Re: Black Widow setup

**RknRusty** Sun Dec 30, 2012 2:27 pm

I thought it went in and out from the top but i don't remember. I wonder where JP is. I had one come loose once and put it back in, but it was a long time ago. I'll look at one this evening and see if I can tell. Some Cox product engines over the years had fine thread NVs, like the red "Postage Stamp" plate on the Stuka engine, but I don't know where you'd find them. I gave my two of those away to another forum member that's not here any more and i don't know that he ever used them. JP gave me a couple of NVs and one needle that I still plan to use, but if you can't get one from Texas Timers I'll send it to you.

At Texastimers.com, click on Needle valves in the left column and there is a list. the one that says "Precision Retrofit NVA (non TD) with Short Needle - Price: $10.00 ea." is what you want. There is a picture but you have to surf around to find it. Click the third link (where it says "Link") on that page

http://texastimers.com/accessories/retrofit_needle_valve.htm

All the bladder supplies and fittings you need are at TT too. You'll need the thin walled bladder, the smaller of the two types he sells. He will help if you e-mail him too. His name is Hank Nystrom.

duke.johnson Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:56 pm

Ron and Rusty, Thanks.

happydad Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:46 pm

RknRusty wrote:Like Bob says, it's been done, but it's probably a pain in the ass to get the old one out of a metal backplate and fit the new one in. If you are determined to use a Black Widow with the backplate in place, it would be easiest to get a plastic backplate and jerk out the NV and press the new one in. Or if you switch to a killer Bee backplate and use your Black Widow front end, it would be very easy to do. Press the new one into the KB plate and JB Weld it in place and you've got an engine ready to fly.

Another option is, if you have an old spare tank that you don't mind boring a hole in, put that one on the BW and run a fuel line from an external tank or a pressureless party balloon straight through the hole to the nipple in the backplate. Then if you ever want to restore the BW to its original form you'll have the original tank to put back on it. It won't perform as well as a pressurized feed with a wide venturi, but you can still call it a Black Widow if that's important to you. Bernie sells all sorts of tank replacements, some without fuel vents that you could punch a hole in.