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Author Topic: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines  (Read 2318 times)

Offline Mark Allen

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Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« on: October 27, 2009, 07:43:10 PM »
I was wondering if someone could tell me where to get the Nelson heads for the Brodak Mk I .049 and .061.  Been reading the threads here and this seems to be a popular modification to both these engines.  Can anybody steer me to a link, site, email, phone number, snail mail address for these?

Thanks!
Mark

Offline kenneth cook

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2009, 03:21:04 PM »
       Mark,  I tried some time ago to find one of those heads. Every now and then they show up on Ebay. You would probably have to contact Henry Nelson direct. I believe if you do a search for competition engines or one for the National Speed Society there is a direct e-mail link for him. I used to have the e-mail address but I can't locate it. The one thing to expect with this is a fairly high cost in the area of $30.00. Then you have to purchase the plugs if you don't already have them. Larry Renger suggested this inexpensive mod and I tried it with good success. You just use the stock head and drill the threads out. I believe he was using a letter drill to do it, but I just used the closest size I had available. You can then use any button type glow plug; AP, Norvel, Merlin, Glo Bee etc. Insert the plug onto the landing in the cylinder and use the stock head as a clamp. In my case, I flattened the plug on a piece of glass using 800 grit and did away with the stock head shim. This increased the performance of the engine and enhanced the startability of the engine. In any event the mod is not a costly one as the stock heads are inexpensive and available. In my case I never changed it and never looked back. I run the engine pretty hard with a Apc 4.4x4 prop. Ken

Offline Mark Allen

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2009, 04:19:45 PM »
Thanks Ken I'll keep that in mind.  I seem to remember reading that mod in some of the threads I searched on it.  I've got a good drill index with letter sized bits so its certainly an option.

Mark

Offline david beazley

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2009, 06:27:13 AM »
I have used Nelson plugs in Nelson and Jett RC Pylon engines in the past.  One thing to consider is that are designed differently than standard glow plugs, ie they seal on the beveled part of the bottom of the plug not by the gasket or threads.  The heads have an internal bevel to match the base of the plug
It's only paranoia if they aren't really after you.
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Offline david beazley

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2009, 06:32:12 AM »
The picture above is of from left to right of a standard Fireball plug, a Standard Nelson plug and a HD Nelson plug.  HD plug has a larger element and the hole is larger which could affect the compression especially on a 1/2A if you are looking for max performance.  Last I remember the plugs are around $5.00 each and they are routinly changed aftern a hard run on a 40 sized pylon engine.  in the range of 20K rpm turning a 8 or 9 pitch prop.
It's only paranoia if they aren't really after you.
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Offline Ralph Wenzel (d)

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2009, 07:11:04 AM »
You can get a lot of this stuff from Larry Driskill - - http://www.kittingittogether.com/glow-plugs/

(Too many irons; not enough fire)

Ralph Wenzel
AMA 495785 League City, TX

Offline Trostle

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2009, 09:19:15 AM »
For the Nelson adaptors and plugs that fit Cox, Norvels, AP Wasp, and Cyclon engines, go to Doug Galbreath's Free Flight Stuff at

http://www.the-printer.net/DookCat.html

He also has adaptors and plugs for the Hollnd Hornet and for the Cox .020.

Keith

Added note:  MECOA also lists replacement plugs for the Cox .049 engines and other engines that can use these same plugs.  MECOA also has their own line of plugs and adpters for Cox and Norvel and AP Wasp .049 and .061 engines.  MECOA also says that "soon" they will have plugs for the Holland Hornet, Atwood and K&B .049 engines as well as replacement plugs for the Cox .020 and .010 engines.  I contacted MECOA about when the .010 plugs would be available and their response was "Probably early-mid next year."

Their website for glow plugs is

http://www.mecoa.com/acc/glowplug/glowplug.htm
« Last Edit: October 31, 2009, 03:27:17 PM by Trostle »

Offline kenneth cook

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2009, 04:17:20 PM »
    The problem here is not finding the Nelson plug itself. The Brodak or CS engines have a large head which holds the cylinder liner down. The Galbreath head is designed to fit into a Cox like cylinder which accepts the Nelson head. All of the engines as stated above AP, Norvel, Cox, Stehls etc. can utilize the Galbreath head setup where the Brodak can't. Henry Nelson didn't make many of these heads but could make them on request. I'm not sure if that is still correct today as I inquired about them almost 2 years ago. The biggest factor is the cost. When you weigh in the cost of the head which is probably now $30.00 or more plus a $5.00 plug you've added more than half the cost of the engine here. You are probably less than likely to achieve the same performance as the AP.061 at the cost of anywhere from $39.99-$49.99. The Ap is by far the best choice of the currently available engines as its powercurve is more than suitable for several types of flying. Not everyone is happy with the r/c carb on the AP including myself but these obstacles can be hurdled quite easily as others have already done. Ken

