Cougar429

My Feedback: (3)

I found the original mount on Rare Bear was far too flexible. Although it kept quite a bit of the engine pulses out of the airframe, it allowed so much movement throttle was affected. The only real option with what I had available was to fab a spacer such as hsukaria mentioned. In this case the engine ended up in the same place so there was no need to redo the cowl. Just the mount was altered, but the theory should be the same.

Here are pics of the original mount and the new setup. In this case I turned the spacer out of a spare block of 1/2" Delrin.

I'm always reluctant to add anything other than a spinner backplate between the prop and drive washer as that is the fixed surface the prop aligns to. Personally, although I agree the leather would provide a good power path to transfer output to the prop, IMO working on the assumption the center hole will keep the prop true is asking too much. Any hard material could damage the legacy drive face and not provide good contact. Perhaps soft alloy, composite or even a plastic washer would be better? As long as the crush is uniform it should work.

I would also hope there are at least two threads showing beyond the front of the prop nut, from what I remember what we consider "Safety" in maintenance, (AC4313). Been a while. I would have to pull the book out to confirm.

hsukaria

Well, flying season is over in these parts. So, I will have some time to fix this by redoing the engine mount. It's better to make sure I got it 100% right now in preparation for flying season. I will try a spacer between firewall and engine mount or new mount.

Nice engine by the way.

koastrc

This is the only forum I follow. I do not have a FOX in my hanger, but have owned many. Lost them all in Katrina. I enjoy this section so much. Not only is it full of good tech insight , but some real nice people. I figured I knew about as much as anyone about FOX engines. You folks have taught me I still have much to learn. Happy New Year and keep the post coming.

Cougar429

My Feedback: (3)

I would imagine a "Welcome" is in order. Hopefully your hangar will be infested with Foxes again soon.

This confirms a tenet I live by, basically that if you do not learn something new every day, or take knowledge with you without imparting it to others is a waste of effort, ("taking up room in the food chain" is my more colloquial term).

earlwb

I don't know, I still see lots of folks flying in the winter. Some sea plane like aircraft do well for taking off and landing in the snow too.
Then there are the guys with ski's on their planes as well. Besides there is always the little hand launch planes also.
I remember using a large transmitter cover to help keep my hands a little warmer in the past. I have had to use a heat shrink tubing gun to warm up engines before.

aspeed

Indoor flying is better.  Lots of micro planes to choose from.  Driving to Florida or Texas to fly is good too.

Cougar429

My Feedback: (3)

Other than the float equipped craft, these are my most versatile. The Seamaster 40 in the foreground sported a Fox 50 for over 20 years.

All can fly from water, snow or land, (with the gear reinstalled) while the Polaris is RTF from any surface as soon as the battery is connected.

aspeed

My seamaster has a ST .51. I should get it going. I have a couple of Aquastars, one was brushed electric with nicads and another was a Norvel .049. Neither one would take off water.

hsukaria

If it were dry snow, I can put skis or floats on my Sig Rascal 40. I will have to work out the logistics of warmer clothes and transmitter cover. The plane has plenty of power for floats or skis.

aspeed

I think skis take less power than wheels.  The old Zippo type fluid is good for priming in cold weather.  I think a couple of spare batteries that are warm and flying electric is the best for winter flying without a heated clubhouse.  It is just too hard to position tubing for fueling and putting in screws etc when it is real cold.  A trip to Florida or indoor flying is the best solution IMHO.

50+AirYears

Maybe the thing I like best about flying in the winter here on the Sunny South Shore of Lake Erie is not having to contend for flight stations and frequency clips. Haven't missed a month flying since 1990.
Fox engines seem to not notice the cold. One fine February day, I got in a few flights with my Scnuerle .25 while other club members were going nuts trying to keep their ST and OS running.
A couple years ago, I got a Flite Streak ARF at a low price. I put out a couple posts on CL sites about which engine I should use on it, one of my Veco, Johnson, or Fox .35s, or my Fox .25 Schnuerles. Nearly all of the respondents said to get an LA .25, everything else I named was too hot for the fuse.

