Owen Mate (oz13710)

About this Plan

Owen Mate. Model aero diesel engine.

CAD drawings by Ron Chernich. Article by David Owen.

Quote: "Australian MATE Diesel, by David Owen. The Australian MATE 2cc Diesel was designed in 1989. It is a simple, crankshaft rotary-valve engine with radial porting and a plain-bearing crankshaft, typical of the many thousands of small diesels used for sport flying since the late 1940s.

The MATE design incorporated a number of features to encourage first-time engine builders and, as a result, many MATEs have been successfully completed and run. A well-built example will turn an 8x4 prop at over 11,000 rpm and reports of MATE powered models have come from all over the world. A number of MATEs were also completed in the former Czechoslovakia and offered for sale ready-to-run.

The MATE is based on an extruded aluminium crankcase section, similar in concept to the famous COX engines, but a world-first for a home-built design. This extruded crankcase section was chosen for strength, accuracy and ease of setting-up and machining. The MATE extrusion was sold with a kit of selected materials and the detailed drawings which are reproduced in this book. A set of comprehensive instructions was included, which guided the builder through a construction sequence in which each part was carefully fitted to preceding parts. This eliminated the need for tolerancing, giving beginners an excellent chance of success.

The MATE extruded crankcase section is no longer available. However, several engines have been built to the MATE design, with crankcases machined from solid. The crankcase drawings do show sufficient detail for this approach. In addition, MATEs have been built in glow and spark-ignition versions by more experienced builders.

It is hoped that the inclusion of the MATE drawings in this book may encourage more first-time builders to think about the design of small diesels and to attempt construction of their own engine."

See also notes at: http://modelenginenews.org/design/design4.html

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "Steve, This one is close to my heart, my 2nd engine after the BollAero18 – have built 4 or 5 Owen Mates now, first as per plans, next cast case enlarged to 2.5cc with twin ball races, next a revision to removeable nose and single ball race and last a similar one to last but no ball bearing – use it with a throttle to power a 160% Tomboy and it is a terrific engine. My notes: a good 2nd engine to build, probably not best a first time one. Gives excellent power as porting is based loosely on Oliver Tiger practice. Ed"

Note this plan (and article) is an extract from the MBI (Motor Boys International) Model Engine Plan Book, 2nd Edition. This was originally published through the MEN site run by Ron Chernich, see http://www.modelenginenews.org/. Also see Mary's page on RCLibrary https://rclibrary.co.uk/title_details.asp?ID=2122 which hosts a copy of the book as submitted from MBI by Ken Croft, in accordance with Ron Chernich's wish that from 2013 onwards the book should be available, freely, to everyone as a PDF download.

Update 22/7/2024: Added instructions, thanks to SteveBetts.

Quote: "Hello Steve, I've only just noticed that you don't have the construction notes for the Owen Mate from the late Dave Owen on your site, which made me scan the ones that David posted to me some 25 years ago, I hope the PDF file comes through to you okay. Best regards, Steve Betts."

Supplementary file notes

Article.
Instructions (33 pages).

Corrections?

Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)? That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction