Gas engine comparisons

Hi all, I'm new on this forum but Craig recommended it to me and it looks ace.

I run 2 Zenoahs and one Sikk engine.

All run in differnet boat types, off-shore, multi, and Cat.


How do other members compare Zens with Sikk's - which is the better engine? I have some views but would love to hear other opinions.

Many thanks

Brigadair

Hello my identical twin

Good topic and I too will be interested to know the views of others. Tempted though I am to chip in right now, I might risk repeating what you might later say so I'll look forward to seeing what is said by more experienced boaters than I.

I think it should be said that we are comparing out of the box versions of these engines, not those that are specially tuned or modified. In the case of the Zen engines it is the stock Zen260PUM with the stock walboro carb. Identical tuned pipes and manifolds for each.

I hope you don't mind me chipping in to your topic brother.

Cheers
Craig

Only going to be brief ...
In stock form a CY/Sikk marine 25.4 makes more power and rpm than a stock Zenoah 260.
Internal parts quality is better in the Zenoahs.
Cy/Sikk of old using only 2 cylinder hold down bolts, Zenoahs use 4
Zenoah uses a 2 piece ignition system, Cy/Sikk a one piece.

In the 4/5 years the Cy/Sikk has been around most of the serious R/C boaters have had or tried one .... most no longer own one :dry:

Draw your own conclusions :S

Scott wrote:

Only going to be brief ...
In stock form a CY/Sikk marine 25.4 makes more power and rpm than a stock Zenoah 260.
Internal parts quality is better in the Zenoahs.
Cy/Sikk of old using only 2 cylinder hold down bolts, Zenoahs use 4
Zenoah uses a 2 piece ignition system, Cy/Sikk a one piece.

In the 4/5 years the Cy/Sikk has been around most of the serious R/C boaters have had or tried one .... most no longer own one :dry:

Draw your own conclusions :S

That pretty much sums it up!!! Also, sooner or later most boaters will want to hop-up their engines, and do so mods to them...in which case the Zenoah always seems to end up on top, especially in the reliability department.

Has anyone seen or tried the 4 bolt SIKK motors? They're trying to compete with Zenoah and RCMK, and we all knew their (SIKK's) weakness. Now that they've addressed one area, it should be interesting to see. I seriously think that Zenoah is going to have to look at their design now that RCMK has upped the ante a bit. The modded Zens are still king, but for a stock powerplant the RCMK is a better deal, from both a design/parts standpoint, and HP/performance.

Hi

Iagree with you.

Love the stock zen for reliability, starting and guaranteed performance.

The stock sikk is a lot more powerful. I've had no probs with the 2 bolt head, though the pull start is poor and needs a mod to enable it to start this high compression motor without snapping.


Brigadair

Tried a few Sikk .... got tired of how finickey they can be to start - now only run Zenoah (I have a few RCMK - but haven't really pounded on them)

$ for $ need to look at total prices

a Zen can be picked up for 205.00 with a 257 carb

a RCMK for around 235.00

a Sikk for around 225.00

looks to me like the Zen (if u want to Mod) is a good deal and RCMK too - not sure why I'd spend the same on a SIkk (2 bolt head, crappy recoil, can be a b.tch to start [for me anyways]) and never seem to last as long as my Zens

my 2 cents (actually 1.89 cents at todays exchange rate) :laugh:

For UK boaters like myself (and Brigadair) a key factor for me on engine choice is the availability of the range of engine makes and spares.

The Zenoah in that respect scores very highly over here and for me that makes it a prime choice.

Regards
Craig

Laugh at myself..I bought a Sikk about 2 years ago with an extra new cylinder,piston with it,,still sitting on my self in the shop...I have never tried it out..All my power plants are Zen's Modded by MOTORHEAD RACE ENGINES.....