[jonlocker]

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details...dId=1446211446

1/4 cub with "OS max ff" engine. Owner said he didn't fly it. I want to eventually put floats on it and fly off the water. Is this a good deal or a money pit? How much would fuel be approximately?

[RAMJET]

Are you new to the hobby ,if so you will need to buy MAAC insurance and join a club . I never thought fuel was very expensive @ $20- 30 a gallon for the amount you use . $200 is pretty cheap for a plane if it's built straight and the engine and servos are good . It may be best to have someone in the hobby look at it for you if your not sure because I'ts hard to tell you much about a plane from a picture .

[jsparky]

Originally Posted by jonlocker

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details...dId=1446211446

1/4 cub with "OS max ff" engine. Owner said he didn't fly it. I want to eventually put floats on it and fly off the water. Is this a good deal or a money pit? How much would fuel be approximately?

For 200 bucks.. I wouldn't touch it.. Old 2 stroke.. likely gummed up and seized.. bearings for sure.. airframe would need a good go over.. make sure all the hinges where glued.. If there are any servo's in it.. they would need to be carefully checked.. Has a receiver but no transmitter.. so you would need to get a new transmitter and receiver,

A lot of work.. That is what I would refer to as a 50 dollar winter project..

The guy likely bought it with dreams of being an RC Pilot.. and then realized what he got into.. and is now trying to get his money back..

Good luck with that..

[jonlocker]

I'm thinking I'll go check it out anyway. If the engine's seized and the servos are crap hopefully I'll be able to talk him down to a lower price. Guy said he was fed up with no shows so hopefully he just wants to get rid of it. I'll be sure to look over the control surfaces and make sure everything works.

Also been in the hobby for about 6-7 years so I'm not a complete noobie, just new to bigger gas planes. I do have an extra receiver I can throw in here. With any luck, this will become a fun project, but I doubt I'll go for it.

Thanks for your help!

[Cougar429]

All negative opinions aside, it all depends on what you have to start with and how much willing to invest in getting it back up and flying. Running gear can be replaced if worn or unreliable and may need to be upgraded in any event. However, if the airframe has been sitting high, hot and dry the wood may be brittle and no longer salvageable.

From what I can see it seems well built and some money has been invested. The Pitts style exhaust is non-standard and may have cost a few dollars, but without knowing the engine not sure how much. If OS it will likely be an SF and these are pretty good mills. Just hoping the stock exhaust is still available if you want to change it out. Something that large just screams 4-stroke for a more scale presence.

Those mufflers were notorious for being noisy, not large enough expansion area and the pressure taps for fuel tank not very well placed. A lot of us would plug up one of the outlet tubes to get them to work reliably. Did not seem to affect performance all that much.

Depending on source 1/4 Cubs were pretty tame and able to do some unique maneuvers such as the flat turn. They also make excellent floaters. It would take some work to upgrade the fuse for attach points. To be honest not sure who makes that one as the single wire gear is definitely NOT scale.

[kip51035]

When you go take some tools with you. you are going to have to remove the glow plug to squirt some car automatic transmission fluid above the piston. remove the muffler and do the same there. squirt some in the carb. While it is soaking in look at the aircraft from the back. Lift the tail so you can just see the bottom of the wing under the trailing edge. Check the condition of the tail feathers make sure they are straight and lined up properly. That would be zero-zero to the centre line of the fuselage. The engine should have 1 1/2 to 2 degrees of right and down thrust. If the engine still will not turn, put a good size prop on it. I always take one with a large hole in it to fit over the crankshaft. Rock the prop back and forth to free the engine. Do not force it too hard. If it still will not turn heat it with a propane torch. Once it is free turn it over gently several times, it will get more free. It takes a lot of flipping to get it really free. Caution the oil will be squirting out all over the place. I have freed lots of stuck engines this way and most of them turn out in near perfect shape. If you are going to replace the engine and radio with new items then you are looking at $700.00 PLUS. The older 72MHZ radios are an excellent product and can be had cheap. There are thousands of them in basements all over Ontario. I would suggest $100.00 for the airframe and $100.00 for the engine if it is any good and get him to throw in the batteries and servos. If he has the transmitter and it is on 72MHZ, the Whole set is worth about $50.00 including batteries and charger

[luv2flyrc]

