A Cox Convert!

Ivanhoe Thu Dec 01, 2011 11:08 am

I originally found this forum after I bought a new Surestart, and joined just to see what these Cox engines were all about, since, in my previous aeromodelling life I’d never really bothered with them.
However, due to the helpful, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and above all friendly members here, I now find that I am a convert, I have even bought Cox engines I have no immediate use for, just to have them! (Heaven forbid I am becoming a “Collector”!) Your enthusiasm rubs off!
I now find myself searching EBay for “Cox” at every opportunity, not with any great success it must be said, since unfortunately, after retirement ,my hobby budget is strictly limited, and I am normally out-bid after reaching my (low) limit, but I have got hold of one or two. I usually look out for the “Less than perfect” offers (Otherwise known as “Junkers”) but even these tend to fetch silly money most of the time.
I find that restoring a Junker to running condition gives me more satisfaction than buying a pristine example, so I keep an eye open for these, and also on the collections of bits that come up occasionally, though these are always snapped up for high prices.
So, you see what this forum can do to a perfectly normal person!

Wilf

nitroairplane Thu Dec 01, 2011 11:12 am

Wilf its great to see a convert on here Smile

Would you like this moved to the introduction thread?

Ivanhoe Thu Dec 01, 2011 12:23 pm

nitroairplane wrote:Wilf its great to see a convert on here
Would you like this moved to the introduction thread?

If you think it fits better there, by all means, although I've been here quite a while now!

Wilf

Kim Thu Dec 01, 2011 12:37 pm

Ivanhoe wrote:
"I find that restoring a Junker to running condition gives me more satisfaction than buying a pristine example
So, you see what this forum can do to a perfectly normal person!"

Wilf

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH !!!!!

Last year, I traded for a Stuka with a real "Rat Dog", rusted up engine. Locked up...even some fins rusted off. The guy said he'd replace it with a newer one...to which I replied, "NO WAY! I'm gonna 'rescue it!" IT OBVIOUSLY needed me! Got it going and have it on the plane I flew in my Youtube video!

This was way before I found out about this place, so I can't blame these guys DIRECTLY as pushers...just ENABLERS of my disorder !!!!!

A Cox Convert! 2_24

Ivanhoe Thu Dec 01, 2011 1:15 pm

Kim wrote:
Ivanhoe wrote:
"I find that restoring a Junker to running condition gives me more satisfaction than buying a pristine example
So, you see what this forum can do to a perfectly normal person!"

Wilf

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH !!!!!

Last year, I traded for a Stuka with a real "Rat Dog", rusted up engine. Locked up...even some fins rusted off. The guy said he'd replace it with a newer one...to which I replied, "NO WAY! I'm gonna 'rescue it!" IT OBVIOUSLY needed me! Got it going and have it on the plane I flew in my Youtube video!

This was way before I found out about this place, so I can't blame these guys DIRECTLY as pushers...just ENABLERS of my disorder !!!!!

That is probably the single worst engine I have ever seen! Congratulations on actually getting it to run! Makes my restorations look like a walk in the park. How much of the original engine was salvagable?

Wilf

nitroairplane Thu Dec 01, 2011 1:33 pm

Ok I will leave it be but just tell me if you would like it moved.
I love restoring old stuff I actually love getting a gummed up dirty engine and when cleaning and restoring it imagining how many hours of running it had and who allowed it o get that dirty.
Those thoughts are priceless.
Indra

dankar04 Fri Dec 02, 2011 9:24 am

Good work on getting engine going. I live in Arizona and moved from Cal. so rust isn't a problem here. I have a modified product engine in a Cox ME-109 hollow wing stunter and its aweome. My friend built the engine from parts he got from Dale Kirn many years ago. This engine can crank and flys the plane with good power.
Dan Flying

Kim Fri Dec 02, 2011 10:58 am

Ivanhoe wrote:
Kim wrote:
Ivanhoe wrote:
"I find that restoring a Junker to running condition gives me more satisfaction than buying a pristine example
So, you see what this forum can do to a perfectly normal person!"

Wilf

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH !!!!!

Last year, I traded for a Stuka with a real "Rat Dog", rusted up engine. Locked up...even some fins rusted off. The guy said he'd replace it with a newer one...to which I replied, "NO WAY! I'm gonna 'rescue it!" IT OBVIOUSLY needed me! Got it going and have it on the plane I flew in my Youtube video!

This was way before I found out about this place, so I can't blame these guys DIRECTLY as pushers...just ENABLERS of my disorder !!!!!

