How to Light an .010

microflitedude Thu Jul 26, 2012 9:59 am

What are you guys using to light your .010 heads? I have a Cox clip and a Dubro clip, but both are too big.

nitroairplane Thu Jul 26, 2012 12:03 pm

microflitedude wrote:What are you guys using to light your .010 heads? I have a Cox clip and a Dubro clip, but both are too big.

http://coxengines.ca/cox-starter-battery-box-with-clip.html
Or just mini crock clips.

**Cribbs74** Thu Jul 26, 2012 12:40 pm

microflitedude wrote:What are you guys using to light your .010 heads? I have a Cox clip and a Dubro clip, but both are too big.

The standard Cox clip will work. Basically use the small notch on the clip for the post and one prong out of the two under the head fins

microflitedude Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:08 pm

cribbs74 wrote:
microflitedude wrote:What are you guys using to light your .010 heads? I have a Cox clip and a Dubro clip, but both are too big.

The standard Cox clip will work. Basically use the small notch on the clip for the post and one prong out of the two under the head fins

I tried that, but it was too loose. You need a solid connection with tension for a good glow.

**Cribbs74** Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:53 pm

Works fine for me. Granted it will pull of easier than say an .049 however, It can be done. I believe the clips are advertized to work for .010-.15

That second notch on the top clip grabs the center post pretty tight. If you put the lower fork portion of the clip into the right fin it will hold well enough.

Never had a problem and have a nice cherry glow every time. Keeping dirt and castor buildup off the head also helps in making a good contact.

**Cribbs74** Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:57 pm

I should add that the standard Cox clips tend to bend and mishapen over time. You can use a pair of pliers to squeeze the top tab in closer to make a better connection on the post. For the lower you can use your fingers to adjust for height.

Ron

Kim Thu Jul 26, 2012 6:10 pm

Take care if you DO adjust them...there is precious little space between the two connections inside the handle. While it hasn't happened to me yet, I can easily imagine one of them jumping out of it's plastic channel and contacting the other...causing some grand ole times from the plane back to the field box !!!

**Cribbs74** Thu Jul 26, 2012 6:17 pm

Kim wrote:Take care if you DO adjust them...there is precious little space between the two connections inside the handle. While it hasn't happened to me yet, I can easily imagine one of them jumping out of it's plastic channel and contacting the other...causing some grand ole times from the plane back to the field box !!!

Good point, I always check to see if the gap is present. I think at worse you would mess up the batteries.

I haven't run into that issue yet but, anythings possible.

SuperDave Wed Aug 08, 2012 9:13 am

I use a pair of small "crockodile" clips from Radio Shack. I've made up a wiring arrangement specfically for my TD .010.

microflitedude Wed Aug 08, 2012 12:14 pm

SuperDave wrote:I use a pair of small "crockodile" clips from Radio Shack. I've made up a wiring arrangement specfically for my TD .010.

Where do you connect the second clip? I don't want to grab the glow plug base, as it will chew it up with time.

PV Pilot Wed Aug 08, 2012 12:27 pm

Kim wrote:Take care if you DO adjust them...there is precious little space between the two connections inside the handle. While it hasn't happened to me yet, I can easily imagine one of them jumping out of it's plastic channel and contacting the other...causing some grand ole times from the plane back to the field box !!!

It DID happen to me with a certain clip. Drained the batteries and made the clip super hot on the workbench, next to the fuel,(gulp!). A dubro style clip that wasn't adjusted in any way. Pulled out of the package and put to use. It would be wise to check that space, lead screws, and tab clearances of any sort before using any glow clip.

Ken Cook Wed Aug 08, 2012 2:01 pm

If your using alligator clips, one clip obviously goes to the top post. I can understand that you don't want to grab the fin or base. In doing so, the metal will get marked up, but the clip will want to fall off just from the prop blast. I've taken copper wire, wrapped it around the entire head just under the fins. There is a space between the plug and the cylinder head. Wind the copper wire tight and leave about a 3/8" wire tag before you clip it off. You can now connect the alligator clip to the wire. This wire can stay on the plug even during removal with no harm to anything. Ken

microflitedude Wed Aug 08, 2012 2:16 pm

Ken Cook wrote: If your using alligator clips, one clip obviously goes to the top post. I can understand that you don't want to grab the fin or base. In doing so, the metal will get marked up, but the clip will want to fall off just from the prop blast. I've taken copper wire, wrapped it around the entire head just under the fins. There is a space between the plug and the cylinder head. Wind the copper wire tight and leave about a 3/8" wire tag before you clip it off. You can now connect the alligator clip to the wire. This wire can stay on the plug even during removal with no harm to anything. Ken

That's a great idea, thanks.

Ken Cook Wed Aug 08, 2012 2:40 pm

I should've mentioned this as well, you need uninsulated copper wire. Most copper wire sold today is known as magnet wire for motor armatures. If this is all you can find, scrape the clear plastic coating of the ends prior to twisting allowing enough for the clip to attach to. Ken

SuperDave Wed Aug 08, 2012 3:16 pm

I just press the second wire to the crankcase with my index finger without clipping it to anything.

Ken Cook Wed Aug 08, 2012 3:30 pm

One major problem with the Cox clip is the fact that its made with undersized wire for what were trying to do with them. A fresh battery works well but over time as the voltage depletes, so does the ability to properly light the plug. I rewired all of my Cox clips with 16 ga speaker wire. Once complete, I pump silicone into the back of the clip keeping the wires separated until dry. This way I know they're not going to short . Ken

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