?

Bob, hi. Apologies, my American might not be all it should be. A "typo" is an error? If so, I don't think there's any error, but as always, I'm open to correction. (E&OE as I always say!).
For a little history of Merco, look at Dave Day's web site, www.iroquois.free-online.co.uk. Here, under "Merco", you will find an expanded version of a little history of Merco which I wrote at the request of the owner of Model Engine World, Andrew Nahum. This article is an ongoing document, and is constantly updated as more info comes to light. Anyone with some Merco history which is not mentioned, please get in touch and tell me. What about details of any tests or mentions in U.S. mags for instance? The article was actually published prematurely, and still contains various notes and comments to myself which will eventually be edited out as they become redundant, but no-matter.
In the history you will see how Premier were involved with Merco for approx. ten years, and it was during this period that the "old" type Merco 40 was introduced. The picture shown is of the first variation of the 40, with the old "Veco" style transfer/bypass. At this stage some metal had been added to the cylinder barrel to increase the dia. a little to facilitate the increased bore of the engine. I have only ever seen natural ali finish on this model. I'm as sure as I can be the 40 was ABN from the start, and I am unaware of any iron 40's. George Aldrich asked me about these engines when he was asked to tune some for stunt, he had formed the impression the Si content of the piston was inadequate. I was able to find out that this was not so, the pistons are cast from LM29, 22-25% Si. George subsequently got back to me saying he had got things sorted. The problem had been the Nickel plating, which was so soft he could just hone it out for chroming, no need for any chemical or electrical removal treatment!
Briefly, (the full story is on D.D's. site) - Subsequently the transfer (Bypass) was increased to relatively enormous proportions, and the word Merco on the side increased in size and put on a raised plinth. All the engines of this variation I have seen have been anodised black.
I'm just not sure about the wearing qualities of these engines, hence my comment that if you've got one and it's going well, don't fight it!! If you've got one that seems not so good, there's nothing that a good chromer/tuner can't sort out for you. However, please note that during the Premier period I had no input or responsibility for the engines whatsoever!
Best wishes.

Ian R.

The Rustler Merco 40 is a great running motor. Starts very easy using the backflip method and/or gentle forward flips to start. Runs steady on my profile airplane (Fancherized Twister) without any burping like the Fox 35 and flies it with authority. Runs a steady 4 cycle for me as setup. I hear it can do a 4-2-4. 10x5 or 10x6 props have been used. I have yet to try 11x4s etc.

I like the motor however there is one disadvantage. Do not use it on profiles unless you install a needle valve assembly guard. The unit does get bent on inverted landings and the parts must come from England and the assembly would cost about $20 american. So I would recommend you install the motor in the upright or inverted position on full stunt ships for that reason.

I plan to install it in either a Buso "Vegas" or P40K.

Bob Smiley
A Lancair 360 builder/Flyer trying to be a modeler

>This appears to be a nice handling motor (although I've only
>run it in the test stand and it looks like new) I've had it
>for a while and am thinking I should put it to use, has
>anyone flown with one of these and do you think it's
>suitable for the Skyray 35 kit I have? I'm after a Sunday
>flyer, "just for fun" type of model that I can pass around
>others to have a go on......

I bought a 30,30 Diesel and a 40 They wern't bad motors as long as you kept the revs down. The 30 was really a delightful motor.
The 30 diesel was run in according to their directions and was really coming along well. It was just about ready to go into a plane and while I was doing the last of the running in the crankshaft left go.
To be fair Hobby Lobby was the imnporter at the time and they sent me a brand new motor. I never got around to running that one. The replacement 30 diesel was the only black one that I had the others were all natural finish. Dennis

Dennis, G'day. Just wondering, were all the engines you mention ABN?
More Merco titbits :-
To distinguish the variations, when Premier Engines introduced the ABN motors the names were changed, 29 to 30, and 49 to 50. Possibly 61 to 60? 35 remained the same, and of course the 40 was new. The size was shewn by milling of the size indicated in the circle on the bypass and stamping on the new size.
Can you remember the size of the bypasses on your engines? Big or small like the photo?
I guess you were unlucky with your diesel c/chaft. Diesels do impart more of a shock loading to the shaft than glows, and maybe you had a shaft with an unsuspected flaw in it. I have not heard of any other shaft breakages, but there's probably not too many 30 diesels out there. Regards
P.S. Apologies to the gentleman who started this, we seem to have wandered a bit from your original purpose!

Phil,

It's not a bad engine. Ran OK for me. Problem was a 44 oz Twister! However, it is relatively "gutless" for a 40. Just build a light model! I KNOW you can do it!

Lars

PS Let me know if you want a digital camera that can take sharp pictures!

Lars,
I'm not unhappy with my motors, just finding out more about them....

I ran the Merco again today, it's really quite nice, starts well, runs well. I've not had any experience with Fox 35's Do you think we're talking the same sort of power?

I'm getting quite a bit of interest in control line at Airsail, mostly from potential retreads or sons of current R/C'ers. I want to have a plane in my arsenal that I'm happy to let such people have a flight on. Might even be able to get the SIG importer to bring them into NZ, then we could stock them.

A sharper imaging camera eh? We must have a little talk sometime.

Phil.

Phil,

Yes, I suppose a bit like a Fox 35. Perhaps a bit more "powerful"! Not as noisy though. I remember that engine as having a very sweet sound.

Good to hear that you're having people asking about control-line at Airsail. If we get a C/L only flying site in town and if we fly there regularly, maybe there's a small chance that we could increase numbers again. It seems that everyone in Auckland are flying in a different spot at the moment. Well, we can't carry on like that anymore with this insurance situation.

Hey, what happened to the 25 size stunter that you were planning to make at Airsail?

My latest thing is the purple Pizzaz fitted with a Saito 56 four stroke! Weighs 46 Oz now. A bit overkill perhaps, but I do like experimenting. Have flown it a couple of times and I think I need to go to longer lines.

Lars

Lars,
I just gave it another run and got 9400 rpm using 5% nitro/25%
caster/ Zinger 10X6w.

The 25 C/L kit is in the "that's good idea" category. It seems to take around a year to introduce a new kit. The design of the kit has to be bang on first time, takes a lot of building and flying of prototypes. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it....

Brian has suggested I get a few of you together to design the prototype, I wonder if you could reach a consensus.

I've been talking to the AMAC guys and it seems the Bruce Pullman (sp?) site is going to go ahead, we will however be required to join the club, but about $50/year doesn't seem too steep to use a purpose built C/L circle.

Phil.