mccoy engine
 

Hi,fellas..I have a mccoy 35 engine..I thing it is a control line engine..How,where do I find out anything about this engine??I tried a web search and didn`t get much..Any help appreciated..Email off board if you wish..

Many thanks,nimitz:D

RE: mccoy engine
 

Go to SSW at http://www.clstunt.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi then Main Forum and either ask on there or do a search. It's a CL only forum and you'll probably find out more than you wanted to know :D

RE: mccoy engine
 

HI,

The McCoy .35 is indeed a stunt engine but you'll hear allot of mixed opinions about it. They were very inexpensive engines and Testors (who manufactured them) wasn't the best at quality control. Every now and then I guess there were some that wouldn't run but I never had one that didn't. In fact I have 6 .35s that are all nice runners. Make sure you run all castor oil fuel in it minimum 22% oil, I run 29% myself. Low nitro 5-15% is where they're happy and a 10-6 prop is usually what you'll find works well on it. All this is assuming you have a Red Head as pictured. If you have the Black Head series 21 you have quite a boat anchor. They run well but are so heavy they make a poor choice for flying.

They've (Red Heads) been out of production since the late 60's but there seems to be a never ending supply of them on the swap forums and Ebay.

RE: mccoy engine
 

Randy:

Back in 60-61 we'd spend about $10 every weekend flying control line sport.

That covered the fuel, one or two props, and a brand new Testor's McCoy 35 Red Head Stunt engine to replace the one we wore out the weekend before. A gallon of fuel was always enough to wear two of them out, sometimes you could get four with one gallon.

Our flight time was not limited by fuel, glow batteries, or sundown. We were limited by the POS Testor's McCoy engine being run out after an hour's running time, sometimes a little more.

I've heard other people say they had good life from them, the longest I ever saw one run was three weekends. Don't lay the blame for this on me, please. At the time I was doing well in c/l speed and rat race, and dabbling in "Control Line Precision Aerobatics." None of my other engines exhibited such short life, and I still have some of my engines from those days, still in running condition. And it wasn't just me. NOBODy had one last any time. The only thing that kept it from being rejected as a total POS was that a brand new one was $4 bucks. And for that price you coud toss one with no regrets.

Bill.

RE: mccoy engine
 

Tnx,Fellas..I bought this at a flea market..I`m sure glad I didn`t put much in it..Aw well,they say a fool and his money soon parts..Have a good day..:D

RE: mccoy engine
 

It has a soft, sintered piston so it wears out quick. If you are particularly fond of the motor, you could have it chromed. Then you only have to worry about other parts wearing out.

I have a lightning Bolt Mccoy and it's got plenty of poop even after plenty of flying, but it could go south too. Also, they are great engines to cook the piston. Oven on highest mode, stick the Piston only into the oven for an hour, let cool by itself. The piston has now grown a bit and can bring back your compression. Little lapping to fit may be necesarry. Don't worry, it'll probably still wear out.

Definatly nothing less than 28% all castor oil on this engine. That will help.

RE: mccoy engine
 

I agree with bill as to the lifespan of the red heads, though for non demanding uses they should be OK. There is a new old-timer event called Foxacoy in which the McCoy is one of the two engines allowed. As it is a climb and glide event the redhead should provide reasonable life. (The event may also provide a market if you wish to sell).

If you run it use low nitro and lots of castor.

jess

RE: mccoy engine
 

See what I mean nimitz? All kinds of experiences with them good and bad. I'm one of the guys that likes them an have good running ones. I have worn some out and they don't have the life of some of the more expensive engines, but proper feeding will give acceptable life for fun flying. I've chromed some and they are wonderful engines that way. You may yet get some very glowing reviews. My suggestion, use it and form your own opinion. I do need to mention this though, the late George Aldrich told me that the McCoy was a better stunt "design" then the Fox, meaning had the McCoy been well built we'd be using them and badmouthing Foxes rather then what we do now. I agree with him, having used McCoys for all these years.

RE: mccoy engine
 

Randy:

Mount the new McCoy Friday evening, give it a run to set the needle. First start was usually a bit hard, but once the needle was set they were OK. And by the time you had the needle set the engine was broken in.

On Saturday we'd only make eight or ten flights on each plane, that way we had a little bit of engine left for Sunday.

Then on Sunday afternoon we'd fly until the engine didn't have enough compression left to restart.

I never said they didn't run well, had they been lousy running engines we would not have gotten them even at $4 each.

They just didn't run very long.

Bill.

RE: mccoy engine
 

Real interesting information,fellas..I imagine I could live to be a hundred and never learn all the interesting bits about old time flying..I grew up in the fortys. never had time to fly..

This red head 35 seems to have real good compression..It is for sale if anyone would be interested,I`ll take what I paid and shipping in conusa..I was going to put it on a pizza box but now I don`t think it would hold up..

