Question for all you DA owners, what is the recommended maintenance schedule for DA engines, the 60cc specifically? I have the opportunity to pick up a used 60 which is about 2 years old and has ~120 flights on it. Is there anything I should expect to have to do to this or expect has already been done? I hear DA service is fantastic. Would you recommend something with this kind of runtime be sent in to be examined/serviced or is there plenty of life left on it as is?

Thanks for the help.

120 flights ????? Most Pilots equate in flights. Which does not tell you much. What I want to know is how many Hours of actual run time is on the engine. The average time of a flight is approx. 8 to ten minutes . 10 X 120 figures out to be 20 hrs. of run time on the engine. Twenty hrs. on the 60 is very little time. I personally would box up the engine and send it in for a quick inspection. Especially if you are not that familiar with inspecting this type of gas engine. Besides by sending it in to DA will give yourself piece of mind knowing your engine is ready for the season's ahead. FWIW

Lar,

Good questions. What I do if I buy a used da engine is to send it in for a health check and have any updates installed.
The engine in question im sure is in great shape given we both know the current owner.
Id buy it, fly it and then send it in over our winter downtime for general maintenance and inspection.

120 flights isnt much at all on an engine. Thats very few hours of actual run time.

Originally Posted by Lardog

Question for all you DA owners, what is the recommended maintenance schedule for DA engines, the 60cc specifically? I have the opportunity to pick up a used 60 which is about 2 years old and has ~120 flights on it. Is there anything I should expect to have to do to this or expect has already been done? I hear DA service is fantastic. Would you recommend something with this kind of runtime be sent in to be examined/serviced or is there plenty of life left on it as is?

Thanks for the help.

I would just fly it, I have over 50 hours and which is about 300 flights on my DA50 and its still going strong.

Rick

Think of these motors like your weed eater... you use it every week during the mowing season, probably 15 minutes a day at most for most yards, then ignore it for the rest of the year. Next season, you brush the dust off of it and go again... and the motor will last 10+ years if you just keep a good oil mixture, clean the filter once in a while, and don't abuse it.

Same goes for your DA... The only problem with buying a used motor (or weedeater, for that matter) is that regardless of what an advetisement says, there's no guarantee that the other owner(s) only put 5 gallons of 40:1 mixture through it and flew only basic IMAC sequences with perfect landings!

It sounds like you personally know the owner, so that helps to eliminate a lot of the risk.

Sounds like great advise. Thanks all. Now, I just have to convince my wife that yes, in fact, I do need "another" plane!

It's easier to convince her if it's already in your shop!

Hey, I never said I was a marriage counselor!

Oh yeah. I guess I meant " I did need "another" plane!"


Better to ask forgiveness than permission, I always say!

Lol! Well said!

I know I'll get eviscerated for saying this but It seems people want to send their DA's in if they don't start on the second flip. These are by far the best built and most reliable engines on the market and on top of that they are extremely simple. 9 times out of 10 anyone with a modicum of technical skills can simply judge the state of the engine with some very basic checks and using your ear to listen for odd sounds. 20 hours is barely broken in so if she runs good and you are confident the original owner took good care of it, go fly!

Originally Posted by Muttdog

I know I'll get eviscerated for saying this but It seems people want to send their DA's in if they don't start on the second flip. These are by far the best built and most reliable engines on the market and on top of that they are extremely simple. 9 times out of 10 anyone with a modicum of technical skills can simply judge the state of the engine with some very basic checks and using your ear to listen for odd sounds. 20 hours is barely broken in so if she runs good and you are confident the original owner took good care of it, go fly!

+1
I have about 25 hours on mine, and have not considered sending it in yet.

I read a lot of writing talking about what
Engine to buy and find that there are flyers
Writing good things going both ways ,
What to buy DA or DLE.
What I say is support your country , if you forgot...
USA . Just because an engine is cheaper
Is not a good enough reason for me to buy DLE.
I'm a DA supporter I also don't buy Toyota cars.
I never see a Japanese driving a chevy do you ?
I guess it's just the hillbilly marine in me. Sorry !

Originally Posted by Ringo

I read a lot of writing talking about what
Engine to buy and find that there are flyers
Writing good things going both ways ,
What to buy DA or DLE.
What I say is support your country , if you forgot...
USA . Just because an engine is cheaper
Is not a good enough reason for me to buy DLE.
I'm a DA supporter I also don't buy Toyota cars.
I never see a Japanese driving a chevy do you ?
I guess it's just the hillbilly marine in me. Sorry !

There is a good chance the Walbro Carb was made in Japan on your DA, what do you replace that with? just sayin, its a global economy. Buy a chevy and GM invests the profits in a new venture in Mexico, what was gained for the US in that transaction?

Originally Posted by Ringo

I read a lot of writing talking about what
Engine to buy and find that there are flyers
Writing good things going both ways ,
What to buy DA or DLE.
What I say is support your country , if you forgot...
USA . Just because an engine is cheaper
Is not a good enough reason for me to buy DLE.
I'm a DA supporter I also don't buy Toyota cars.
I never see a Japanese driving a chevy do you ?
I guess it's just the hillbilly marine in me. Sorry !

You forgot EME and many more. What did you use for engines before DA "RUBBER BANDS" ???????? I support US products when possible. like all the rest of US. I am also thankful for your service to our country.

Originally Posted by Ringo

I read a lot of writing talking about what
Engine to buy and find that there are flyers
Writing good things going both ways ,
What to buy DA or DLE.
What I say is support your country , if you forgot...
USA . Just because an engine is cheaper
Is not a good enough reason for me to buy DLE.
I'm a DA supporter I also don't buy Toyota cars.
I never see a Japanese driving a chevy do you ?
I guess it's just the hillbilly marine in me. Sorry !

And what, exactly, does that have to do with the question at hand? Oh, that's right. Nothing! Take it somewhere else, please. I didn't start this thread for fanboys from any side.