What engine is this???

I certainly hope you didn't pay a TD price for it!

I agree that it's most likely a product engine

+1 for Jacob's and Wilf's post.

To the uninitiated there is considerable confusion between TD (Thimble Drome) and TD (Tee Dee) both names being associated with Cox products over the years.

The distinction is an imortant consideration in any purchase of Cox products.

SuperDave wrote:To the uninitiated there is considerable confusion between TD (Thimble Drome) and TD (Tee Dee) both names begin associated with Cox product over the years.

The distinction is an imortant consideration in any purchase of Cox products.

I would think that, by the time this engine was manufactured, "Thimbledrome" was no longer being used in engine descriptions.

Is that not a Killer Bee backplate? He said it had an old copper type reed, but in the picture it looks like it might have a black plastic reed retainer flange peeking out between the crankcase and backplate.
Does it have an open gap under the piston when you rotate it to TDC? Is there a hole in the crank pin?

RknRusty wrote:Is that not a Killer Bee backplate? He said it had an old copper type reed, but in the picture it looks like it might have a black plastic reed retainer flange peeking out between the crankcase and backplate.
Does it have an open gap under the piston when you rotate it to TDC? Is there a hole in the crank pin?

It also has the short brass needle with black cap that came on the .051.

Hi people,

Thanks for all your replies!..But I think I`ve found the answer to what engine it is?
It`s amazing what you can find when you dig deep enough.

Here`s what I found:

Now The Killer Bee .049 (Cat # 340) Manufactured 1995-1996.
The killer bee was a real good attempt at making a fast reed valve .049 engine from
information that had been learned over the years of racing and competition. It had
a tapered cylinder with SPI and lighter piston similar to the tee dee, a stronger
balanced crankshaft and a new reed valve shape. They had a yellow plastic needle
valve. Later in 2002 Estes produced a killer bee that had none of these features but
looked like the original killer bee except for the needle valve.

I would say mine is the 2002 Estes Killer Bee.

Cheers and keep keeping Cox alive!!

Mr G

Well easy now... I'm still sure it isn't a Killer Bee. In your picture, it looks like it has a open exhaust cylinder. The red backplate could have come from several places, either a product engine, as a part from the factory or from a Killer Bee .051. I would say that if it has a black plastic reed retainer, then the backplate is from a Killer Bee .051 (or was purchased from Cox International or Ex Model Engines in the last few years). If it has a "e" clip reed retainer, then it is most likely from a product engine.

Another thing that is keeping me from believing it is a Killer Bee is the crankcase with a hex driveplate for the snap starter.

I'm sure this is a parts built engine.

Hi again,

I think you might be right? It has a metal G circlip to keep the copper star reed down.
Anyway, never mind if it`s not a 2000 killer bee as I didn`t pay a great deal for it?

Thanks for you knowledge

Mr G

Hey it's a Cox, it'll fly, no doubt about it!

yeah I agree rknRusty, it`s a good old cox!!

Cheers! Mr G