Question about a Cox Black Widow Engine. what is it?

happydad wrote:I would like a clarification about the Cox Black Widow Engine.
what makes the Cox engine a Cox Black Widow?
1. is it the black anodized crankcase?
2. is it the black anodized fuel tank?
3. is it 1 and 2 above?
4. or is it primarily the fact that the engine has a # 4 cylinder with 2 bypass ports and 2 booster cuts on each bypass for a total of 3 mill cuts on each side of the inside of the cylinder?
5. or is the cylinder supposed to be a # 3 cylinder with 2 bypass ports and 1 booster cut on each bypass
6. or is it 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the above?
the reason i ask is because i have seen so many combinations of black case with silver tank, or silver case with black tank or silver case with silver tank called black widow engines that they all can't be correct. and most of the time there is no mention of what the cylinder is.
so what is it? happydad

A Black Widow before 1996 Always has:
* A #1 cylinder with two bypass ports, no booster flutes and has SPI exhaust ports. The bypass ports are deeper cut than other Bee dual bypass cylinders. (a #4 cylinder is always a Tee Dee .049)
*A black anodized crankcase
* A black 8cc stunt-vented tank with a .082"(or thereabouts) venturi inlet.
* A backplate with a .082"(or thereabouts) air inlet.
* When Cox introduced snap starters, BWs were equipped with the hex driveplate and snap starter assy.
* A standard Bee cylinder head

A 1996 and post '96 Black Widow Always has:
* A dual slit exhaust cylinder with a single booster flute on each side and a non-SPI piston. The cylinder does not always have a number as this became the standard production cylinder for all non-specialty engines.
* A black anodized crankcase
* A usually black 8cc stunt-vented tank with an .082"(or thereabouts) venturi inlet
* A black plastic backplate with a .082"(or thereabouts) air inlet.

Estes-Cox engines could have a combination of anything or nothing.

I could have missed something, as I only got out of bed to shake off dreams. I'll re-read thin in the light of day and revise as necessary.

Pretty good description of Black Widow, not bad for 4 AM.

Another "Rusty Post" for the "Engines File" !

HD:

I too have five BW's three of which I bought new pre-96 and I KNOW that they are original because I've never substuted parts.

Which begs the question is orginally important to you or performsnce? I am very pleased with the performance of these BW's just as they came out of the box. BW's are far more reliable than TD's which run best on pressure.

SuperDave wrote:HD:

I too have five BW's three of which I bought new pre-96 and I KNOW that they are original because I've never substuted parts.

Which begs the question is orginally important to you or performsnce? I am very pleased with the performance of these BW's just as they came out of the box. BW's are far more reliable than TD's which run best on pressure.

I agree, there's not much you can do to make a stock pre-'96 BW run any better(and keep it stock).

I don't quite agree that they are more dependable than a Tee Dee, because there is nothing that can go wrong with a clean Tee Dee. They don't get air leaks, or gummy reeds, so the needle always cranks and runs in exactly the same place. Unless flooded they always crank on the first or second flip with no starter spring. When flooded all you have to do is pinch off the line and burn the flood almost all the way off, then open the line and it starts without a prime on the next flip or two. The NVA and venturi are outside and accessible, so after use they can be easily flushed and clean, ready for the next flight.

Tee Dees do run better on pressure.
A small bladder is the pinnacle of dependable simplicity.

"A small bladder is the pinnacle of dependable simplicity." - Rusty

Maybe so but it's not very convenient when drinking beer at a football game.

SuperDave wrote:"A small bladder is the pinnacle of dependable simplicity." - Rusty

Maybe so but it's not very convenient when drinking beer at a football game.

AMEN!

fit90 wrote:

SuperDave wrote:"A small bladder is the pinnacle of dependable simplicity." - Rusty

Maybe so but it's not very convenient when drinking beer at a football game.

AMEN!

Well I just walked right into that one. Uuhhh, ya got me!