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Cox Engine of The Month
August-2024
balogh's
![](https://i.servimg.com/u/f95/15/46/86/41/1_balo14.jpg)
"Cox TD09 R/C Beast of Burden featuring Kamtechnik head and DIY metallic fuel nipple"
![](https://i.servimg.com/u/f95/15/46/86/41/sponso12.png)
PAST WINNERS
balogh's
![](https://i.servimg.com/u/f95/15/46/86/41/1_balo14.jpg)
"Cox TD09 R/C Beast of Burden featuring Kamtechnik head and DIY metallic fuel nipple"
![](https://i.servimg.com/u/f95/15/46/86/41/sponso12.png)
PAST WINNERS
Cylinder devarnishing -again
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Re: Cylinder devarnishing -again
Gents-wearing my chemist's hat first and foremost-'lye' is potassium hydroxide-and definitely not a chemical you should be bringing ANYWHERE near a model engine-let alone engines with anodised or aluminum parts..regardless of where you plan to use it...
If balogh is concerned about scratching the bore with a devarnishing brush-the answer is simple-use a copper or bronze barrel cleaning brush rather than one with stainless bristles-given the prolific range of small arms calibres, you will be able to find a suitable size brush without much difficulty-I would be starting with something of the order of a .410 shotgun or .45 piston bore brush for a Cox 049-and larger or smaller sizes pro rata for the other Cox engine sizes
ChrisM
'ffkiwi'
If balogh is concerned about scratching the bore with a devarnishing brush-the answer is simple-use a copper or bronze barrel cleaning brush rather than one with stainless bristles-given the prolific range of small arms calibres, you will be able to find a suitable size brush without much difficulty-I would be starting with something of the order of a .410 shotgun or .45 piston bore brush for a Cox 049-and larger or smaller sizes pro rata for the other Cox engine sizes
ChrisM
'ffkiwi'
ffkiwi- Gold Member
- Posts : 381
Join date : 2018-07-10
Location : Wellington, NZ
Re: Cylinder devarnishing -again
Hello Chris, you are right on mentioning that even the degreaser I use may cause discoloration of naked, and anodized aluminum. This is why I start the process- as written- with cylinder removal that is necessary for access to its internals no matter how you devarnish it.
Thanks for the tip on gun barrel cleaner brushes made of softer than steel material. It may work well in countries where gun shops are in abundance thanks to local gun laws.
Hungary not being such country, I stay with my degreaser fluid though, but thanks for your note.
Thanks for the tip on gun barrel cleaner brushes made of softer than steel material. It may work well in countries where gun shops are in abundance thanks to local gun laws.
Hungary not being such country, I stay with my degreaser fluid though, but thanks for your note.
balogh- Top Poster
Posts : 4868
Join date : 2011-11-06
Age : 65
Location : Budapest Hungary
Re: Cylinder devarnishing -again
Hi All,
Clarence Lee said use hot water and dishwasher detergent.
Rince with fresh water, dry it well, oil, put it back together.
Works for me.
I have a loving relationship with my varnished Cox pistons/cylinders.
Your results may vary.
Take care,
Have fun,
Dave
Clarence Lee said use hot water and dishwasher detergent.
Rince with fresh water, dry it well, oil, put it back together.
Works for me.
I have a loving relationship with my varnished Cox pistons/cylinders.
Your results may vary.
Take care,
Have fun,
Dave
HalfaDave- Platinum Member
- Posts : 613
Join date : 2022-12-06
Location : Oakville, Ontario
Re: Cylinder devarnishing -again
Lots of ways here. I use red Scotchbrite and either carb cleaner, acetone or lacquer thinner. Whichever is closest to my chair. Usually carb cleaner because it has a handy spray nozzle. Sometimes I don't even disassemble the bigger motors like .15s and up where a finger fits in. Just scrub the cylinder upside down to keep fuzz and dirt out. Head off of course. Scotchbrite does not remove material unless you try real hard. Foxes are a different animal. They wear so bad that they only survive with lots of oil and varnish, but work OK anyway.
aspeed- Platinum Member
- Posts : 795
Join date : 2013-01-18
Location : Leamington Ont. Can.
