Rovan engine

[Minnesota RC]

I took the engine of the Rovan and after nine years, at least four of which were of heavy abuse. The piston and ring was also in bad shape, the ring was worn were the cylinder was damaged (the rectangle).

 

[Z.hb71]

I took the engine of the Rovan and after nine years, at least four of which were of heavy abuse. The piston and ring was also in bad shape, the ring was worn were the cylinder was damaged (the rectangle).View attachment 56291

Could be wrong but is the top cylinder skirt, it looks like a bit of it snapped off? Or is that just shite rovan casting ?

 

[1Coopgt]

The cylinder skirt is snapped off. Honestly for a 9 year old engine it's not that bad I would expect worse.

 

[21bangbang]

9 years of regular use? Or did it sit some of that time? If used thats not to shabby.

 

[Minnesota RC]

I was expecting the worst, but I too was surprised about it being that better of shape than I was expecting. After nine years, it was the only three original parts left on the Rovan, everything else was destroyed (the other two being the rear chassis plate and the top plate).

9 years of regular use? Or did it sit some of that time? If used thats not to shabby.

I would say of that nine years, maybe 1.5 years was lightly used or was sitting due to other parts damaged.

 

[Seandonato73]

It's really not that bad. It would be better to know how many gallons of gas were through it, years in our case don't mean much, other then it's old.

 

[Polar_Bus]

On pistons with a lot of hours on them they tend to develop excessive gap at the base of the skirt. Then you will encounter "piston skirt slap" and if you don't replace the piston the skirt snaps off and engine goes BOOM. 9 years on the Rovan and considering that minimal damage is a dam good service life.

 

[Seandonato73]

Agreed

 

[Bryan K.]

I've gone through 3 Rovan/King motor engines during last summer alone. They were always the same issue. Piston shattered due to poor castings. Everything else seemed to be pretty decent. The head rebuild kits are super cheap, I just wish their pistons were better quality. Maybe their older stuff was better?

9 years is amazing, even for a more expensive brand name engine.

 

[21bangbang]

I've gone through 3 Rovan/King motor engines during last summer alone. They were always the same issue. Piston shattered due to poor castings. Everything else seemed to be pretty decent. The head rebuild kits are super cheap, I just wish their pistons were better quality. Maybe their older stuff was better?

9 years is amazing, even for a more expensive brand name engine.

Would a zenoah piston fit? It should no? That could be a cheap option for those with rovan motors.

 

[Z.hb71]

Would a zenoah piston fit? It should no? That could be a cheap option for those with rovan motors.

Might aswell just buy a zenoah for the, what $100 more? Not fek around with these things and just buy good ole reliable zens ? least that's me.

 

[Bryan K.]

More like $250 more, that's quite significant. (I'm talking CDN, not sure what that works out to in USD)

Yes a Zenoah piston or any upgraded aftermarket piston with the same piston ring size would fit.

 

[Z.hb71]

Im talking usd, there a 100 USD difference between the zenoah g320 and the rovan 34cc.

 

[DougStar]

Just bite the bullet buy a zem??

Might aswell just buy a zenoah for the, what $100 more? Not fek around with these things and just buy good ole reliable zens ? least that's me.