20 replies to this topic

[Isaac S.]

Got three Cox engines and some parts in a lot of slot car parts so I decided to get a couple (one of the engines had a bent connecting rod) running.

 

After I cleaned up the motors, I got some 20% nitro fuel and added some extra castor oil. Made a little jig out of a stick of wood and a ladder and got it running. After messing wit the needle I got it running smooth.

 

Here's a little video of the engine running. Overall, it's very fun and I'd love to see some of your guys' engines if you have some. 

 

[John Streisguth]

I had one of these when I was a kid:

 

[John Luongo]

Remember those "tether cars"? Very fast!

[Martin]

Thanks for the video, Issac, short and sweet.

 

I have a couple of these, beautiful models of a beautiful car, do not have plans to run it anytime soon. 

They have the same .049 motor. The one in this pic has the motor laid down showing off the pipes. They came with the motor vertical, too.

 

[Isaac S.]

Wow Martin! That looks great. I wouldn't run it either, I'm pretty sure the gas will eat the paint. 

[MSwiss]

I had one of these when I was a kid:

 

Was the guide locked in the slot?

[Martin]

I was wondering the same thing Mike, that car was hanging on really (too) good.

[NSwanberg]

Nice driveway.

[John Streisguth]

Actually, now that I've looked at it, I think this is a smaller version of what I had.  The car was a good bit bigger (I think 1:12 scale) and MUCH MUCH faster...more like the tether cars John Luongo mentioned.  But yes, it was a T-slot system

[MSwiss]

[John Streisguth]

Sure seemed bigger than 1/20 scale. But I was smaller then, everything probably just SEEMED bigger...LOL

 

But I do remember it ran like a bat out of h***....I took a few steps back when it ran  LOL

[MSwiss]

They also had a Ford GT.

I also thought they came out with a Chapparal, which I did confirm, as shown.

I don't remember Martin's super-cool Eagle.

My Lancia Beta Coupe and .049 reed valve powered cars and airplanes.....the 2 most popular subjects on my therapist's couch. Lol

[Dave Crevie]

I had the GT-40 as a teen. One of my buddies had the Corvette, and we would stretch two fishing lines down our street and drag race them. They ran into a big blanket at the end, which usually stalled the engines so they would quit. On occasion we would set up a tether circle at the schoolyard and run them there, but it usually was too crowded and we would get chased out by the bigger kids playing basketball. From time to time I wonder what happened to mine. I used a lot of those .049 engines, both Cox and AMF, in u-line airplanes. Still have a couple of those. In the early 80's I had a good friend who's son got into the airplanes, and I resurrected mine. They still ran. That led to big scale R/C planes which I did for about ten years. Still have those, too.

[Vay Jonynas]

I still have the Cox Spitfire with the .049 Thimbledrone engine that I bought as a thirteen year old:

 

 

 

The .049 engine makes a fabulous racket when fired up indoors!

 

[Isaac S.]

Since there is some new  activity on this thread, I'll talk about some mods I have made.

 

1st, I was losing some compression through the gap between the cylinder head and the sleeve. Even when really cranked down, I would lose compression. I think the sleeve became warped during a few runs. So, I turned the face down a little on the lathe to get it flat. Worked very well, and holds compression. 

 

2nd, the glow plug burnt out on my 4th run. I think the age hasn't helped. Thinking about my options, I decided to see if I could modify the head to accept a screw in glow plug. I had one in my parts boxes so I popped out the old one and drilled and tapped a new hole for it. I then faced the top of the head to get a good seal.  A little thread sealant and we're there. 

 

Tested out the other day and it runs great. 

[Joe Mig]

I have a few but this is the only one I have a photo available of.

[Dave Crevie]

Glow plug failure is usually a sign of too much nitro in the mix. Back off a little. 

 

When I was a pre-teen and a member of the Tree Town Model-airs we had a class for .049 racers. The engines could be modified in any way except for displacement. Fuel had to be nitro, alcohol and caster oil, but any percentage of each was allowed. I ran modified AMF Thimble Drome motors because they had a longer stroke, (smaller bore), and could spin a bigger prop. Props loose their efficiency beyond a certain threshold of speed, and having more horsepower and not so much RPM made a faster plane. 

 

A lot of guys used the Cox motors without the copper O-ring. They sealed the head with aviation Perma-tex. 

[Dave Crevie]

A quick search turned up this;

 

Cox .049 powered toys;

[Isaac S.]

Very cool Joe. 

 

Thanks Dave. I will add in more Castor oil. I'm using 20% right now. I will try 15%. 

 

I think the screw-in glow plug gets hotter also. It starts much easier, especially in this colder weather than it did with the stock glow head. 

[Dave Crevie]

Cox made different styles of glow heads. You might try something like the 1702. 

 

 

Better yet, if you can find one of the Mecoa heads that were made for racing, that might serve you better.

[Isaac S.]

Looked up the Mecoa website and it looks like they had the same idea as me. http://www.mecoa.com...ptors/index.htm

 

If my homemade head doesn't work, than I will go with one of those. The anodized red looks really cool.