Any thoughts on the Zenoah 270

I saw it for sale at Gizmo (Out of stock right now) Has anyone tried this motor yet? Are there significant power gains over the 260? It looks like it is about the same price but comes with a clutch standard and several upgrades to the previous. I might be late to the party on this but it is definitly new to me.

The 270 is nothing more than a RC260 using a 4 bolt cylinder rather than the RC versions typical 2 :S
It is a big FAN type flywheel engine best suited to scooters or BIG scale boats with open engine areas.

The G260PUM is the same engine using the compact crankcase and small flywheel.

FYI

So what you are saying is the 270 will be a good car engine.

At the manufacturer level, That and scooters likely the primary users for it.
Pretty sure what is the primary reason was the issues of the 2 bolt cylinders of original RC series engines coming loose, breakages etc. The RC270 is using a new crankcase with 4 cylinder securing bolts and the G260 4 bolt cylinder assembly. ( Air cooled will full fins )

Another pretty obvious reason is the recent release of a Zenoah 4 bolt cylinder with 36mm bore. This putting displacement with a 28mm stock stroke crank at @ 29cc's.
I personally don't follow the car/scooter market but if it already is not a reality?, it likely will be soon enough with the SAME G270 platform using the new 29cc cylinder from the factory. ( G290/300 ??? )

With that said, you seem to be the go-to-guy that knows the Zen as good as, if not better, than anyone.

I love the 260...and in its stock form. I challeng myself (wallet's kind of slim these days) to using the stock engine and making changes with my boat, prop and pipe to squeeze every bit out of it to get more on the GPS.

But it seems that other makers are putting out better plants. Like the RCMK. Maybe not so much in quality, but better output in rpm and torque. What do you think is the future of the Zen 260 PUM and when do you think we might see an addition to the line?

Thanks for the nice words ... not that informed by connections with the manufactures any longer, but 30+ years in the small engine buisness and watching the market place makes it pretty easy in playing connect the dots :S

I do know for FACT that Husqvarna's acquisition of the Zenoah 2 stroke line was one of having a stable manufacturing facility under there control. Husqvarna has Always done contracts with other manufacturers for there lawn and garden range of home owner / light commercial products. Now owning Zenoah they can build more specific to the wants and desires of the marketing folks.

Ok ... that said, if Zenoahs track record of being very non proactive in offering what the hobby market wants for engines as technology evolves and other products come to market competing for market share ... Then franky feel I would not hold my breath that something ground breaking and new being around the corner. ** Just my opinion and nothing more :dry:

As for the RCMK being of inferior quality to a Zenoah .... Not the case at all, actually parts & pieces of the RCMK is superior :woohoo:
Granted the RCMK has had some hick ups and is still being massaged in an ongoing basis. With the release of the "EVO" series engines really don't have any thing I would red flag as a concern. They are much more a performance engine from the factory, with that stuff is going too need more upkeep and services done ...

I kind of felt the same thing that you wrote regarding Zenoah. It doesn't seem like they have ever been in a huge hurry to cater to the needs of RC Boaters, by any means. And reasonably so considering we are such a small fraction of a fraction of total goods produced and sold.

Throwing money into R&D for such a limited production does not make much sense. I didn't infer that the RCMK was inferior in quality. I was saying that the qulaity is comparable, and I understand better in certain aspects, but it outperforms the Zen 260. I just like the Zen and wish they would come back with an "Answer" if you know what I mean.

I see your X horsepower/RPM and raise you Y. Like the car companies.

Hi
Scott would you mind explaining about your comment (I think it goes like this) about the RCMK needing more service. Does it indeed need more "looking after" than our Zens? If so would you mind explaining what it does need more of.
Thanks Scott

Regards
Tar

Tar18 wrote:

Hi
Scott would you mind explaining about your comment (I think it goes like this) about the RCMK needing more service. Does it indeed need more "looking after" than our Zens? If so would you mind explaining what it does need more of.
Thanks Scott

Regards
Tar

No more service that ANY modified engine requires. being out of the box at 5HP you are running as good of power as many mild and mid mod zenoahs.
Likely my statement more of rambling of my service conscious mind.
Once the RCMK gets a decent mod performed, they run stronger than most zenoahs.
Carb diaphragms get pretty hammered quickly at 18K rpm, Outboard sealed bearings may need freshening up once in a while due to losing there grease over time.

Yea, for some any required maintenance is too much ... others will simply find it the cost of admission for having a better performing engine.

Scott:
Thanks again Scott.

Regards
Tar