Building a TOYAN FS-L400 Engine Kit: Watch How This DIY Mechanic Created a 14cc Working Marvel (4M Views Breakdown)
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What's It Like to Build a Functional Engine From Scratch? YouTube Sensation "DIY Garage" Shows Us How
International YouTube creator "DIY Garage" made waves by purchasing a "MOCDIY TOYAN FS-L400 14cc Inline 4-Cylinder Water-Cooled Engine Model Kit" from Amazon for $1,029.99. His engine assembly video went viral with nearly 4 million views. Let's break down this fascinating build process.
The cube - shaped beech wood box exudes the luster of raw wood, and the "TOYAN MODEL ENGINE" gilt nameplate reveals its professional lineage. The moment the box lid is lifted, a matrix of military - grade shock - absorbing sponges comes into view. Each 1 - cm² customized groove precisely nests its exclusive part. From 0.8mm miniature screws to the mirror - polished crankshaft components, 246 parts are neatly arranged like a mechanical gene bank. This unboxing experience worth thousands of dollars can be regarded as the unveiling ceremony of the "Mona Lisa" for mechanical enthusiasts.
Unfolding the 72 - page full - color assembly manual, the engineering - drawing - level 3D exploded view and the German - English bilingual instructions construct a rigorous technical narrative. The crankshaft components are made of CNC - processed aviation aluminum. The machining accuracy of 0.01mm makes the bearing sliding resistance comparable to that of a Swiss watch. The silicon - aluminum alloy piston ring is pre - set with three sealing grooves, and the tolerance of the miniature cylinder diameter is controlled within ±0.003mm. What's more astonishing is the water - cooling system components. The miniature copper radiators are welded by laser, with 42 cooling fins distributed per square centimeter.
The assembly starts with the core power unit: evenly apply the special molybdenum disulfide grease on the crankshaft journal. The 64 - mm - long alloy crankshaft needs to adjust the gaps of 8 needle - roller bearings simultaneously. When installing the piston components, a special hoop tool is required, and the connecting rod bolts are tightened with a torque value of 0.6N·m. The blogger especially emphasizes the phase - angle calibration technique - the four pistons need to precisely maintain a 90° phase difference and be adjusted to an error range of 0.05° through a differential caliper.
The assembly of the double overhead camshafts is like a mechanical ballet. The 16 valve rocker arms need to be installed with spring washers in a specific order. In the oil - injection process, the gradient oil - injection method is adopted. First, inject 15ml of SAE5W - 30 base oil to form an oil film, and then add synthetic ester full - synthetic engine oil three times to the mid - line of the observation window. When assembling the water - cooling system, the miniature centrifugal water pump and the copper pipes adopt a quick - release interface design. During the water - injection test stage, three pressure cycles are required to eliminate air resistance.
When 98 - octane gasoline is injected and the 12V starting power supply is connected, the miniature carburetor emits a clear suction sound. As the throttle knob rotates, the four - cylinder engine bursts out a high - frequency buzz of 8000rpm. The water - cooling system can control the water temperature in the working condition range of 60℃±2℃ in real - time. Under slow - motion capture, the four pistons can be seen moving perfectly in sync, and the metal components are performing a precise mechanical dance in the lubrication system.
Unboxing the Mechanical Marvel
The kit arrived in a premium cubic wooden crate (35×35×25cm) embossed with "TOYAN MODEL ENGINE." Upon opening, enthusiasts are greeted with:
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A 128-page illustrated manual (available in 6 languages)
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412 precision components securely housed in custom-cut foam layers
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Key components including:
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Chromium-plated crankshaft (HRC 58-62 hardness)
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Aluminum alloy pistons with compression rings
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CNC-machined cylinder block (89mm bore)
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Stainless steel water cooling system
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The Assembly Journey
Phase 1: Core Assembly
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Crankshaft Installation
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Applied SAE 5W-30 synthetic oil to journal bearings
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Torqued main caps to 18 N·m (13.3 lb-ft)
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Piston Assembly
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Instilled 4 forged pistons with 0.03mm clearance
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Connected to conrods using tungsten-coated wrist pins
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Phase 2: Valve Train
3. Camshaft Timing
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Aligned timing marks within ±2° accuracy
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Set valve lash to 0.15mm (intake)/0.20mm (exhaust)
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Lubrication System
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Primed oil pump with 200ml synthetic lubricant
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Achieved 28 PSI oil pressure at 2,500 RPM
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Phase 3: Auxiliary Systems
5. Installed centrifugal water pump (500ml/min flow rate)
6. Mounted 8-blade cooling fan (CFM 120)
7. Connected poly-V belt with 45N tension
Performance Testing
After 6.5 hours of assembly:
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Idle RPM: 800 ±50
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Max RPM: 6,200 (governor-limited)
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Fuel Consumption: 15ml/min at full load
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Thermal Efficiency: 22% (comparable to full-scale engines)