Engine Question for Trainer
 

Hello, All!

Based on information recieved from a previous post, I have decided to buy a Sig kadet lt-25 to re-enter the glow plane world. I have yet to hook up with the local club, and so have been unable to get input from members yet, but I have a question for some of you engine gurus:

This week, I unearthed a Fox .40BB engine i had purchased about 10 years ago an tortured in and airboat. It was run hard and put away wet, so to speak. I have yet to determine the condition of the internals, but it's fairly well gooped up. The crank spins ok. Would I be better off attempting to salvage the engine for the kadet, or should I leave it aside for now and pick up an OS or Magnum .25?

Any help and/or suggestions are appreciated.
Thanx!

Engine Question for Trainer
 

Id try the 40. If that dont pan out, go for atleast a 46. There are many more plane applications you could trade the 46 off on, after youve gone beyond the trainer.

Engine Question for Trainer
 

I too have an old Fox .40BB. It's been sitting in a box uncared for since 1995 or so. I'm afraid of it. :)

A friend has the same engine, and oddly enough it was in the same situation: unused for a number of years and poorly stored. He wanted to put it on a Cub, so we got it out and spent some time messing with it. We could get it to run, after a fashion, but not very well. Eventually we had three of us working on it, and we've all got a fair bit of experience with engines. In the end he decided it wasn't worth it.

Mine'll come out of the box someday and find its way onto a SPAD. My advice to you is to take off the back plate, look for rust, and if it's clean stick it on a test stand (easily improvised if you don't have one) and see what happens. If it works, you've got an engine that's well suited to the LT-25. If it doesn't work, you're only out a bit of time and effort.

Engine Question for Trainer
 

you dont look too far from the field I fly at.
looks about 30-45 minute drive.

its right down 206/202 just past bridgewater.

are you familiar with the 4-H feild?

take 202/206 till it splits to 202. take that till you get to milltown rd. you will pass under a train bridge that has the 4-h logo painted on it with something like 4-h is great. its the next right.

its on the left hand side right after the big park commision building.

its like a $15 dollar permit and valid AMA for the year.

if you want I can meet you there and take a look at it.

dont think the weather is going to be good for flying for a bit and the field isnt drying up now (probably covered in snow today) so i dont know when it will be flyable.

let me know via PM.

Engine Question for Trainer
 

You will want stability and RELIABILITY in an engine....if that one Fox doesn't give it to you - replace it!


Jerry

Engine Question for Trainer
 

Thanks guys for the input! So far, I guess I'll tear the fox down this week and see how the innards are, and if ok, I'll try to run it. I gather (from common sense as well as your responses) that it would not benefit me to hang it on the front of my plane until I'm sure it's rock solid reliable.
Does anyone have any more info about these fox engines? I bought mine about 10 years ago at a LHS that has long since folded and didn't really know anything about it. It was used on an airboat until a battery failure induced high-speed altercation with the shoreline effectively destroyed said airboat. As I recall, the fox was an easy starter and a real screamer until I threw it on a shelf in disgust and forgot about it.
Again, thanks for the info--everyone here has been helpful to my queries.

Engine Question for Trainer
 

Not sure if it will be any help....but here is the company link.

Fox Engines

Engine Question for Trainer
 

Hi buzzbomber,even though thats a LT25,most of us at our club use LA40, LA46,FX46 to fly them,I'm building another to put floats on and using a OS 46 fx.The 25's will do the job but on grass or high wind then might need tad more giddy up

Engine Question for Trainer
 

Thanks everyone for the info. These forums have been great for me the past month gearing up to get back into glow power in the spring.
Here's an engine update. Tore it down last night, cleaned it up and found no corrosion to speak of, just a little scratched area on the end of the throttle barrel. Now I need to pick up some fuel and a new glow plug and see if it will fire. compresssion's good BTW. 15% nitro 18% castor should be ok, right? I read somewhere Foxes are picky about fuel.

Engine Question for Trainer
 

Morning buzzbomer,sounds good to me.Let us know how it works out.

Engine Question for Trainer
 

For the difference in price, why not go with the LT 40? I have one and it flew very well with an old OS Max .40. Of course it now has an ASP .61 on it! Great for banner towing. Also if you Fox does not work out, a Magnum .40 is not that much more expensive. So for a few dollars more you have a bigger airplane/motor that will be more stable and easier to see.

Engine Question for Trainer
 

Good suggestions all. If the fox doesn't work out, I think I'm gonna look for a magnum .28xls. or maybe an os .40la. Either way.
Being honest enough with myself to realize that this hobby has little to do with rationality--I just like the concept of the LT-25 better. It's got a slightly lower wing loading and only 7 inches less span if I read the specs right. Plus, it's a taildragger. I grew up flying with my father in a full-scale stampe sv4, a great lakes, and a rented j-3, so taildraggers are in my blood, I guess--even if there is a greater learning curve in ground handling.
Anyhow, I'll keep you updated. Thanks all!