Won a TD 049 thats a bit odd.

At the end Estes used what they had on hand, and as cheaply as possible. The venturi is made for a screen, but does not have it. Estes sold some like this since it allowed them to save money on the screen and the assembly process. They also stopped anodizing the needle valve bodies before the spraybar assembly could take place, and stopped anodizing the driveplates.

Matt

That's pretty cool, thanks for the info!

So this might just be an all silver official TD 049.

I hope it has the correct double boost port TD cylinder.. I'll find out when it arrives.

It looks like you got what you wanted to me Steve. A nice engine.
Welcome to the mismatched world of Cox provenance...
I'd say it's an early seventies 049.
Pre 74 cos it's got no mesh.
Although the cylinder has milled flats so it could be newer.

MeerschaumSteve wrote:That's pretty cool, thanks for the info!

So this might just be an all silver official TD 049.

I hope it has the correct double boost port TD cylinder.. I'll find out when it arrives.

If it is an Estes/Cox build Tee Dee expect the cylinder to have the dual bypass with single boost port per side.

Matt

Now I'm not in a carwash looking at an iphone..........
Although the early 049/051/09 leaflets had no 'litho in USA' date underneath the
Engine Replacement Parts List
On the instruction leaflet
From the early 70's (this one from 1988) they do.



Should be interesting to see what he sends you though
cos there are two different leaflets in the photos
one of which ain't for a TeeDee.

PS
I could be wrong again but I think the 'lack' of gold maybe the photo's rather than the colour
of the engine.

I gotta go with what Matt sez...it's a later version Tee Dee, heck it could even be a .051

EXModelEngines wrote:

MeerschaumSteve wrote:That's pretty cool, thanks for the info!

So this might just be an all silver official TD 049.

I hope it has the correct double boost port TD cylinder.. I'll find out when it arrives.

If it is an Estes/Cox build Tee Dee expect the cylinder to have the dual bypass with single boost port per side.

Matt

Back in the 80's and 90's when I was heavily into control line flying, all the TD's I had seen used the double boost port per side. When did cox stop that and only use a single boost port per side? Do you know why they did that? Maybe the dual one was just too much and a single gave better performance?

MeerschaumSteve wrote:...When did cox stop that and only use a single boost port per side? Do you know why they did that? Maybe the dual one was just too much and a single gave better performance?

I don't know when, the other guys can answer, but they said the single flute beside each bypass port performed better. The Tee Dee cylinders(modified Surestarts) that Matt and Bernie sell would be identical to those. Actually I've never used the calipers to see if the main bypass ports on the new ones are as deep, but the rest of the architecture is the same.

Now that would be an interesting benchmark comparison!

Take a classic double boost port TD .049, benchmark it, then switch to the current style of TD piston/cylinder and see how it compares.

I also read someplace that the Venom engine came with a cylinder that was somehow better than what the TD's had. I'm curious as to what was different about it, were they referring to the single boost style?

MeerschaumSteve wrote:Now that would be an interesting benchmark comparison!

Take a classic double boost port TD .049, benchmark it, then switch to the current style of TD piston/cylinder and see how it compares.

I also read someplace that the Venom engine came with a cylinder that was somehow better than what the TD's had. I'm curious as to what was different about it, were they referring to the single boost style?

I'm pretty sure that's what it is.
A Tee Dee can already run fast enough to hurt itself. I can't imagine you'd want to be able to stress it any more. But maybe the new cylinder is more efficient. I know when my TD .051 runs out of fuel, I could still be doing another 10 laps with the same amount of fuel in my faster, more powerful Norvel .061.

They sure could kill themselves, makes me think of my 051 I had in the 90's.

I had a globee head on it, drilled out the venturi for pressure, and running it on 30% cox racing fuel. I think I flew it around 10 flights, before the piston ball joint failed. That 051 was really fast, but towards the end, when it was more broken in, it would absolutely scream just before it ran out of fuel. It was the highest revving 1/2A I ever heard, pity it ruined the engine.

MeerschaumSteve wrote:

EXModelEngines wrote:

MeerschaumSteve wrote:That's pretty cool, thanks for the info!

So this might just be an all silver official TD 049.

I hope it has the correct double boost port TD cylinder.. I'll find out when it arrives.

If it is an Estes/Cox build Tee Dee expect the cylinder to have the dual bypass with single boost port per side.

Matt

Back in the 80's and 90's when I was heavily into control line flying, all the TD's I had seen used the double boost port per side. When did cox stop that and only use a single boost port per side? Do you know why they did that? Maybe the dual one was just too much and a single gave better performance?

If you know the Cox world then you know it is hard to put an exact date on many things. This is no exception. I believe it was in the early 90's when they switched to the dual bypass with single boost port per side. I have heard from folks that the version with 2 boost ports is better and the version with one boost port is better. It certainly is worthy of discussion (and maybe even a test someday). I believe they are tapered like the older ones, but do not quote me on that. Maybe Mud can comment further to the dates, reason, or configuration.

The cylinders that I, and Bernie sell, are converted in the sense that they have a dual bypass with single boost port per side and had the bar and material removed to enable SPI. They are designed to be adequate replacements for a Tee Dee cylinder.

Matt

Thanks for the reply Mat, good info.

I'm sure it has been said, but I'm grateful that you guys kept cox from disappearing, and enable us to have a source of parts these days.

the engine is genuine............no doubt from the Estes production.
looks good too.

in case you are interested, Matt has a TD .049 listed on his site.......i bought one each TD 049 and 051 that Matt lists as refurbished............they are practically new in excellent condition and compression is outstanding.

http://www.exmodelengines.com/product.php?productid=17940&cat=276&page=1

Ok, here is a question..

Is this engine somehow a rarity? To the point that I shouldn't use it? I bought it to run it. I'm not an engine collector, my model engines are for running. However, I don't want to use the engine if a collector here really wants it for display.

Would it be better if I look for a more common TD? Maybe a trade of some sort.

hmm, its value would be to somebody thats collecting every version made, other then that i'd think a little more then average, but less then a comperable early version.

Steve, I think you have a good one to run. I don't think it would have any special collector value. I wish I hadn't nuked my hobby budget lately or I would be buying that one from Matt right now.

Matt, I hope those Tee Dees keep passing through your rebuild shop because I'll be getting another one one of these days before too long. Do you have a trade-in program?

Steve,

Yes, I would run that engine without a doubt.

Rusty,

Yes, we will buy engines of all kind. The TD's move pretty quick but we get them pretty often as well.

Matt

RknRusty wrote:Steve, I think you have a good one to run. I don't think it would have any special collector value. I wish I hadn't nuked my hobby budget lately or I would be buying that one from Matt right now.

Matt, I hope those Tee Dees keep passing through your rebuild shop because I'll be getting another one one of these days before too long. Do you have a trade-in program?

Yep, I traded in a damaged TD .051 for a Medallion .049. (the same engine that ran the travelling prop)

Thanks for the opinions guys, I appreciate it.

I'm going to use this engine, and just enjoy its uncommon coloring. Probably mod it with one of those nice new spinners that came out. Wonder if I can get a metal carb body to replace the plastic one, but one that isn't anodized.

According to Martin Hepperle on his website :

Tee Dee .049 (0.8 cm³)
Manufactured in 1986

This is the standard version of the powerful .049 Tee Dee. The Tee Dee line was introduced by the end of 1960 and formed Cox' competition engine line. Since circa 1973 a wire screen was placed over the venturi intake.

Thought this may help. Cheifster

Hi Cheifster, welcome to CEF. Martin Hepperle's pages are a good frequent go-to source for Cox comparisons around here. Thanks for joining and posting.
Rusty