Offline Larry Renger

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2009, 08:59:57 PM »
Agree that the AP Wasp is the way to go.  Jan Holuszko's venturis turn it into a real pussycat with major bite.  However you can fiddle with the original carb, locking the barrel in place with JB weld and possibly drilling out the venturi opening to get something almost as nice at no cost.  I fly with Jan's venturi mostly, it is just too good.

so a search on AP Wasp for extensive discussions on venturis and carb mod's.
Think S.M.A.L.L. y'all and, it's all good, CL, FF and RC!

DesignMan
 BTW, Dracula Sucks!  A closed mouth gathers no feet!

Offline kenneth cook

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #9 on: November 09, 2009, 03:03:20 PM »
     Henry's contact is nelcomp@fyi.net. Competition engines is the company name. I recently found it looking through my favorites. Ken

Offline Mark Allen

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #10 on: November 09, 2009, 05:53:41 PM »
Thanks!  Actually I found Henry's email here in the profiles and now have a couple heads and plugs.  They're very nice and I can't wait to run the engines with them.  For anyone that's interested, $25 gets you a head and 2 plugs.  Put them on my MK I 049 and 061 and am very curious to see how they do.

Mark

Offline Bill Barber

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #11 on: November 09, 2009, 09:17:33 PM »
  Mark , I have two Brodak .049's with  Nelson heads & plugs and they increased roughly 2000 RPM's from stock.
   Bill
AMA 325076

Offline kenneth cook

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #12 on: November 10, 2009, 02:42:02 PM »
     Bill, I'm curious as to which prop your using on the engine. I initally had problems with my engine but did eventually get it running pretty good. I was using the engine on a Little Tomahawk. I had given my needle valve assembly to another flier who was using the CS version but his was an ABC set up. His engine seemed to have a slight advantage over mine. I haven't ordered another needle and to date the engine is shelved. This post has stirred my interest in it once again. Ken

Offline Bill Barber

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #13 on: November 10, 2009, 08:54:47 PM »
 Ken , I was using a Cox 6-3 on my Brodak .049 's with the  Nelson heads & glow plugs . Just checked the website , Brodak sells the .049 needle valve assembly for $5.00 .
      Bill
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Offline Mark Allen

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #14 on: November 11, 2009, 05:37:12 AM »
Ok, since you guys have run these and I've yet to get mine on the stand, how many head gaskets are you using with the Nelson heads?  I guess its a good thing I got the heads since I found out the 049 had 3 gaskets and the 061 didn't have any!  I've got one gasket in each engine now.  Was initially thinking about running on YS 20-20 since I've got a bunch that I need to use up but also found a gallon of 10% fuel too. 

Mark

Offline kenneth cook

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #15 on: November 11, 2009, 02:34:48 PM »
          Mark,  I'm fully aware of what the instructions state to use. I found that I couldn't get a sufficient needle setting using the 10%. I then switched to 25% which made the engine start easier and also gave a bit more rpm's. I ran out of the 25 and started using 35% all the time. I would add shims only if the engine is being overcompressed or blowing the plugs. I'm not sure how the Nelson head isas I went the other route. I used no shims and mine had considerable compression. I was using the AP wasp plug which worked for a while untill it got smoked.  This could have happened from the 40% I was running in it or the prop was slightly out of balance. The difference here is the Nelson plugs are very durable and tolerable to this kind of abuse.  I would try it and see if its sagging or blowing plugs then adj accordingly. I've had the Nelson plugs come loose repeatedly when the engines were overcompressed. In any event I would think your 20-20 fuel would be a good choice. I'd like to hear your success when you get it ironed out. Ken

Offline Mark Allen

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #16 on: November 11, 2009, 03:33:55 PM »
Will do.  I was still thinking the 20% fuel was the way to go.  Got a bunch of different props and wanted to run the engines with stock heads and plugs, then try some different heat range plugs and finally go the Nelson head and plug route.  As for the shims, that was my thought too. 061 had lots of compression without the shims in it and seemed to seal up just fine too.  If I can get the time I'll post some results for what I get with different combinations of props, heads, plugs, etc.

Mark

Offline Bill Barber

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Re: Nelson heads/plugs for Brodak Mk I engines
« Reply #17 on: November 12, 2009, 08:17:46 PM »
    Mark , checked my two Brodak .049's , one has one gasket the other has none. Be aware when starting the Brodaks they are very prone to flooding. Small amount of prime is all you need .  Do run them with the original head and then switch to the Nelson, definite improvement .
   Bill
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