Can anyone identify this K&B engine?

[rcr22b]

It is .15 but that is all I know about it.

Can anyone tell me about it?

[MECOA]

This is an Early .15 Schnuerle made in the early 1970's. We have no parts for it.

[rcr22b]

I really didn't expect Mecoa to stock parts but I would like to find out more about the history of the engine just the same.

But maybe it's too old for anyone in the comany to remember it?

Roger

[ron bennett]

Here is a brief, abbreviated history of this engine. The driving force behind almost all 2.5 cc (.15 cu in) engine in that era were FAI and AMA A Speed), and free flight. FAI Speed fliers were the driving force in engine technology in that era and the leaders were the Italians, mainly the Rossi brothers and their modified Super Tigre engines. Then, in 1963 everything change at the World Championship when Bill Wiznewski and Chuck Schutte (two of the American team) showed up with a brand new design.

What they had was a couple of hand built (by Wiz) Schnuerle-ported engines that blew the competition away. The next year Bill and Chuck showed up with the first tuned-pipe engines and raised the stakes even higher.

Bill was doing development at K&B and the K&B .15 Schnuerle was the first Schnuerle-port model engine produced. These are good, strong and very reliable little engines and will tune up to about 19,000 RPM (a little higher with a lot of reworking). But, the Rossi brothers moved from just engine tuning of Super Tigres to building their own investment cast engine, the Rossi Mk I as we now know it. The Rossi engine were much faster right out of the box so the sales of the K&B was pretty much limited to free flight (were a hot Super Tigre or a Rossi was faster) and to small R/C models of the time.

Ron Bennett

[rcr22b]

Thank you, Ron.

That was a great reply and just what I was looking for.

Maybe it didn't make you any money, but it didn't cost you anything either except for a minute or two of your time.

Thanks again.

[rcr22b]

BTW: Does the engine have a unique model number or name?

[Geoffinpdx]

The engine's model number is 8301. Want another one in the box? $60.00 plus shipping and it's yours!

[chiefss]

Actually the little K&B 15 was big in 1/4 midget pylon racing. It was the engine to use.