Cox Mercedes tech

rsv1cox Sun Jun 27, 2021 10:46 am

Low tech.

This one got by me. Checking it yesterday I found the engine locked up. Totally locked!

Removed the motor, applied a little heat. Nothing, More heat, more nothing. Dropped a little Rem oil in the open port and around the prop drive, more heat and got it to move. Carefully rotated the flywheel back and forth until it loosed. Took it apart. Didn't look bad until I removed the reed after a Simple Green soak. Haven't seen this level of green gunk under the ears in a long time. Had to chip it out with a tooth pick.

Now for the low tech part.

There are many ways that you can reassemble this engine, most of them wrong. I have done it many times and still need a reference.

You see there is this little hole in the bottom of the pan (toothpicks) it has to align with the overflow tube on the fuel tank, easy, but the top and bottom tubes are off-set. You have to ensure the correct tube is aligned with the hole or you will get a pan full of fuel when you gas it up. How do I know Embarassed

, you can install the fuel tank either way. That, and the needle has to be in the correct position. Four chances to get it right.

Of all the Cox Products, the Mercedes is far and away the most complicated and to me the most interesting, fragile, frustrating, worthless piece of kit that Cox ever put out. As a tether car it disappoints. Getting it started by cranking the rear wheel feels like your destroying it before you even set it on the ground. Leaning out - the thing is screaming, set it down and you must ensure that it is pointed in the right direction or it will yank the tether wire sending the car in towards the base. I literarily destroyed old number 2 in the process. That part was fun. Smile

Sorta staged.

But, to take apart, especially the differential it's a joy. Everything is well thought out, Pull the steering wheel back unlocks the hood and the hinge keeps it open. The steering wheel assembly is nicely done and works well, the fit and finish are first rate.

As eye candy and a collector piece for me it's a keeper. But as a tether car forget-about-it.

crankbndr Sun Jun 27, 2021 12:11 pm

I assembled one from a parts lot on eBay. All NIB parts. The lot had every part but had the wrong muffler, the muffler was the newer base. Bob sent me the correct muffler. Thanks Bob!! I found the clear plastic part that holds the engine in place very delicate and had to use caution screwing it down. It has to be the most complex model Cox made. Active suspension, gear box, driveshaft and hood release are a few I can think of. The engine is unique.

I scanned the stickers if anyone needs. Each mark on the line is 1" for sizing.

dckrsn Sun Jun 27, 2021 2:57 pm

rsv1cox Sun Jun 27, 2021 4:24 pm

I remember that CB, thought it was neat building one from parts, and - why didn't I think of that.

and..

thanks Bob. I didn't get that reed as clean as I should have, but they are so fragile I'm letting fresh fuel do the rest. The important parts, those four ears are in good shape. I think the relief in the crank shaft was probably pretty gooey too adding to the lock-up. I just heated it and ran light oil down through the crank while rotating flushing out the majority of it. I don't like pulling the drive washer unless necessary.

TOB

crankbndr Sun Jun 27, 2021 5:21 pm

I don’t like pulling the drive plate either, a little Hoppes 9 down the bore free em right up. Followed with Rem oil. Rem oil is gone and have yet to find a good replacement.

getback Mon Jun 28, 2021 6:48 am

Crank is this what ur looking for https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rem+oil&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5uWGBhCTARIsAL70sLJ1sInRH5gRhHgEC9RuSR6gFx970PsvYxnj-uX49Rxlt49njGIePbcaAj8oEALw_wcB&hvadid=174269224529&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9009605&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14454650227177170187&hvtargid=kwd-2809788381&hydadcr=25889_9636367&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_55lt50g31z_e Thats some interesting facts about the car

rsv1cox Mon Jun 28, 2021 7:42 am

getback wrote:Crank is this what ur looking for https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rem+oil&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5uWGBhCTARIsAL70sLJ1sInRH5gRhHgEC9RuSR6gFx970PsvYxnj-uX49Rxlt49njGIePbcaAj8oEALw_wcB&hvadid=174269224529&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9009605&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14454650227177170187&hvtargid=kwd-2809788381&hydadcr=25889_9636367&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_55lt50g31z_e Thats some interesting facts about the car

Or Walmart.

Last aerosol can I bought there was about $7,95.

crankbndr Mon Jun 28, 2021 10:44 am

getback wrote:Crank is this what ur looking for https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rem+oil&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5uWGBhCTARIsAL70sLJ1sInRH5gRhHgEC9RuSR6gFx970PsvYxnj-uX49Rxlt49njGIePbcaAj8oEALw_wcB&hvadid=174269224529&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9009605&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14454650227177170187&hvtargid=kwd-2809788381&hydadcr=25889_9636367&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_55lt50g31z_e Thats some interesting facts about the car

Thats it but the price is three times what I payed.

crankbndr Mon Jun 28, 2021 10:45 am

rsv1cox wrote:
getback wrote:Crank is this what ur looking for https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rem+oil&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5uWGBhCTARIsAL70sLJ1sInRH5gRhHgEC9RuSR6gFx970PsvYxnj-uX49Rxlt49njGIePbcaAj8oEALw_wcB&hvadid=174269224529&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9009605&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14454650227177170187&hvtargid=kwd-2809788381&hydadcr=25889_9636367&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_55lt50g31z_e Thats some interesting facts about the car

Or Walmart.

Last aerosol can I bought there was about $7,95.

Its gone from my Wallyworld.

rsv1cox Mon Jun 28, 2021 11:06 am

Going there tomorrow, will check it.

Once again I'm all excited about these. Got into my nearly destroyed #2. Front suspension is shot, not springy. Sits on the nose. Simple fix from my spring inventory. But it works, withstood the bounce test.

Much more sophisticated solution here from a previous owner:

Only problem is, it doesn't work. No spring travel at all because the springs are too stiff. Going to replace them with softer springs. For Kicks i painted it silver and replaced the missing mirrors with ones cut from wire nuts. Remember, i bought nearly all the junk cars from that period. Fixing them is my enjoyment.