Counterfeit OS Glow Plugs?!

[@P61guy61]

Thank you for sharing. Also, don’t buy counterfeit just for the principle of the matter. O.S. Has helped the hobby for years and earned my respect and trust. Let’s support the good companies.

[@TestECull]

I've got OS engines spanning 5 or 6 decades and I've never met one that didn't run like a well oiled sewing machine. They're wonderful. My current FPV airplane is even OS powered! FT 120 II on a 25% Spacewalker.

[@leonardfletcher9890]

Thanks for the great info, David. I now know what to look for when purchasing glow plugs.

[@Clintfranklin]

Wow, thank you for this informative video. Ever since the price of glow plugs has gone through the roof I wondered how long it would take for some company to take advantage!

[@keithgoode9726]

Thanks for the great info. I have been looking online for a few plugs and wondered about the cheaper ones.

[@fredschneider5352]

great information. l never even thought about the possibility of this. Thank you so much

[@3dvstudio_012]

Hi David Happy to see your videos :D We miss you in Florida.

[@TestECull]

Part of why I buy my plugs at my local hobby shop. I still have the traditional LHS and they're an authorized Horizon distributor, so I know for a fact that I'm getting genuine OS 8s and Fs when I buy them there....and I'm helping prop up a time capsule.

[@duainrothman7930]

Hi Dave good stuff I was awear of the counterfeit but didn't know what to look for, thanks.

[@greg0063]

Thanks for this, just checked a card I bought and split with a buddy. Got lucky they are the real deal.

[@johnhess351]

Nice info. I sometimes tape a simple magnifying glass on the front of my digital camera and set it to manual focus and it will work exactly like a close-up lens.

[@dmrcflyr2]

I’m not taping a magnifying glass to an expensive lens.

[@dannystoncius8855]

Excellent Dave😀, I checked my stash and was happy that the two No8s in the the newer packaging are genuine, I also checked my F types but they were old packaging no website and stamped not laser engraved.

[@DBJr1980]

Unbelievable that this is even happening.

[@deweylee2449]

Wow David the close up shot of the plugs shows a definite difference in the plug body. My first observation was the difference in the thickness of the hex use to tighten the plug and the the total body difference. Man just looking at them you can easily see a difference. Thanks for bringing this up.

[@2158peterg]

Thanks for this video. I have been looking at ebay for O.S. plugs recently because I don't have many new ones left. The O.S. 8 is my go to plug if I have any trouble getting my two strokes to run right. A 30 minute drive to the hobby shop for a genuine plug that costs $25-30 AU doesn't seem so bad compared to buying a dodgy plug. I have bought fake Spektrum receivers before because I didn't know better. This information is enough to tell the difference. Thank you

[@Caninaracingatodovapor]

From Spain, Ty for sharing the info

[@mcnut1]

Informative video. Thank you.

[@linkadrip]

I appreciate your video. I have a lot of O.S. engines in my aircraft and having ah dependable glow plug means a lot. I've dead sticker a lot of aircraft I'm certain cause of bad glow plugs. I've learned a lot over the years watching your videos. I'm still glad you have ah passion for the hobby. 😊

[@stevebell5048]

Great to see a new video from you David. Thank you for the information! I will check my plugs.

[@stevebarr9604]

I guess I should check mine out to see!

[@mikenewlin3421]

David, OMG!! Now I understand why my engine is performing the way it is! Variation is slow idle. Unable to get low idle to set in. Thank you so much for this video. I removed the glow plug and sure enough, it was a counterfeit. Thank god the head is ok. As soon as I installed a genuine O.S. #8 plug, OH MY what a difference. Thanks again and video and keep it up!!

[@dmrcflyr2]

Thank you very much for this comment and information! You have confirmed what I only believed might be the case. I really have not done any further testing with these plugs as yet. Please spread the word to all you can. What engine were you running with these plugs? Fuel?

[@matthewweinle8639]

Was told about this about 2 years ago by a trader at Buckminster UK.

[@matthewweinle8639]

Really appreciate you showing how to ID the fakes.

[@dadandkids5028]

What next, counterfeit Tamiya Extra Thin?

[@rotormasher]

Cmon, gonna habe to test them all now to compare! 😂😊

[@michelrousset7250]

Thanks a lot for this very precious video, David! I've just checked my own OS plug nr. 8 and that's a genuine! Your explanations are very accurate and I easily understand the difficulty of being able to magnify images with sufficient sharpness. From Mike (France)

[@dmrcflyr2]

You are welcome!

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks Dave, I just looked at the four I have on hand and they are all counterfeit! Now I know. It’s a shame we have to watch everything we do these days.

[@dmrcflyr2]

That is unfortunate.

[@bubbalikescorn]

Be aware that there also counterfeit NMB bearings being sold. These are the cam bearings that come OEM in OS and YS engines. However, some being sold on eBay and other places online are counterfeit. I contacted Minebea Mitsumi at their Tokyo headquarters to inform them about it.

[@gregbrigden2909]

I see the counterfeit #8.OS plugs on eBay often. I report the ads to eBay when I spot them, eBay seldom does anything about it though, rather frustrating I find.

