If you’re an adult RC enthusiast, you should be familiar with Super Tigre Engines. However, they are no longer in business.
So what happened to super Tigre engines?
In easy words, super Tigre engines discontinued the business as it got complicated. They bore excessive cost for more engine problems. There used to be problems with the air-fuel mixture, oil control, and rotary shafts. They also had difficulties in production and marketing in foreign countries.
All these factors lead the popular RC company to leave the market for its competitors. But if you really want to know what happened to Super Tigre engines, this is for you. This piece contains all the reasons why this company couldn’t survive.
So just hop inside this history!
Is Super Tigre out of Business?
The RC Super Tigre Engines are now discontinued. There are many reasons that caused them to leave the competition. Including the high cost and engine problems.
It’s almost a similar case with the Vaterra RC and how they packed up their business. Here are some of the most prominent reasons why Super Tigre Engines were discontinued-
Reason 1: Excessive Cost
Firstly, the costs of production can be very high. Since they have to have new, qualified and skilled workers to produce these engines. For example, at the minimum, you need a reliable source of air-cooling-water (piston cooling) cooling system. And it is quite expensive. Also, there are other hidden costs, RC users can relate the hidden RC costs,
There are also some additional costs that the customer doesn’t see or doesn’t know about. One of those hidden costs was the failure to replace the broken valve spring. And oil seals would result in irreparable damage to the engine’s crankcase. This would produce another cost on your part for labor in order to repair it again.
Reason 2: Engine Problems
They were not as bad as the old “Super Minarelli”. But they had more problems than modern engines. These problems would eventually escalate to something that you cannot afford and repair.
For example, some of the piston rings used were made out of paper. Which would fail over time and cause engine failure. And given how expensive it is to fix, keeping a backup would not always be possible. Shattering a piston ring would be unavoidable if your automobile was on a racing circuit. And it’s waiting for its time to make a pass.
Reason 3: Air-fuel Mixture Problems
These engines have a lot of problems with the air-fuel mixture. For example, in a situation where your car runs lean. Especially on cornering, then the engine will eventually get to be too rich. And it will make your engine very hard to start.
Also, there were many reports where these engines were running lean for an extended period of time. This caused several problems including getting stuck in gear. Or causing overheating problems when racing. This was severe in the case of the super Tigre 27 nitro engine.
Reason 4: Asymmetrical Rotary Shafts
The rotary shafts used in these engines produced more vibration than ideal. This was very counterproductive to a smooth and fast engine.
This problem was then exacerbated by the improper use of Sintered Bronze bearings. Which are a very poor choice for Super Tigre electric motors.
Reason 5: Oil Control Problems
These engines were very notorious for a lack of oil control. For example, if you have a major oil leak then this will lead to eventual engine failure. And you would not want that. Also, many of these engines had seized up cases. It’s due to a lack of proper care and maintenance. This also includes the use of high-quality engine oils.
Reason 6: The Few Compatible Parts
This is one big disadvantage. Because these engines don’t really get along with other parts developed for other engines. Parts that are produced in China and Italy for example.
Cutting out the problems with the air-cooling system would be helpful. Also, some of the parts that were not manufactured in Italy and China were unavailable. They are no longer available or hard to come by.
Though they’re not in business, you can find their bearings.
Reason 7: The Poor Quality Control
Right after they released these engines to the public, they had a lot of problems. Especially with new injection pumps failing and separate parts having manufacturing defects. They also had very high-quality control issues. Which would result in defective/low-quality oil seals and low tension springs.
Reason 8: Racing Applications
These engines were not suited for racing applications due to poor performance for the aforementioned reasons.
They’re also not very popular with these applications. Since most of these applications prefer modern-type engines which are more reliable.
Reason 9: Failures in Foreign Countries
One of the major manufacturers of these engines (Ducati Performance) was no longer producing them. It’s because they had better options available. Additionally, the Italian factories have tightened their quality control. Which had resulted in a lot of the issues that went on before with the Super Tigre Engines.
So their sales were dropping, which is a similar case to Parkzone.
Reason 10: The Camshafts Were Irreplaceable
The camshafts were not replaceable. This resulted in a lot of problems when the engine was not timed properly. And it could even lead to major engine problems like breaking a crankshaft. Or blowing up the cylinder.
Reason 11: The Failing Valve Springs
This is what every Super Tigre Engine owner fears the most. Some customers complained that they would have to have valve spring replacements all the time. Especially when they took their engines apart to change components out. There are also reports that some springs had broken. Which caused extreme damage to the rest of the engine.
Reason 12: Complaints from Customers
The customer complaints about the Super Tigre Engines were quite extensive. Many users and some companies like Corbin Distributing said that these engines were unreliable. And also not very good for racing.
Here’s someone who is building an RC with Super Tigre engine-
It was a very disappointing end for the Super Tigre Engines. They died out of RC racing after a period of only 22 years (1985 until 2007). But you might still want to build a model RC plane. Well, it is possible that they will make a comeback in the future because of their powerfulness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What kinds of fuels should you use in your Super Tigre engine of enormous scale?
You can employ one of the “SuperTigre”, “ST,” or “Super-T” fuels after running a gallon or two of conventional gasoline. It contains between 10% and 12% oil. Keep Nitrogen at 10 percent or less for optimal performance.
What is the appropriate temperature for my engine?
You cannot be given an exact temperature for your engine or a temperature range. The only method to determine what temperature is optimal is to touch it with your hands. And feel your fingers start to burn. That’s when you know that it’s overloaded.
How to use after-run oil?
Application through the air inlet or the glow plug hole is advised. Super Tigre is referring to the gasoline intake when they say not to put after-run oil into the carburetor. You won’t have any issues if you add the oil to the air intake.
Winding Up
We hope that now you know what happened to super Tigre engines. The fall of such big companies is just disheartening to see.
Till next time, all the best!