Here's one RTF. I know the owner, it's mint and a steal at the price

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-hobbies-craf...ationFlag=true

[Propworn]

Originally Posted by kip51035

When you go take some tools with you. you are going to have to remove the glow plug to squirt some car automatic transmission fluid above the piston. remove the muffler and do the same there. squirt some in the carb. While it is soaking in look at the aircraft from the back. Lift the tail so you can just see the bottom of the wing under the trailing edge. Check the condition of the tail feathers make sure they are straight and lined up properly. That would be zero-zero to the centre line of the fuselage. The engine should have 1 1/2 to 2 degrees of right and down thrust. If the engine still will not turn, put a good size prop on it. I always take one with a large hole in it to fit over the crankshaft. Rock the prop back and forth to free the engine. Do not force it too hard. If it still will not turn heat it with a propane torch. Once it is free turn it over gently several times, it will get more free. It takes a lot of flipping to get it really free. Caution the oil will be squirting out all over the place. I have freed lots of stuck engines this way and most of them turn out in near perfect shape. If you are going to replace the engine and radio with new items then you are looking at $700.00 PLUS. The older 72MHZ radios are an excellent product and can be had cheap. There are thousands of them in basements all over Ontario. I would suggest $100.00 for the airframe and $100.00 for the engine if it is any good and get him to throw in the batteries and servos. If he has the transmitter and it is on 72MHZ, the Whole set is worth about $50.00 including batteries and charger

I Doubt anyone is going to let some complete stranger start to dismantle the plane they have for sale.

Dennis

[jonlocker]

Originally Posted by kip51035

When you go take some tools with you. you are going to have to remove the glow plug to squirt some car automatic transmission fluid above the piston. remove the muffler and do the same there. squirt some in the carb. While it is soaking in look at the aircraft from the back. Lift the tail so you can just see the bottom of the wing under the trailing edge. Check the condition of the tail feathers make sure they are straight and lined up properly. That would be zero-zero to the centre line of the fuselage. The engine should have 1 1/2 to 2 degrees of right and down thrust. If the engine still will not turn, put a good size prop on it. I always take one with a large hole in it to fit over the crankshaft. Rock the prop back and forth to free the engine. Do not force it too hard. If it still will not turn heat it with a propane torch. Once it is free turn it over gently several times, it will get more free. It takes a lot of flipping to get it really free. Caution the oil will be squirting out all over the place. I have freed lots of stuck engines this way and most of them turn out in near perfect shape. If you are going to replace the engine and radio with new items then you are looking at $700.00 PLUS. The older 72MHZ radios are an excellent product and can be had cheap. There are thousands of them in basements all over Ontario. I would suggest $100.00 for the airframe and $100.00 for the engine if it is any good and get him to throw in the batteries and servos. If he has the transmitter and it is on 72MHZ, the Whole set is worth about $50.00 including batteries and charger

Thanks for the lengthy reply! I have a 2.4ghz system that I'll put in here if I get it. I was talking to him today and he said he can turn the motor and he could feel compression. So if the airframe's good then I think I'll pick it up. Should I bring my own tx/rx and battery to test the servos? Or is that not necessary?

[Propworn]

Originally Posted by jonlocker

Thanks for the lengthy reply! I have a 2.4ghz system that I'll put in here if I get it. I was talking to him today and he said he can turn the motor and he could feel compression. So if the airframe's good then I think I'll pick it up. Should I bring my own tx/rx and battery to test the servos? Or is that not necessary?

Experienced guys will tell you the airframe is worth next to nothing as is the old equipment inside. Here is how I look at it. Is it built at least as good as a similar size ARF? If its kit built and looks well built even better. Now what would you pay for an ARF that size? As for the electronics inside I personally prefer to install my own stuff because I know what I will be getting. Remember the electronics are the last control you have with your model. The engine well in case of a flame out I can glide back to the field. I would remove it from the airframe and get it running perfect on an engine stand. Then when I put it in the airframe if it runs different then I have to address what has caused the change.

The most important consideration, does the purchase make you happy. After all you are in the hobby to please yourself not everyone else.

I just purchased a 80 inch span Zlin 526 ARF new in the box for near retail price. Why, its no longer made, I love the airplane how it flys and the cost is not as important to how much I will enjoy it when its finished.

Dennis