i'm planning to purchase .12 engine and i have been getting mixed reviews on microcast piston. please clarify... although they are fast do they last.

please advice,
saka

they have a very tight seal even at temp. more so than non microcast. that is why they make more power.

from what I understand there have been piston failures at a higher rate with the microcast sets vs. the non- microcast pistons. not sure why?? i would tend to think that tighter seal would wear on the rod first with all the resistance- even at temp.

i have two NS3's and love them both- actually one Nova NS3 and a Top TS3. Could not see the extra $75 for 0.05 horsepower??

that makes sense... that's what i'm talking about, these engines are averaging around $300 and in some cases they only last a gallon of nitro.

I also want to hear for microcast piston owner's and please provide us with your experience...

I have a TOP TSR12S3. Me and a buddy went down this same road too. We ended up getting the microcast p/s.

He has already had one wear out on him. Mine is still ok but I haven't run it that much.

I doubt I will get another (however, it looks like most of the engines if not all are going to it).

My thoughts on the quick wearing is that the piston is now actually harder (higher silicon content) than it was before and probably put more stress on the sleeve. So the sleeve is what is wearing out faster.

I heard that there were problems with the earlier pistons, and now they changed them to ones that are similar if not the same as the ones in the Max series engines.
Can anyone verify that?

first off i want to say thanks for everyone’s input...
i own a nova max 5port first generation that was
purchased last year. It has about 6 gallons though it
and up to now is still running strong.

a friend of mine has the new gen nova max 3 port
w/ microcast piston is already experiencing lost of
compression. this is a engine with less than a gallon
of nitro. i'm still not positive if it's the pistons or the
hot weather we are experiencing her in so cal.