Nova Rossi

[Chris]

Before I call Bill, can anyone tell me how to tell the differents between a long stroke and a short stroke Nova Rossi. I understand that what I want for my outboard is a longstroke, is this correct?

Thanks,

C Herzog

 

[GTR]

Hi Chris,

The difference is the stroke. LOL Seriously there is only a slight difference in stroke and bore between them. The short stroke engine is actually square stroke=bore and the longstroke undersquare.

The difference in performance between them is marginal but the long stroke is the slightly newer design. I think both are real powerhouses. You may have more trouble getting shortstroke P&Ls these days because they are less common. I have heard a lot of people say they aren't made anymore - this is not true. > Off all the variants that NR make there are still a bunch of shortstroke motors being produced as the buggy guy's in particular like them.

There are bound to be plenty of people around who can advise you on which motor to convert but it is likely to be a preference rather than a must use.

I know this won't help you make up your mind but at least you'll be better informed.

GT

 

[Precision Boats]

Hi Chris,

I am Tim at Precision Boats we buid the conversion kit for the NR motors to convert to the outboard. Yes you want the LS motor 10 port 2003 model. Give us a e-mail we can set you up when you are ready.

Tim ;D

PB Racing

[email protected]

www.precisionboatsracing.com

 

[Propjockey]

Can you use the P/L from buggy engines?

 

[snowdog-2112]

Speaking of the word Rossi. Is there a difference between Nova Rossi and Rossi manufacturers?

Snowdog

 

[Joe]

YEP

IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, ROSSI AND NOVAROSSI ARE MADE BY TWO BROTHERS. ONE IS MADE BY ONE BROTHER AND THE OTHER BY THE OTHER BROTHER, AND I DON'T THINK THEY ARE MADE UNDER THE SAME ROOF. NOVAROSSI IS THE BEST OF THE TWO BUT ONLY MAKE A 3.5 ENGINE. IF I'M NOT RIGHT JUMP IN ON THIS.

JOE

 

[GTR]

Hi Guy's

You are almost right - they are two brothers and split to go their own way in engine development. It would be a brave man to say NR is better than Rossi. Both make extremely high quality engines in their own factories. NR make more than only 3.5cc - have a look at their web page. Rossi make more marine engines in a variety of configurations, including as OB powerheads. NR have a reputation for high horsepower and Rossi have a reputation for being almost indestructable. Don't be fooled by various manufacturers claims of horsepower as some are more honest than others. It used (still is?) to be common to claim certain HP, but you could never be certain how this was achieved. eg. 85% Nitro and revved until destruction for maximum HP. How much this equates to in the real world is anyones guess.

What most of you US guy's may not realise is that both NR & Rossi are designed to operate on low (by your standards) Nitro (5-25%) or none at all.

GT ;D

 

[TimD]

Hi Guy's

It would be a brave man to say NR is better than Rossi.

I guess I'm brave as I will never ever buy a Rossi ever again - however I own 2 Novarossi's and love them.

One thing to consider is that most 21's are car type engines (except the mac and valvola) and guess who has completely dominated 1/8 scale car racing for years

 

[GTR]

Hi TimD

That's OK I know your brave I've seen your little tunnel. LOL I know the quality and performance of NR (I own 6) but I am suggesting that you need to be wary of the 'engine to have' debate. NR have concentrated huge amounts of effort on the car engines & will effectivley build engines for major tuners eg Serpent, JP, RB and others. Yes they do dominate by weight of numbers. Have they been beaten in recent years, yes, by OPS, PICCO & OS. It takes more than an engine to win. Pretty much all of the 3.5cc out there crank out good horsepower and with the right tweaking, by the right people are capable of winning.

Not that I'm slighting MAC engines - because they are certainly amongst the best - but what has happened to the MAC OB? doesn't seem to be as dominant as everyone was thinking it would be. Rossi have not been a real force in maribne engines for some time as they seem to dedicate more time to other areas - particularly aircraft.

Although somewhat off the track what did you see as problems with your Rossi's Tim? Actually I think this is all off the track but hey let's share.