Many thanks and happy flying,nimitz

RE: mccoy engine
 

Bill,

I wasn't throwing stones. I'm alway tickled by the range of feedback that comes from a McCoy Red Hed question. I've always had good ones, 2-3 seasons for some of them. I never had one wear out as you have and never had one that wouldn't run. That's not saying anyone else hasn't had those results and I know guys that have. When you think about it, it makes sense since the QC was so bad the fits and material control was widely varied. When you got a good one (statisically it had to happen now and then) it was truely an outstanding (relatively speaking) engine. I have one .35 and 2 .29s of that sort. Easy starting, smooth and long lived.

Ya' gotta' luv these old paper weights!

RE: mccoy engine
 

What would your price be nimitz?

RE: mccoy engine
 

Hi,rryan..I sent you a email,tnx,nimitz

RE: mccoy engine
 

Randy:

There is no perspiration, I never had the impression that you were casting stones. aspersions, or anything else.

And as I stated, we did have the one every now and then that lasted a very long time. As much as three weeks once or twice.

It got to where the base hobby shop at Sheppard AFB (Wichita Falls, Texas) would order all other engines one at a time, but the Testor's McCoy Red Head 35 Stunt "Engines" were ordered in case lots.

Bill.

RE: mccoy engine
 

As a kid back in the late 50s I couldn't afford anything but a McCoy. I had only one and flew it on at least 5 or 6 planes over 3 or 4 years. It had no compression after a run but still started and ran fine once it cooled down. At least it seemed like it ran fine at the time. The performance probably wouldn't be accepted today but I was happy with it back then.

RE: mccoy engine
 

Out of about 12 of the McCoy 35s that I have had through the years, I have one that still has good compression that I bought new in 1966. That engine has been flown and flown every year on a Guillows Trainer 3 that I use for training C/L. The venturi was cut down and a K&B carb was installed along with a Roberts 3 line crank. I usually use 10% nitro and 25% castor oil fuel. I have worn out the first bellcrank to the point that I was afraid the it would come apart in flight. The past 3 years we have given intro flights with that plane to about 20 scouts each time.
My guess is that Testors produced about 1 good engine out of every 10 or so sold. That one just happens to be the one in that batch.

RE: mccoy engine
 

If I understand correctly, after the initial run many McCoy's were assembled by prople who did not understand engine fits and you sometimes got a good one and sometimes a bad one. This was during the time that they were offered at "fire sale" prices.
I have two .35's that have excellent compression. Bought them used, not sure when they were made.
According to GMA, one of the short-life factors for many was the Testors 39 fuel. It had insufficient lube. I am guilty of using that fuel too. who knew, we were trusting folks back then.
The "lightning bolt" version was an improved model...bronze crankshaft bearing, etc.

George

RE: mccoy engine
 

I have McCoy Testers O&R and K&B and they all still run, remember the old fuels that you could not get to burn and buying Caster at the drug store and mixing your own with a little either blowed the head clean off a 35 . I payed $4.95 for 29's ND $5.95 FOR 35'S in late 40's The speed engines sold for about $10.95 with the rear intake those were the days.

RE: mccoy engine
 

There were different versions of the McCoy Redhead too. I had one (good running, but traded it at a swap) which had the off-centered slanted glow plug. I heard it was one of the later versions. Not sure if there was much difference between the different head designs, but mine ran good while I had it.

Rick

RE: mccoy engine
 

I had one on my Guillows trainer back in 61. Loved the flex needle. But don't flood the ######thing! Would always backfire, kicking the prop loose! Never had compression troubles with mine, Used 'FOX SUPERFUEL' only. I flew the devil out of it and never wore the engine out!

:):):D:D

RE: mccoy engine
 

I had probably a dozen Red Head Stunt 35's. I had a George Aldrich Blue Head 40, and a McCoy 29 stunt (older Style) that was all silver with no steel fins. My Dad bought it along with a all silver except for the black fins Torpedo 19 somewhere in late '51 or early '52? I never wore any of these out. I used Fox fuel most of the time. I horse traded them off eventually.

A friend had a McCoy 29 Red Head rear intake ingine. It was based more on the same cylinder assembly as the earlier all silver McCoy 29 and 36 engines. Having never worn one out, I horse traded for a 36 one time. It was a POS because someone had burned it up.

I always bought the Super Fuel in the square metal gallon cans. Being a stunt pattern guy, I always ran my engines a the 2-4 break point so they were run rather rich. They wouldn't have a whole lot of compression just after a run but seemed OK when they cooled down. They'd still run though, to start one up while it was still warm.

