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Author Topic: What to do with a new 1948 McCoy .29 engine?  (Read 1566 times)

Offline frank mccune

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What to do with a new 1948 McCoy .29 engine?
« on: March 17, 2015, 10:04:25 AM »
    While preparing a plane for a race in Reading, Pa., I decided to get the 1950's B Team Racer out of the attic and get it going again!  This plane has a 30" wing span that is made of solid sheet and a fuselage that is built up and measures 23".  The fuel tank, shutoff  and engine are all cowled into a streaamlined body. Looks rally cool!

     The engine of choice is a new unrun until now, McCoy .29 rear intake Sportsman.  I tried the engine on the test stand and it has very little compression when cold and less when hot.  Now the question is should I;

      Run the engine and hope that the rings will seat.

      Send the engine to Mr. Bowman and have him fit some new rings.  This may be the best idea!

      I took the engine apart to see if the rings were stuck and found dried oil all over the internal parts of the engine.  This dried oil did not dissolve after the engine was run.  The rings were free.  Should I soak the engine parts in acetone, crock pot the parts,  and/or use the ultrasonic cleaner with some diswasher detergent to try to remove the dried oil? 

       I would like to have a better McCoy .29 of that time period but I must run what I have.  Perhaps I can find a McCoy .29 Red Head on the bay before then!

       I would like to relive the sights and sounds of yesteryear! Lol

       Any suggestions?

                                                                            Tia,

                                                                           Frank McCune
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Offline Tim Wescott

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Re: What to do with a new 1948 McCoy .29 engine?
« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2015, 11:24:18 AM »
I'm no McCoy expert, so size your grain of salt accordingly:

I'd make my decision based on four things: how well does it start cold, how fast does it go, how well does it start fast, and how big a percentage of my modeling budget is new rings from Mr. Bowman?

If it starts and goes just fine, then even if it has no discernible compression when it's hot, do you care?  OTOH, if you're really going to race the thing and it won't start on the first flip -- yes, new rings should maybe be in its future.
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Offline frank mccune

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Re: What to do with a new 1948 McCoy .29 engine?
« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2015, 01:20:38 PM »
    Hi Tim:

     I think that you are correct about the rings.  I can see some Bowman rings in my future.  They will cost about $30.00 but when compared to the amount of time that i will spend on repairing the airplane, it is worth it.

     Then again why bother with entering this event?  Any plane or engine from .25 to .36 flown on .018"x60' lines will be leagal.  Already there is talk of a Fox C.S. and perhaps a Nelson .36 being used.

     The real deal breaker will be the fact that there is no pavement where I can practice or fly.

     I think that I just talked myself out of this event! Lol
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Offline Brett Buck

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Re: What to do with a new 1948 McCoy .29 engine?
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2015, 04:46:00 PM »
Quote from: frank mccune on March 17, 2015, 10:04:25 AM
    While preparing a plane for a race in Reading, Pa., I decided to get the 1950's B Team Racer out of the attic and get it going again!  This plane has a 30" wing span that is made of solid sheet and a fuselage that is built up and measures 23".  The fuel tank, shutoff  and engine are all cowled into a streaamlined body. Looks rally cool!

     The engine of choice is a new unrun until now, McCoy .29 rear intake Sportsman.  I tried the engine on the test stand and it has very little compression when cold and less when hot.  Now the question is should I;

      Run the engine and hope that the rings will seat.

      Send the engine to Mr. Bowman and have him fit some new rings.  This may be the best idea!

      I took the engine apart to see if the rings were stuck and found dried oil all over the internal parts of the engine.  This dried oil did not dissolve after the engine was run.  The rings were free.  Should I soak the engine parts in acetone, crock pot the parts,  and/or use the ultrasonic cleaner with some diswasher detergent to try to remove the dried oil? 

       I would like to have a better McCoy .29 of that time period but I must run what I have.  Perhaps I can find a McCoy .29 Red Head on the bay before then!

       I would like to relive the sights and sounds of yesteryear! Lol

  Again, I think (but don't know for sure) this is a sintered-iron piston that will be porous and leak until sufficient running has been done. Maybe it still won't work, then you can tell, but I wouldn't dismiss it until you have a few gentle, and then not-so-gentle, hours on the bench.

   Brett
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Offline frank mccune

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Re: What to do with a new 1948 McCoy .29 engine?
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2015, 06:08:24 AM »
     Hi All:

      Thanks for all of the replies.

      if I remember correctly, the piston for this engine is made of aluminum and has two cast iron rings installed on it.  It looks like aluminum.  I think that the sintered pistons came out a bit later and were called,"Micro Slug Pistons."  As a child, I had a McCoy .098 engine that also had two rings and no compression from new.

       I have soaked the engine in acetone for a day and the dried oil came off with a bit of scrubbing with fine steel wool.  The ball bearing looks like it may still have a bit of dried oil on it or heaven forbid, rust. I am having a tough time getting steel wool down  between the balls for cleaning! Lol It appears to turn smoothly.  Perhaps a trip in my ultrasonic cleaner may clean it a bit.

     All in all, this appears to be an exercise in futility!Lol

                                                               Stay well my friends,

                                                               Frank McCune
 
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Offline frank mccune

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Re: What to do with a new 1948 McCoy .29 engine?
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2015, 03:03:17 PM »
     Hi All:

     The McCoy .29 Sportsman is now not running!  I took it apart to clean the dried oil from the internal parts and carefully reassembled the engine.  Now it has no compression!  It is impossible to start.  No race for this engine.

      I can not justify spending $30.00 for new rings.  Back into the attic for this piece of history! Lol

                                                             Stay well my friends,

                                                             Frank McCune

     
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