GT ;D

 

[Joe]

Well I guess I'll be brave too. I ain't seen but one rossi 3.5 run with the novarossi 3.5 in our neck of the woods and it was from FL at one of our races on a smaler boat than the novarossi's were on. I thought novarossi made smaller marine engines, but any thing under a 3.5 I call a play boat. ;D Why ain't my post number going up. Darn thing stuck on 43!! This site will keep me as a newbie for ever.

JOE

 

[TimD]

GT,

you are right - I should quantify my comment.

I have had experience on 3 separate rossi engines. All 3 were shocking.

1st one being a 21 inboard engine. Porous - so could not tune at all. Machining swarf in case from new. Rod failed even in poor state of tune. Tried everything to get that one going - bearings heads piston and liner crank etc....

2nd engine R90 inboard. Crank pin fell out of crank on 1st tank of fuel thru it destroying Piston and liner and rod.

3rd engine R45 inboard. Terrible balance. Rotor housing would last maybe 6 tanks of fuel before black gunk (aluminium rotor housing failure).This was with 15% synthetic + 5% castor and 25% nitro! Rotor housing attachment method was aweful.

Carbs are very difficult to service or clean.

Some of these things may have changed as it has been several years since I dared touch another one. Sorry if I offend anyone by these statements but I'm just passing on my experience with them.

 

[GTR]

TimD,

I would be disappointed with any engine that displayed the qualities (or lack of) you described. They have a newer superclean factory I hope that your experience was not the usual situation.

Has anyone had any experience with the newer Niagra/Muira whatever else they call it engines. Anyone running the as IBs now? What do other people find.

I agree that NR engines are 1st class - you can literally use them straight out of the box with complete confidence. I can't say I've ever heard of a total dud NR.

GT ;D

 

[Ian Inverarity]

Unfortunately I must add to the list of Rossi failures, a fellow club member had a Rossi 90 that lasted about 15 minutes before the piston was torn in half! At the nats in 97 another bloke running Rossi 90's in a twin had one break the cylinder off the top of the case!

That said I have seen the recent production engines and they look better. I havent seen one run as yet tho.

But there is a couple of people in my local club using Rossi Niagra 21's, and these have been going very well. Altho one of my friends had a rod failure he said it was too lean and not the fault of the motor. I have had a good look at one and it looks very well designed and made. 8)

But I have a long stroke Nova Rossi, and am not about to change! ;D

Nitrocrazed racing: Posting in the outboard forum???

 

[snowdog-2112]

Well,

I see this thread discussion has been dominated by our friends over the water and took a direction that Chris wasn't expecting. Chris, that's fine bud. If you stick around you'll see many of the threads take a warped direction and a life of their own. Thanks for starting.

Nitrocrazed, hey man, we welcome EVERYBODY to the better format. As for my question, Thanks for all of the comments, I am much smarter now as for the difference between the two.

Snowdog

 

[Chris]

Thanks guys for all the input, but I guess what I should have maybe asked was this. I have a Nova Rossi engine, I want to know if it's a long stroke or a short stroke. How do I tell? I want to order a crank and a PTO to convert it to an outboard and I picked the engine up from a guy at the pond for the right price, but he did not know what it was because he himself bought it used.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[Propjockey]

I think the best way is with a dial caliper...but if you dont have one, try this...

Get a measurement from the bottom of the stroke...

 

[Propjockey]

...to the top of the stroke. ( I hold the crank assembly against the edge of my desk to stay accurate)

Compare this to diameter of the piston (bore). If the stroke is more than the bore, it's a long-stroke. If they are the same, it's a short-stroke.

Hope this helps.

 

[Precision Boats]

The best way is to measure the cranks large bearing dia.

13 mm = S.S. (.512 approx)

14mm = L.S. (.551 approx.)

Hope this helps,

Tim

PB Racing ;D

 

[GTR]

Hi Chris,

What does the side of the engine case say - if it is a Nova 2000 it's a short stroke - if it says RX it's a long stroke. If you can tell what the casing says and if you know the year you can tell without pulling your motor apart.

GT

 

[Chris]

Thanks again everyone,

It does have an RX on the outside of the case so now I know what I am ordering for.

Next question, who has the best price on the PTO and Crank that I will need. Also are there more than one person making the cranks and PTO's and if so, who's is the one to get?

You know us gas guys are a pain in the A##! LOL!!

Thanks,

Chris