The McCoy 35's, OS MAX S 35's, and Fox 35 stunts were good about not running away on you. You set them right at the top of the 4 cycle point and they would stay that way. A Super Tiger G21-40 was real bad about going lean on you. My Johnson stunt Supremes were a little more prone to go lean than the McCoy's and Fox Stunt 35's. The Super Tigre G21-46's had milder timing than the G21-40 and was nicer for stunt. I had a OS H 40 stunt at one time but didn't like it as well as the 35's.

The all silver OS MAX S 35 was a wonderful engine for stunt and it ran in the air about like the McCoy. There was a older OS 35 that had black steel fins on it, I never owned one.

I still have several Fox 35's, OS MAX S 35's, a Johnson 35 Stunt Supreme, A Original style Fox 40 Stunt with the steel fins, a ST G21-40 and several G21-46's if anyone is interested? I'll give you some Ring Masters, Magicians, etc too if you'll come by the house.

Jim

RE: mccoy engine
 

Hi, Jim,

Where is Shelby, Ohio?
I'm in Indianapolis right now, over the Memorial Day weekend.
Will be going back home to San Antonio sometime next week.
(Whenever my wife and grandkids decide.)
I was stationed here at Fort Benjamin Harrison and used to
make it over to Dayton every year while I was here.
Retired from the Army at FBH in 1980 at 20 years.

I have a McCoy Redhead .35 that I bought in 1962.
Had it in a Sterling Waco Cabin that I taught my son to
fly with. Flew it so much that the plane finally got so
fuel-soaked it started falling apart.
Sometime in the late '70s, before McCoy sold out to Testors,
I got a new matched piston, cylinder sleeve and gasket set.
It still has plenty of compression and runs fine.

Also went through a few Ringmasters, from the 1/2A
Baby Ringmaster, the Ringmaster Jr, the Ringmaster 35,
and the Ringmaster Sportster. I thought the Sportster
was really neat with the tricycle gear.

There's only one shop in San Antonio that carries the GMA
all-castor fuel mix for vintage engines. The manufacturer
up in the Austin area won't do individual retail sales, even
if I drive up there to buy it from them (about 70 miles).

GMA used to live just a few miles up the road from me,
and I was really saddened when his obituary showed up
in the SA Express-News. The last e-mail I got from him,
he said that he wasn't doing too well. Back when I was
in high school in the '50s, I used to watch him flying in
the Coliseum parking lot ... Man, was he impressive!

Hope I can get together with you for an eyeball before
heading back South.

73,

Harry, K5HML
[email protected]

RE: mccoy engine
 

Anyone out there know where I might get parts for McCoy 19, 29, & 35 Red Head and Pre Red Head engines.

Thanks,
Richard

RE: mccoy engine
 

yeah man whats a redhead 35 worth right now?

RE: mccoy engine
 

Harry, where is the store that sells Powermaster GMA? I've been in Rebel Hobbies on Blanco and the shop on Fredricksburg Rd., but at the time, wasn't in the market for fuel. We go to Ft. Sam Houston once a quarter for medicine and booze, so I could pick up some fuel while there. Thanks. Glen

RE: mccoy engine
 

I never had a McCoy 35, but I did own a 29. Probably got it in the mid 60's, and it was a really good little motor. The last time I flew it was about 1986, so I figure I got my money's worth out of it. I had stored it away in the attic, still on the plane that I built in the early 70's. I came across it many years later and patched a few holes in the wing and went flying. It still ran fine after all that time. That was the only McCoy I ever had, and for a 12 year old kid, (at the time), it was a good little engine.

RWCherry
Sharpsburg KY

RE: mccoy engine
 

Several have mentioned burning down McCoy stunt engines...

Sure, you can do that. For those of us who have known and loved Fox and ENYA engines, there is an alternative. It is called "break-in."

The ENYA engines, given a half decent break-in, will last until you are so tired of seeing them that they tend to go on the wall and stay there.

Fox Stunt 35s, given a decent break-in, and a steady diet of 28-29% all-castor fuel, will live forever, too. McCoy engines, of various eras, had the potential to give such service. Aside from factory QC, the low prices kept them from being considered suitable candidates for a break-in that cost more in fuel than the engines did, themselves, new-in-box.

The porous, sintered iron pistons are ideal candidates for varnish-equals-fit durability. Two things only - a frying hot run kills them, and a low-oil - or detergent oil - fuel does them much evil. It flushes off the varnish build-up that makes the pistons seal in the sleeve... They still preferred a juicy stack-prime to start reliably... Harder to do today, even with chip/tongue mufflers.

The McCoy Series 21 boat anchors were heavy for their displacement, particularly the .19, but the Dykes ring - if never fried - made a big difference. J.Bowman has rings for most of our engines, and if you have a Series 21 with a Pringles Dykes ring, he may be able to restore a very useful engine for you. Fried Dykes rings never seal for hand flipping... Reasonably used Dykes rings are very durable.

