larry(at)macsmachine.com
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 Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:57 pm Post subject: Is the Subaru falling behind these days? |
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Hi guys,
The Subaru engine is still a healthy market, albeit a small one. Several
of the marketers of FWF Subaru fell off the shelf because they promised
more than they deliver
and a few were just too proud of their product, i.e., pricing. When a
good Stratus only costs $7000.00 and a few of its competition were
asking three fourths of the
price of an aircraft engine, the higher priced ones fell out of favor.
There are still two good Subaru packages out there and they are Stratus
and Ram Performance.
There were issues that none of the providers seemed interested in
addressing. One was cooling and the other was fuel mixture. Both of
these are poorly understood
by the average 601 builder. Marketing always seemed to be best provided
by the guys that oversold product or tried to do too much with what they
had.
When the Subaru is modified too much to accomplish it's task, it becomes
a one of a kind engine that can only be serviced or repaired by the
seller's. This has
happened to the Eggenfeller and several others that have introduced such
complex components and modifications that few standard parts remain and
the economy
is lost. Those of us that fly the Subaru EA-81 enjoy great economy,
simple repairs and a sweet efficiency of using auto fuel or 100LL. The
sound is unique and
smooth and the starts are immediate, even in cold weather. Most of the
EA-81s will easily go to 2000 hours at the usual 4600 rpm and still show
no wear on the
cylinders. Yes, the Stratus and the Ram Performance engines need better
marketing for the engines.
On the down side, the Stratus EA-81 is a few pounds heavier for its 105
hp and the buyer does need to know a bit more about ignition systems,
cooling and fuel
mixtures to succeed, but it remains a great little engine that's really
simple to work on and fly. Would I do it again if there were do-overs?
Absolutely, in a heartbeat.
I get calls quite frequently about the Subaru and believe their use is
mostly understated. Most of them have gone on gyro copters because of
their brute power and
bullet proof performance while reliably keeping a less efficient machine
aloft. At least I don't have to get AD's every week with some nit picky
detail that just has to be
done to keep the engine from turning into a hand grenade.
Fly safe guys,
Larry McFarland 601HDS at www.macsmachine.com
With all the madness about Corvair engines these days it seems the
Subaru engine has left the field. Is this just a passing fad, or did the
Subie have some less than desirable quality that the Corvair engine
lacks? Perhaps it's down to a talented promoter.
Is nobody selecting the Subaru any longer?
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