Re: Cylinder devarnishing -again
I ran Maxima Castor 927 in a diesel for quite a bit and the combustion chamber was very clean. Even if you didn't want to run 927 continuously, I bet it would clean a cylinder pretty quick. It's known to run very clean.
https://maximausa.com/series-252-castor-927.html?locale=en
https://maximausa.com/series-252-castor-927.html?locale=en
gkamysz- Gold Member
- Posts : 397
Join date : 2018-02-22
Location : Chicagoland
Re: Cylinder devarnishing -again
It is interesting to listen to the ways things have changed over time to care for our little glow gems of engines. I'm guessing that the reason why Leroy Cox included 2% synthetic oil with 18% pure Casor was to keep excessive varnishing at bay. 50 years ago, I was buying what ever was available at the local hobby stores on military bases, which could be a combination of Duke's fuel (Fox), K&B Supersonic, Testors half-A, which were more common than Cox.
In late 1970's, then SIG 25% Champion all Castor seemed the best priced all around fuel at the local hobby stores (all base hobby stores were closed by then in Hawaii, victim of cheaper mail order prices.) My little 1965 OS Max .10R/C ran fine on the half-A fuel. Looking back, I guess I was a peddle-to-the-metal - metaphor for a car's gas pedal pushed to the floor) person with these half-A and A engines.![Laughing](https://2img.net/i/fa/i/smiles/icon_lol.gif)
I always shot for the higher nitro content fuel above 15%, because I found that the little Cox .020 Pee Wee and .049 reed valves seemed to love the higher nitro stuff. I was replacing glow heads regularly. (After some running, the wire element would look like ash, I guess a combination of wear and tear by high nitro fuel.) But, de-varnishing became a ritual after a couple weeks flying, when I noticed RPM's were not up to snuff.
With experiences to what is best changing over time, I see now why it has been refined to 10% Synthetic with 10% Castor as the best overall formulation. This gives one more time between de-varnishing exercises.
In late 1970's, then SIG 25% Champion all Castor seemed the best priced all around fuel at the local hobby stores (all base hobby stores were closed by then in Hawaii, victim of cheaper mail order prices.) My little 1965 OS Max .10R/C ran fine on the half-A fuel. Looking back, I guess I was a peddle-to-the-metal - metaphor for a car's gas pedal pushed to the floor) person with these half-A and A engines.
![Laughing](https://2img.net/i/fa/i/smiles/icon_lol.gif)
I always shot for the higher nitro content fuel above 15%, because I found that the little Cox .020 Pee Wee and .049 reed valves seemed to love the higher nitro stuff. I was replacing glow heads regularly. (After some running, the wire element would look like ash, I guess a combination of wear and tear by high nitro fuel.) But, de-varnishing became a ritual after a couple weeks flying, when I noticed RPM's were not up to snuff.
With experiences to what is best changing over time, I see now why it has been refined to 10% Synthetic with 10% Castor as the best overall formulation. This gives one more time between de-varnishing exercises.
GallopingGhostler- Top Poster
Posts : 5536
Join date : 2013-07-13
Age : 70
Location : Clovis NM or NFL KC Chiefs
Re: Cylinder devarnishing -again
I hate to go onto the castor oil conversation because of the strong feelings over it. But. We just used 2 to 5% castor and total of 20% oil many years ago. The castor was only added in just in case the rumours were true, which I doubt, but in control line sometimes a lean run at the end of a flight may need some extra protection. Maybe Greg's oil that he found might be a better solution than even synth. I won't be getting any for the price point only. $28 a litre U.S. works out to about $50 Canadian after shipping and the 37% premium. I can just buy another motor after running a couple gallons through of that oil. Around here-in Detroit there is supposed to be a cheap place to get castor, but I have not been able to cross the border since the plague and now I guess I need a passport.GallopingGhostler wrote:It is interesting to listen to the ways things have changed over time to care for our little glow gems of engines. I'm guessing that the reason why Leroy Cox included 2% synthetic oil with 18% pure Casor was to keep excessive varnishing at bay. 50 years ago, I was buying what ever was available at the local hobby stores on military bases, which could be a combination of Duke's fuel (Fox), K&B Supersonic, Testors half-A, which were more common than Cox.