That is probably the single worst engine I have ever seen! Congratulations on actually getting it to run! Makes my restorations look like a walk in the park. How much of the original engine was salvagable?

Wilf

I intentionally used ALL of it ! The fuel line and prop, I ditched, but used a combination of oil, heat and brute force to bust everything else loose. I floated the copper reed off it's bonded seat with gentle applications of heat, a pool of oil, and an xacto knife. "Power-Flushed" the needle valve seat with my fuel syringe, and just said goodbye to the rusty fins as I wire-brushed my way to clean metal. Even the glowhead still worked, and I spun it on my Dremel Tool, and pretty'd it up with some fine sandpaper.

It IS amazing to me as just how BAD a condition these things can be in and still crank, No...never will be a contest winner...but it has TONS and TONS of Character !!!!

A beautiful, tuned Hot-Rod draws comments like, "Wow! What a cool engine!" While my little orphans and their peers are the targets of wholesale disbelief, "Holy Crap! That thing actually RUNS ?!!!" Somehow, that's just as pleasing to me!

A Cox Convert! 7_20

Kim Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:30 am

dankar04 wrote:Good work on getting engine going. I live in Arizona and moved from Cal. so rust isn't a problem here. I have a modified product engine in a Cox ME-109 hollow wing stunter and its aweome. My friend built the engine from parts he got from Dale Kirn many years ago. This engine can crank and flys the plane with good power.
Dan

Thanks! Had a Cox ME-109 in the mid-late 70's...loved it ! Maybe there's one out there now, neglected and waiting for me in it's dark closet !!!

andrew Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:45 am

Kim wrote:

It IS amazing to me as just how BAD a condition these things can be in and still crank, No...never will be a contest winner...but it has TONS and TONS of Character !!!!

I had been using this engine for a weight for carp fishing, but with the river being up, it was too light and I had to use a Toki .05 instead. I was going to just toss it back in when Kim saw it and offered $30. It was obvious how badly he wanted it and I didn't think it was really worth $30, so we cut a deal for $20. You know how he his when he sets his mind on something --- he would have probably jumped in after it and the water was pretty cold. Hand Shake

So that's how it came to be --- no foolin'.

andrew

Kim Fri Dec 02, 2011 4:38 pm

No Guts...No Glory...and the shrinkage eventually goes away !

Now that we've totally hijacked Ivanhoe's post, I shall cease, and retreat to my toy cave...wherein dwells the trappings of this quirk-some disorder called a "Hobby" !

SuperDave Fri Dec 02, 2011 5:45 pm

Wilf:

You used VICE-GRIPS (pliers) on an aluminum Cox engine??????????????? Rolling Eyes

andrew Fri Dec 02, 2011 6:09 pm

I have absolutely no idea how he managed to get that thing to run --- but, it certainly took skill, perseverance and a lot of TLC.

Kim Fri Dec 02, 2011 6:20 pm

andrew wrote:I have absolutely no idea how he managed to get that thing to run --- but, it certainly took skill, perseverance and a lot of TLC.

and Vise Grips....

Kim Fri Dec 02, 2011 6:25 pm

SuperDave wrote:Wilf:

You used VICE-GRIPS (pliers) on an aluminum Cox engine???????????????

Not Wilf...Little Ole Me....

**RknRusty** Fri Dec 02, 2011 6:30 pm

Kim wrote:the shrinkage eventually goes away !

That's what I keep hoping.

shell shock Fri Dec 02, 2011 6:50 pm

Oh man, you guys are too much! The best restoration i have done was not on a cox however. if i may, i found a old 2 stroke bike engine mounted to a frame in a river (must have been there for years). she now takes me 70km/h!

the biggest restoration i have done for a cox engine is a gutting of the gaskets and tubing on a golden bee

Kim Fri Dec 02, 2011 7:18 pm

shell shock wrote:Oh man, you guys are too much! The best restoration i have done was not on a cox however. if i may, i found a old 2 stroke bike engine mounted to a frame in a river (must have been there for years). she now takes me 70km/h!

the biggest restoration i have done for a cox engine is a gutting of the gaskets and tubing on a golden bee

That Rocks !

Well...OK...so the long poem WAS a little over the top............

Ivanhoe Sat Dec 03, 2011 12:15 pm

SuperDave wrote:Wilf:

You used VICE-GRIPS (pliers) on an aluminum Cox engine???????????????

No, weren't me!

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