If/when I get around to a buggy race this year, it will also be with my A52.. I really like what Argus offers - the price and performance and longevity and pipe/plug/fuel options and ease of break-in and tuning make it really attractive IMO.. Been buying some other engines, and it gets annoying that you have to go out and buy different plugs and pipes etc.. for each particular engine.. OK the 0801 is best for the Argus, but it still goes great with a JP-4 too for ex.., and some others apparently(2035, Werks pipes, Go and Alpha pipes, etc..) Still, I can run OS plugs if that's all I can get, etc..

I think you're absolutely correct! They seem to have priced themselves out of the U.S. market altogether, and since their main distributor quit carrying them (Lance) it seems a whole lot less guys are running them. It's a shame, as they always worked great for me...but I have to be honest and say that I'm just as pleased with my new Alphas as I was with the Argus...and the support is fantastic!

Chris today I ran my buggy with modded A52 with the 0801. I had a 6.5mm venturi and I can still only get 7.5-8 min on tank of fuel. I ran out of gas on last minute of 15 min main today. What am I doing wrong or do I need to keep running the motor? It had a gallon on it.

I ran my A52 with a JP4 in my truggy this weekend. I ran with an 8mm venturi, and was able to get around 12:30-13mins on a tank. This was really useful in the 10minute qualifiers which allowed me to get TQ.
In the final I was the only runner able to do 10minute stops which put me at a big advantage. I am thinking of putting in a 7mm venturi to just calm it down a bit more. It is still not tuned correctly, but produces plenty of power.

You may want to check your tune a little. It may seem that it is running properly, but it is probably still a little fat on the bottom. Also, how much fuel is through it? These motors are a pain to break in completely. Plus they are little beasts. I am guessing you are probably within a gallon on it and probably lay into the throttle a little heavier than most. I am right there with you, but I can feel the runtime starting to kick in.

Kevin, I sent you a PM. I'm not sure why you're running the 6.5mm Venturi, that could be part of it. As Revooo noted they really are tight and take awhile to get broken in. Also there are just so many factors which contribute to runtime...tune, clutching, fuel, driving style, track conditions, tires, etc.. Just keep after it, and give the 8mm Venturi a try and see if that helps.

I put my Argus through the ringer on breakin just to see how it will perform. A really high idle through 5-6 tanks and then race tune and pushed it hard. It is still really tight after almost a gallon of fuel on the A5 with 7mm venturi. I can only image a B52 with an 8mm venturi. That thing is going to be a beast! Looking at the Alpha since Argus changed prices. Only time will tell though.

Does anyone know what the proposed Argus price increase was for the U.S. market? I know the $179 price was attractive, but was the proposed increase over and above Go, AlphaPlus and others? I can buy an Argus on EBay for $230 shipped, which is the same price as an AlphaPlus. I have a feeling that price was not the ultimate killer.

Well thanks guys I have almost 2 gallons between the 2 engines. I think i still need to get them both running some track laps instead of street. I hope I can get to race this sat and will try to get them ready for the Roar nats.

I think the map price for the B52 is $230.00. I sold a bunch of them last year because it was basically an Alpha at $180.00.

Rex

On ebay guys sell for less than they are supposed to some times.
But the U.S importers and dealers were supposed to price the B52( D52) at $239.99 and the A5 for $209.99

Also forgot to add Argus did not add any thing to the engines to Justify the increase. Besides changing the look of the look of the head slightly and adding an extra turbo cut to the crank. So its hard to tell customers now the engines are $60 more and have nothing to be able to justify it.

Any way, it is what it is

Is that really %100 true? - that the A5 is just an Alpha A850, and the D52 just an Z852? The Z852 is supposed to be less torquey, i.e. more of a buggy engine, and there has been all this talk about how powerful the D52 is supposed to be - as in more powerful than the Z852.. People talk about the Z having a great top-end, but not that it's the powerhouse the D52 or even the A52 is(at least on bottom end..)

There you have it...a lesson in how to price your product out of the marketplace. Unfortunate for sure.

It's a shame if others are trying to put people off these engines. I see it as giving racers another choice in the market. Alphas are awesome engines and if i wasn't running Argus they would be in my cars. The fact that if there is a link between Alpha and Argus in whatever way is a good thing! Are they the same or just similar, are PR, JS and Go the same.....

We recently signed a top NZ driver here after he saw an Argus engine running at one of our National events. He commented that it was one of the fastest engines there and part of the reason he switched from another brand.

I cannot comment on the porting differences between the motors the Argus is supposed to be a copy of as i simply do not know. I can however comment on the performance on track against alot the current motors out there and the Argus will easily match and even out perform in some cases the competition.

As for cheaper bearings, the Argus A5 i have in front of me has SKF Italy printed on the front bearing. I have never had an issue with the bearings and neither have our customers.

Again i can't speak for the US market but yes there was a price increase and that was unfortunate but we have managed to work around it and presently it has never been cheaper to purchase a quality race engine here in NZ.

MSRP for the B52 is $210 USD and the A5 is $173 USD

With the new .23 motor due here next week, and the new Argus pipes the future is looking fantastic for the Argus brand. Freedom of choice is a great thing, and if you choose Argus you won't be dissapointed