[@whoisjohngalt5258]

good stuff David. Thank You!!!

[@johncuomo1427]

Very interesting article David 👍 l would never have considered that. What l always do when installing a plug is to thread it by hand, but first, put a drop of oil on the thread. If it goes in without resistance, then okay. Would never wrench it in, God forbid a damaged head 😢

[@dmrcflyr2]

I have a 1/4-32 die that i run plugs through before using them.

[@weofnjieofing]

Great Video David! I’ve gone and checked all of mine and thank God they’re all genuine. Intellectual property really has no meaning in China where reverse engineering is the order of the day. Will never buy Chinese engines or products because of that and also to support companies like OS who have been there for us hobby enthusiasts since the very beginning.

[@dmrcflyr2]

Unfortunately many OS engines are now and in the last few years have also been manufactured in China.

[@billjones3071]

Cheap Chinese bearing are even worse, I only use OS original

[@VintageTechFan]

The World Wide Web, what people commonly mean when calling it "the internet" was officially launched in 1993. Becoming really popular so that tech companies started to have websites was maybe around 1995-1996? I remember it very well, even if I was only ~10 years old. The web was different back then, the only social things were forums, and these were usually very tight-knit communities where many users knew each other personally. If there were any ads at all, they were static and all curated by the site owner, often for companies that he himself used and endorsed. At least my 2 remaining OS #8 are genuine as it seems.

[@perkyplanesrc9363]

Wow, interesting. Doesn't surprise me that these types of counterfeit products exist... Other folks in other countries trying to steal money/ideas. The cross section was very interesting as well comparing the 2. I'm always up for good deals (aren't we all?) BUT I will not buy counterfeit glow plugs. I know I mentioned looking for good deals on plugs to you in email, but definitely not wanting to pursue counterfeit. Thanks for the video!

[@Laser100man]

That's a real treasure of a video and I'm personally quite thankful to you David, will be showing it to my r/c shop. One question though. Regarding the older style packaging, it wasn't quite clear, how can we distinguish between counterfeit / genuine?

[@dmrcflyr2]

The OS website, and links that I posted are from 2021 so obviously older plugs are not affected or counterfeit. This also only seems to apply to the A3(#6) and #8 plugs, per the links provided.

[@Laser100man]

@@dmrcflyr2 Sincere thanks, since I am using No.8 plugs I was "unsettled" by this development to say the least, but I'm over it now, since I have a significant stock of "older" No.8 plugs. You're of great help and it is very much appreciated David, keep up your great work. Regards Harry

[@Jon_Flys_RC]

There is a HUGE problem with Spektrum receivers being counterfeited as well. The huge giveaway is they are long discontinued receivers being sold as new, with some vendors even being in the United States. Smaller details are the lack of a signal/positive/negative symbol on the receiver label and the use of Phillips head screws instead of torx screws. They also come in cellophane bags with a header card and genuine Spektrum receivers came in blow molded packaging with a slide in paper board backer. Don’t get taken!

[@Desertduleler_88]

I didn’t even know, as l brought an eight pack of the OS no. 8 from EBay. When l checked mine, l was relieved to find out from this video mine were genuine. I’m just wondering if China is trying to undermine OS reliability with these dodgy plugs, in order to convert modellers to electric or gas.

[@VintageTechFan]

No need to do that. The masses with the huge market volume (which is what they are after) are all electric, and mostly foam. They just jumped onto that and milk this market. If it ever dries up, they just switch to the next one. Sanye (the maker of Magnum, ASP, AP, SC, SY and nearly all the other chain-store house brands) stopped making engines in (I think) 2016, simply since the volume wasn't there anymore. They just see glow plugs went expensive due to exploding rare metal prices, so the saw a chance to make a quick buck likely by just cheaping out on those metals, which would explain why they work crappy and not for long, and throw them out on the market.

[@jamesfenton3751]

Wow, whoever made these counterfeit plugs must have gotten a really hefty fine and jail time.

[@dmrcflyr2]

Doubtful. They are still being made

[@UsefulAlien]

1/4" UNEF thread.

[@bthanse]

Do you take a test on the plugs to see if it is a differance ?

[@dmrcflyr2]

No I have not.

[@russcole5685]

What is the performance difference between the two

[@dmrcflyr2]

No idea

[@russcole5685]

@@dmrcflyr2 for myself, if they are cheaper, and still perform, then no issues

[@wayneschenk5512]

I came across my first fake plugs wouldn’t last as long.

[@RcOffroad9513]

I bought a 3 Pack of N4 on ebay cause like you I use ebay for everything. They would not thread in. Lucky the engine I got came with 1 os no7, or I would have Maybe forced it but I just bought 3 official OS no7 for 23.99 on 3bay the other 3 were not os, but I have seen a bunch of os n08 for 5.33 or similarly priced, I bet those are fake.

[@dmrcflyr2]

Yes, if you see a real discount on the price chances are they are the fake ones.

[@danielhanson4326]

Do the counterfeit plugs not work or something what's so matter with them

[@dmrcflyr2]

Listen to the entire video, OR go to the OS links and read their data.

[@antonioricardoolivo4900]

Uso as velas made in aliexpress e comigo funciona.