• If you are new to GiantScaleNews.com, please register, introduce yourself, and make yourself at home.

    We're 1st in Giant Scale RC because we've got the best membership on the internet! Take a look around and don't forget to register to get all of the benefits of GSN membership!

    Welcome!

Bull Engines BE 124 Twin Review and Testing

stangflyer

I like 'em "BIG"!
Purple got HUCKED real good :attaboy:. Amazing what you can do to Pilot air frames with a good motor!From that close up of the engine it looks to have "Tunnel Porting". Motor got you out of having to replace the rudder and a bunch of other stuff. Now that's RELIABLE :p.
Indeed. Thank you Kelly. Since the sensor swap, it is quite the beasty.
 

stangflyer

I like 'em "BIG"!
Three quick clips of the 124 after the Hall sensor swap. Timing set and I running great. I think I am good to go.

Taking the Pilot Edge/BE 124 out tomorrow to beat the livin' tar outta it. And I am not leaving until I reach that 5 gallon mark. (Which is not that far away now)

Will post results upon my return.
 
Last edited:

stangflyer

I like 'em "BIG"!
Four more flights and have passed over the 4 gallon mark, knocking on the five gallon mark. The 124 keeps getting better with each flight. I have discovered the trick to this engine's starting procedure. Talk about consistent and precise! One flip choke on. (No pop needed) Choke off, two flips and running. I found this procedure to work reliably time after time. I've started backing down in a hover. I've found also the 124 is faithfull as on old coon hound. Ease down and the Edge is stable. A little more slip and she's right there on the deck close enough to touch. Even with the 28x10, a quick bump of the throttle and she is straight up. And ain't wasting no time doin' it! I think it is starting to settle in now. I noticed I am doing most of my flying at 1/4 to 3/8 stick off idle. The last couple of flights were a little interesting. The wind came up from about 5 to around 14-18. Had her in a "STOPPED" harrier and the 124 just chugged holding there. Bringing it lower across the threshold I pulled the Edge into a rudder dance with the asphalt. Yeah, a little rudder draggin'! Quick punch out and gone. The more I fly this 124, the more I "REALLY" like it. I am anxious to see what she'll do with the 29x9 Falcon. I am very certain now there will be no more engine swaps on the Edge. She has a very strong and reliable power plant up front and see no point in attempting to better it.
20160716_102448.jpg
 

stangflyer

I like 'em "BIG"!
I am going to do an endurance test on the 124 this Wednesday. (Weather permitting) I have put 6 consecutive flights on the Edge previous to the 124. (DLE 111) I am charging extra flight packs and tx. packs, (if I need it) I plan to put 15 non stop consecutive flights on the BE 124 powered Edge. After which, the engine will be pulled from the plane, opened up and photos taken of the engine inside and out. 15 consecutive flights in addition to the already 18 will put it at 33 flights. Roughly 363 to 370 minutes, (6.1 hours) in the air. That should put me to about 788 ounces, (6.15 gallons) burned. I want to see just how good this engine really is!!!
 

stangflyer

I like 'em "BIG"!
Extra flight packs charged, "check". Fresh 5 gallons 40:1 Redline/91 octane non ethanol, "check". Double checked all linkages and hardware on Pilot Edge, "check". All field equipment staged and ready for loading, "check". Oh and the rudder is repaired...."AGAIN". LOL. Heading out bright and morning's first light to give this 124 the final shakedown I will do on it. If it can handle going from mid 70's at around six a.m. to over 95 degrees by noon and keep running flight after flight with no problems, Then I will put this one in the books and let time tell the rest.

As we all know, it is flight time that is the biggest detriment to any engine. If the quality is there, then the motor will last year after year with little to no required servicing. Maybe only the occasional check up at the piston doc. However many of you out there have mentioned, (and with just concern) that time will tell the story. The only way in my opinion to cut that time down, is to fly the proverbial piss out of this engine. True, it puts extra flights on the airframe as well. But again, if that is also quality built, 100, 200, 500, 1000 flights should not make any difference. By the end of tomorrows endurance testing, The Pilot Edge will be at the 100 flight threshold. Good justification for a new airframe right? 35% Pilot Hamilton Edge....YES! LOL

So, stay tuned everyone. I will post results upon my return tomorrow afternoon. I hope the findings are pleasing to everyone and that it will remove any lingering doubts or concerns with the BE 124 twin.
 

stangflyer

I like 'em "BIG"!
Hey everyone, so here is how it all shook out. After the first five flights, all was well and no problems at all. By the way, I hoped it would be interesting to all of you, but seriously didn't plan to be as entertaining as our election fiasco. Ah but ya gotta captivate an audience some how right? LOL... Back to the flights. I was able to get just only two more flights before I experienced radio problems. Not the kind you would expect, but a problem all the same. I had fully intended on changing out my flight packs as I had extras charged. Unfortunately I did not notice one of the leads was cut on the insulation showing bare wires. Ok, that is out. Even though the pack was fully charged, I was not about to take a chance on that pack so, I chose to fire up the generator and charge my original flight packs. Not much of a delay, but enough as it turned out. So now we're charged all up for round two and all is well into the 7th flight. That is until minute eight. My right stick became jammed coming out of a harrier. Aileron was fine, but elevator was full lock. Now how in the heck am I going to land this thing with the elevator locked full up? As luck would have it, I was able to get it neutral back out and get the plane down with no problems. I didn't feel it wise to go back up until I find out what is going on with my radio. That being said, I was only able to get 7 of the planned 15 flights. But not all bad in itself. Each and every flight was just as great as the previous. The 124 performed flawlessly with not so much as a single stumble at any point. Each start up was the same as the previous as well. One choked flip, two un-choked and off and running. It seems to me the 124 has seated in just a bit more as I'm now up on rpm. I didn't tach it but coming out of a hover, she punched out with more authority than I have seen before. I can summarize this all with one simple little statement. The 124 is everything I had thought it to be from the beginning. It is nicely built, runs very well, is very strong and is dependable as the day is long. Consistent, stable and very grunty. As previously noted, I am not the wild man at the sticks as so many of you out there are. In the hands of a very very good 3D pilot, I can only imagine the antics that would be created with this engine up front.

I also planned to pull this motor apart after the originally planned 15 flights today. I have sense decided that I am not going to. I have no reason to really. I mean, would I pull one of my 3w's apart to look inside? Ha, not on your life. If "IF" I suspected any kind of an issue, that would be a different story. But this motor has been impeccably flawless from day one, (other than the ignition drama), there is simply no reason to pull it apart. I will however pull the plugs sometime this week to have a peak at them. Right now, fuel usage is over 5 gallons. Not sure just how much. But enough to know it is not falling apart. (the 124)

My sons 124 arrived today. He is very excited to get it mounted and flying for Tri-Cities. Only one problem, we gots to find a home for it.

The BE 124 is in my opinion a good investment for anyone wanting a 120cc class engine.
 

stangflyer

I like 'em "BIG"!
With my radio issued resolved, (which wasn't severe) I put quite a few more flights on the BE 124 powered Pilot Edge. I can not report anything new, other than more flights, more fuel burned and more awesomeness from the 124. I will be ordering a new Falcon 29x9 from SupaTim this week. Next weekend I will do some testing differences between the original 28x10 and the new 29x9. I expect it to be nothing less than impressive. Just as the 124 has been already.

A few of you out there have jumped on the BE wagon. A few more of you will be getting yours this week sometime according to Frank. I expect you will be just as pleased as I have been.
 
Top