When I was a kid, the McCoys were steel sleeve red heads. Their worst trait was blowing glow plugs out of the head in mid-flight. No way to fake out of that condition... Of course, as a kid, I was more into the burn-it-down mindset than building an engine I could use reliably for quite a while.

We all learn...

...eventually.

RE: mccoy engine
 

The McCoy .35 redhead was a control line engine. It came in a plastic box and at that time as I remember, it was $8.00. My K&B .35 engines used for rat race at that time were higher and the .35 McCoy redhead racing engine with the square looking grey metal case was almost double the sport redhead. They ran well, were very inexpensive and used high oil, on the order of 22% or higher, with lots of castor. Nitro was low at about 5%. I know they let a lot of kids like me fly over in the schoolyard across the street. Could not afford R/C until I got an honest job. :-) After awhile and lots of Fox Superfuel gallons later, my cousin and I started mixing our own fuels and have been doing so for some 40+ years now. I had more engines than the law allows, including several McCoy .35 sport engines, a bunch of .15, 29 and .35 K&B engines, a Cyclone super .60 (on a roller skate ball bearing platform!), Cox .049s, OK Cub .074, you name it, I had it. I sent all my small engines up to the .15 to a fellow in Augusta Maine, his father still ran these small engine and it was great to give them and mail them off for him to enjoy.

RE: mccoy engine
 

My flyin' buddies and I had good luck with the McCoys. Superfuel (plenty of castor) and the old Sterling profile Yak, Mustang, Navion, etc. made for lots of good flying. The one I saw fail was by an idiot who ran out of 9 x 6 props (probably the reason we had good luck with ours) and tried an 8 x 5. Exploded half way thru the flight. (well, a rod broke).
howell

RE: mccoy engine
 

My dad built a Sterling Spitfire stunter and installed the McCoy .35. He never flew it until one day we took a trip to Willow Grove NAS for the Nats (1965). He had gotten acquainted with a fellow from Illinois who was flying FF power and CL stunt. He flew the airplane and to this day, I'll remember that Spitfire tight on the lines doing everything in the book. He made it look easy. After the Nats we took it to a local ball field and my dad proceeded to strain the airplane through a snow fence. Seems the lines went slack on him and he got a bit tangled up. After that, he decided RC was safer and stored the engine until it was given away some time later. I had one of those Sterling kits but sold it off. Now they're going something like $200 on ebay.[:@]

RE: mccoy engine
 

I have a McCoy Redhead .35 i was going to use in a c/l airplane for the first time. I have a fresh gallon of Patriot r/c 15% nitro, lubrication package by Klotz and states it is 18% oil. I have a quart of sig castor oil. How mutch castor would i have to add to bring a quart of fuel to approx 25% oil. Thanks !

RE: mccoy engine
 

As long as you have an oily fuel the Testors/McCoy engines will run pretty well.

I used the T/M .19 engines a lot in the sixties and the main problem I had with the old shiny-case engines was blowing the fiber head gasket.

The later dull case engines with the lightening bolts was a better engine.

Here are three versions of McCoy stunt .19 engines I still have.

RE: mccoy engine
 

11.2 oz of added castor will give you a total of 25% oil.

edit: Sorry, you were only going to doctor a quart a.d I gave you the amount for a full gallon. For a quart you wolul only need 2.8 oz of castor. This will give you 13.8% nitro and 25% oil.

jess

RE: mccoy engine
 

Someone pointed out that adding oild does not change the ratio of methanol/nitromethane. So adding oil should not affect the power performance. Just need to open the needle a little to get the proper amount of m/n through the engine.

RE: mccoy engine
 

I have a Mc Coy .35 Red Head Never Started with the Paper Work/Warranty Card & Sticker (Spotless)
Is it worth hanging on to ?
Got a lot of good info on the engine here
Thanks

RE: mccoy engine
 

I scored a couple of McCoy .35's some years ago at a local yard sale. Paid $5.00 each if I remember correctly. They were properly broken-in and are the older versions with the plastic button in the wrist pin hole to space the conrod from the backplate. I oiled them and maintained them but have never had them in a ship so far...too many engines, not enough time. [&o]

George

RE: mccoy engine
 

Here is some history on the McCoy 35 cl engine thats interesting::::

http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/McCoy.htm

RE: mccoy engine
 

:D

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF_KGB_wnkg[/youtube]

RE: mccoy engine
 

Love your avatar, Tom. Nice first run on the McCoy. Looks and sounds like it'd be a runner. Lots of castor will make them seat it, that one has the looks of a good one.
I bought a McCoy 40 redhead stunt and a Froom spinner for a Sterling Spitfire for which I have actual construction plans. Some day I'll build it!
Chris...

RE: mccoy engine
 

Thanks Chris! :)