aspeed

We used to race the Fox .35 motors in Flight Streak type planes, and then the rules were changed to only allow the LA .25, which meant I was stuck with a bunch of Fox .35's.  Nevertheless, the LA .25 is actually faster than the old Foxes, but they shake and vibrate much less so it is easier on the fuselage.  I am on the north shore of the same lake pretty much, it is pretty windy most of the time here for comfortable winter flying.  I think the Fox has a tamer bowl type head with a smaller squish band and lower compression to make it start better and take bigger props.(and save on plug elements)  At least on my .15 schneurle motor.  I made a higher compression head for it and it went a fair bit faster, but changed the characteristics that foxes are 'loved' for.

50+AirYears

I remember a couple CL Combat columns in the old Model Builder magazines.
One, flyers could buy a Fox .15 Schnuerle BB for about $35, or a Nelson for $150 for a few hundred more RPM.
Second one, the writer stated he'd practice using Fox Schnuerle 40s, and then change to a Nelson .36 for competition. Planes flew about the same.
I also remember at a February Chili fly-in at the old CL field, guy with a high tech Slow Combat plane. "That D*** Fox Combat Special. I needed two flips to get it running !" (About 10 degrees F)

Sport_Pilot

Does it really matter? If they extended the shaft a foot, some builders will still manage to install the cowl where it rubs the back of the spinner.

hsukaria

True,
In the case of my plane, the cowl would have to be ripped up really bad if I move the engine forward even 1/8 inch. So, an extension of only 1/8 inch is all I need. I've seen the opposite in many planes, the gap between the spinner and cowl is vast. That looks goofy.

earlwb

Fox sells the 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch propeller extensions that work really well too. That is usually what folks use to mount the engine inside of a cowl on some models. For 1/8 of a inch one could likely find that some spinners without a recess work Ok in that case. But using a wide thin washer would likely work too.

hsukaria

I will be trying a big washer or a backplate of a smaller spinner begween the prop driver and the spinner backplate. I hope that gives enough friction.

LaRebel24

Hi.....Was wondering if anyone knows if the Flight Line Solutions website is still up and running and if so what is the site address. Any info on this matter would be appreciated..

Thanks
Andrew

earlwb

It was saved and archived here now http://members.shaw.ca/flitelinesolutions/manuals.html

LaRebel24

Thanks for the info.

Andrew

Cougar429

My Feedback: (3)

Thought I would relay some good news. I finally sent in the Eagle IV 60 and was given the report Thursday. I posted pics of this one a while ago, but thought it may be helpful with a short review.

After only a few tankfuls it killed two plugs in a row so I pulled the head and found the entire back of the piston missing down to the ring. I thought it was perhaps the 15% fuel and fabbed some new buttons to try on the second identical engine. Found the behavior a bit dicey as it was early in break in. However, the lowest comp button seemed to generate the best numbers and behavior. Again, that will need to be tentative until it settles in.

It seems the piston was faulty as they could tell the motor had low time. Under warranty it now sports a new piston and ring and run in to set the carb. Was told my fuel should be fine, but they installed the new head button. Will be interesting to compare it to my home grown versions.

Called Friday to figure out how to get it home and found they are closed. Second US manufacturer I called within the last week to find that is their normal schedule. Interesting.

Will find out Monday if postage will be the best option or to have them bring it to Toledo and pick it up there. Great product and service and they stand behind what they make. Rarer these days.

AGNI 5

Anyone bought a engine from Fox lately? Placed a order for Fox 25 and received a email saying that they are on back order and delivery will be late.I have replied saying that I will wait for the engine.

computermonkey

My Feedback: (90)

Ya I tried to order a Fox 60, same thing. I ended up cancelling.

earlwb

Well sometimes you just have to have patience. When I ordered a Fox .25, I forget how long the wait was though, several months I think, but they eventually got the production run going and sent it to me.

computermonkey

My Feedback: (90)

I was going wanting to try the new carb on the Eagle 60, but after thinking about it for a while I decided it wasn't worth it for me. I have flown Fox's for years and they are great engines, but having to buy a new engine just for the carb is crazy for me. The carb by itself is 60 plus dollars.