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Engine basics => Engine set up tips => Topic started by: Bob Matiska on October 31, 2013, 01:15:01 PM

Title: What engine is this?
Post by: Bob Matiska on October 31, 2013, 01:15:01 PM

At our club meeting last night, our VP handed  me a static display model of the F4U Corsair with a very old K&B engine. I can't find Tony Elmore's web site but the Engine Land museum has some pics, one of which is of the 1946 K&B Torpedo B .299 ignition. My engine is obviously glow but the casting looks like that of the ignition engine, minus the point assembly and tank. And of course, it has a glow plug rather than a spark plug. Bypass side has "Torpedo" and serial number7033G. Very interesting engine, not a lot of compression but I think I can get it going. I will try to attach pictures.

Comments?

Bob in NEPA

Title: Re: What engine is this?
Post by: 55chevr on October 31, 2013, 01:16:54 PM

A very old one with the tapered exhaust.   Do you have any external dimensions?  I have a couple and can match it.

Joe

Title: Re: What engine is this?
Post by: Bob Matiska on October 31, 2013, 01:39:16 PM

Weight is about 6.5 ounces, length is 3 inches from back of backplate to end of prop shaft. Mounting holes are 1 & 5/8 by 5/8. Crank is only about 3/8 in diameter; I guess that was considered adequate in those days.

Thanks,

Bob

Title: Re: What engine is this?
Post by: Balsa Butcher on October 31, 2013, 02:32:34 PM

Just a guess here but as it says "TORPEDO" vertically on the case, it could be an ancient K&B. 8)

Title: Re: What engine is this?
Post by: Don Hutchinson AMA5402 on October 31, 2013, 03:14:51 PM

It is an old K&B Glo Torp 29 from about 1949. Good running engines.

Title: Re: What engine is this?
Post by: 55chevr on October 31, 2013, 03:23:24 PM

What Don said ... matches a K&B .29 I have exactly ... I have never run this engine came from a swap meet.


Joe

Title: Re: What engine is this?
Post by: scott matthews on October 31, 2013, 06:20:13 PM

I have a couple of old Forster 29's in  my small collection. One of them has a tapered exhaust with a needle valve mounted on the rear of the crank case cover. The other has a square exhaust with the venture up front.

Title: Re: What engine is this?
Post by: Timothy Payne on November 01, 2013, 09:47:18 PM

That's an early K@B Torpedo 29. I've got one which is slightly different (50's). - Incidently the Frog 500 glow engine is very similar! Almost as if they were built by the same company.

Tim

Title: Re: What engine is this?
Post by: FLOYD CARTER on November 02, 2013, 09:59:33 AM

The problem with the K&B glo-Torp of 1950-52 (round case, 4-bolt head) , the shafts break!  I had two of them snap, and Johnny Broadbeck (at the Compton factory) rebuilt both at no cost.

Floyd

Title: Re: What engine is this?
Post by: Bob Matiska on November 02, 2013, 12:58:51 PM

Thank you all for your inputs. I look forward to playing with this engine, but will certainly treat it with TLC! Low nitro, lots of oil, etc. Looks like it will probably fit the Fox 35 holes on my Flite Streak. Should be interesting!

Bob in NEPA

Title: Re: What engine is this?
Post by: tom hampshire on November 02, 2013, 04:13:51 PM

Hi Bob - You already know the crankshaft is at risk.  The first version of this engine had a conrod brazed up from 2 end bushings and a central tube.  Please pull the backplate and look it over first.  If it has one of these rods, get a replacement rod either from an ad on this forum or for one of the Shilen reproductions of this engine.  The brazed rod will fail in use very quickly.

Title: Re: What engine is this?
Post by: Bob Matiska on November 02, 2013, 04:26:17 PM

Tom,

Thanks for the tip. I'm certainly grateful for all the info I get on Stunt Hangar. I pulled the backplate and saw a "real" connecting rod, plus a fair amount of rust on the crank disk and inside the piston. I'll have to clean this one up a bit before I run it.

Thanks again,

Bob in NEPA