In late 1970's, then SIG 25% Champion all Castor seemed the best priced all around fuel at the local hobby stores (all base hobby stores were closed by then in Hawaii, victim of cheaper mail order prices.) My little 1965 OS Max .10R/C ran fine on the half-A fuel. Looking back, I guess I was a peddle-to-the-metal - metaphor for a car's gas pedal pushed to the floor) person with these half-A and A engines.
I always shot for the higher nitro content fuel above 15%, because I found that the little Cox .020 Pee Wee and .049 reed valves seemed to love the higher nitro stuff. I was replacing glow heads regularly. (After some running, the wire element would look like ash, I guess a combination of wear and tear by high nitro fuel.) But, de-varnishing became a ritual after a couple weeks flying, when I noticed RPM's were not up to snuff.
With experiences to what is best changing over time, I see now why it has been refined to 10% Synthetic with 10% Castor as the best overall formulation. This gives one more time between de-varnishing exercises.
aspeed- Platinum Member
- Posts : 795
Join date : 2013-01-18
Location : Leamington Ont. Can.
Re: Cylinder devarnishing -again
I didn't find this oil. It's been around since 1979 and was the companies first product. Some F2C racers have sworn by it for decades. You could probably also run less 927 than plain castor or castor/synth.
Check your local motorcycle shop. Virtually all use a distributor which handles Maxima. Just have to see if they can order it. Last time I bought locally.
Check your local motorcycle shop. Virtually all use a distributor which handles Maxima. Just have to see if they can order it. Last time I bought locally.
gkamysz- Gold Member
- Posts : 397
Join date : 2018-02-22
Location : Chicagoland
Re: Cylinder devarnishing -again
I gotta' say; I've never purposefully devarnished any of my Cox engines' cylinders. As of late; I've started breaking-down a few engines and paying more attention to crankshaft/journal devarnishing.
That said; I do use a brush with spiral'd "nylon bristles".. having a 1/2" (12.7mm) diameter.. which is optimal for the .049/.051 Cox cylinders. I've had this brush for a LONG time.. so I'm not sure where it came from. Either "Grainger" or "McMaster-Carr".. most likely.
![Cylinder devarnishing -again - Page 2 _500_i10](https://i.servimg.com/u/f76/18/50/45/90/_500_i10.jpg)
![Cylinder devarnishing -again - Page 2 _500_i11](https://i.servimg.com/u/f76/18/50/45/90/_500_i11.jpg)
![Cylinder devarnishing -again - Page 2 _500_i12](https://i.servimg.com/u/f76/18/50/45/90/_500_i12.jpg)
This is a "stiff-bristled" Nylon brush.. and will scrub the cylinder without scratching it.
I especially liked HalfaDave's mention of the "Clarence Lee" method earlier in the thread. This would be the perfect brush to use prior to swabbing/oiling.
I actually applied that sort-of after-washing, following a successful deburring process recommended by Ken Cook. I used that brush throughout the rinsing-process.. to be sure that no abrasive polish remained.
![Cylinder devarnishing -again - Page 2 Lappin30](https://i.servimg.com/u/f76/18/50/45/90/lappin30.jpg)
That said; I do use a brush with spiral'd "nylon bristles".. having a 1/2" (12.7mm) diameter.. which is optimal for the .049/.051 Cox cylinders. I've had this brush for a LONG time.. so I'm not sure where it came from. Either "Grainger" or "McMaster-Carr".. most likely.
![Cylinder devarnishing -again - Page 2 _500_i10](https://i.servimg.com/u/f76/18/50/45/90/_500_i10.jpg)
![Cylinder devarnishing -again - Page 2 _500_i11](https://i.servimg.com/u/f76/18/50/45/90/_500_i11.jpg)
![Cylinder devarnishing -again - Page 2 _500_i12](https://i.servimg.com/u/f76/18/50/45/90/_500_i12.jpg)
This is a "stiff-bristled" Nylon brush.. and will scrub the cylinder without scratching it.
I especially liked HalfaDave's mention of the "Clarence Lee" method earlier in the thread. This would be the perfect brush to use prior to swabbing/oiling.
I actually applied that sort-of after-washing, following a successful deburring process recommended by Ken Cook. I used that brush throughout the rinsing-process.. to be sure that no abrasive polish remained.
![Cylinder devarnishing -again - Page 2 Lappin30](https://i.servimg.com/u/f76/18/50/45/90/lappin30.jpg)
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