<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1276" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Lance, I need to correct your correction. The Webra
Aero X (1.45 and 1.60) being sold today by Horizon, Central Hobbies and Radio
South, etc. all have the aluminum sleeve and weight 28.5 ounces. This
feature did not disappear when Piedmont stopped selling the engine.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>That being said, the Webra is only .8 oz under
the Mintor 1.70 and that's hardly a good sole reason to go with the
Webra.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The truth is if price and compatibility with my
existing planes/parts wasn't taken into account I'd probably go with
the Mintor. Smooth transition, awesome power, excellent workmanship, no
need to fiddle with the MC carb (I like to keep things simple). However, my
post wasn't to convince anyone of what to buy but rather to layout my
understanding of the differences and the options to help Scott make his own
decision. Until my post prompted your detailed reply none of the "experts" had
given him much to sink his teeth into. </FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Having been in his position not that long ago I can relate with his
dilemma.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Keith Black</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=patterndude@comcast.net href="mailto:patterndude@comcast.net">Lance
Van Nostrand</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=discussion@nsrca.org
href="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, January 08, 2004 11:22
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: My Head is Spinning!</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks Keith for laying out the basics. In
following Bob P's advice (before he even gave it), Keith got the Webras when
we were flying them and learned from us how to balance pump pressure and
needle. Now He's the expert.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I want to correct that the Webra 145
requires the AeroX/AL sleeve to be lighter than the OS/Mintor. The
standard steel sleeve leaves it about 1.5 oz heavier. If you buy an
engine from Horizon now, or a sleeve, it will be steel. The AeroX was
available from Piedmont and Swift, but may no longer be available, except as
an aftermarket upgrade.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Once you add the weight of the MC servo,
its arm, mounting bracket and setup time, I don't see the attraction to that
engine. If one was willing to do all that, one could get an OS160FX for
even less money and get all the power with the same amount of
fiddling.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I think the fuel economy is more similar
than was stated. but my measurement is being able to fly the Masters
sequence twice on a 21oz tank. Isn't that enough? There's actually
a lot more throttle management in Masters than Intermediate, so maybe things
balance out.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Here are some other comments based on my
experiences: Webras with the steel sleeve burn bearings the fastest, with the
AL sleeve it is tied with the OS (which is next), and the Mintors last by far
the longest as long as the engine is used. Nothing stops corrosion, but
the double row angular contact bearing of the Mintor has twice the load
capacity, which virtually eliminates load related wear.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Mintors pack a punch and as a result
shake a bit more. More care needs to be taken in the header/pipe
mounting if softmounting the engine. The Webra is taller and, even
though it shakes less, can more easily bang the cowling if clearances are
close. Webras have a big square head which makes this even
worse.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> OS and Mintors (post June 30 production)
break in fast (about 3 tanks to flight worthiness), Webras take longer to
break in right (> 1 gal). I know many have claimed flying Webras out
of the box, but none of the FIVE I own(ed) ever broke in that
easily.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> OS and Mintors share the same
mounting holes, nose ring, prop distance and, exhaust mounting and
headers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Mixture control can be made
linear for all engines but the Mintor has a leaner midrange to start with so
the rest of the tuning is easier. Obviously the OS140EFI or MC carb on
the webra can compensate.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> The brass fitting into the aluminum
case on the Webra has failed on my several times. I prefer the bolt
together carbs of the other two. However, the Webra has more low end
adjustment than either the OS or Mintor which can be useful in a pinch (long
term, extreme needle positions indicate other problems to be
solved).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> you need to carry a drive washer
puller with you for the Webra if you need to change the bearings at a
contest.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> the Webra 145 still has the front
mounted needle, the OS is permanently positioned in the rear, the Mintor has a
repositionable rear needle. Obviously the 160 MC carb has a
servo.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>OK, no need for me to post offlist. Please
accept my experiences as genuine and based on real life (not comparing
datasheets). Others may have different experiences, but as least mine
are based on multiple engines all subjected to the same care
system.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>--Lance</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT> </DIV></FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>