Are Fireball glow plugs still being made?

[BillP]

I went to the Swanson web site and they only show short plugs. Do they still mfg the hot longs? Anyone know the status?

Thanks,
Bill

[Dan McEntee]

   I believe they do. I think they sell on eBay, and they have an add in Model Aviation. A direct phone call or email may be in order.
 Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

[RandySmith]

I went to the Swanson web site and they only show short plugs. Do they still mfg the hot longs? Anyone know the status?

Thanks,
Bill

The Fire ball plugs are  crap, 95 % of the ones I have bought  all have bad seals  and  leak  pretty bad, I bought dozens off EBAY, when I told the  vendor this, he refused to refund the  purchase  and  said  I could send them to a guy he knows and  he will  replace them,   I did not want replacements  that also  leaked,
Testing plus for leaky seals is a  pain

Randy

[Greg McCoy]

Back in my combat days, 65-73, I used to buy a two part powder from  Bill "Moose" Allen. You mixed them with water, placed the  mixture around the plug stem and baked them for an hour. This formed a ceramic seal and then those Fireballs lived up to their name.  Much easier to buy other plugs, but NOT Fox, not for combat.

BR-22 adhesive.

Strain Gage Adhesive


DESCRIPTION
Two-part, 100%-solids, epoxy adhesive.
CHARACTERISTICS
Operating Temperature Range:
-200° to + 600°F [-130° to +315°C]. Elongation Capabilities:
±2% at +75°F [+24°C]. Shelf Life:
6 months at +75°F [+24°C]. Pot Life:
6 months at +75°F [+24°C]
PACKAGING OPTIONS
Kits:
6 bottles Part A [0.25 oz/8 gm] 6 bottles Part B [0.25 oz/8 gm]
Mylar and Teflon are Registered Trademarks of DuPont
Clamping Pressure:
15 to 30 psi [100 to 200 kN/m2].
Cure Requirements:
16 hours at +160°F [+70°C], or 4 hours at +250°F [+120°C], or 2 hours at +500°F [+260°C].
Recommended Postcure (Unclamped):
1 hour at maximum operating temperature.

[BillP]

I remember the leaky seal deal but think it was fixed a long time ago. I'm flying off a 10 yr old card and not seen one leaky seal or loose post. Life and performance is about the same as any other brand plug I've used...but I'm flying all castor 5/25 Sig fuel and no pipes or combat engines.   

[RandySmith]

I remember the leaky seal deal but think it was fixed a long time ago. I'm flying off a 10 yr old card and not seen one leaky seal or loose post. Life and performance is about the same as any other brand plug I've used...but I'm flying all castor 5/25 Sig fuel and no pipes or combat engines.   

No It is not fixed,, The plugs I am talking  about  I bought  new  last year

Randy

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

Fox std long plugs are AOK for hot combat engines, with Fox R/C long suitable for stunt and R/C, IMHO.  Just compared a Fox R/C long to an O.S. plug in my LA 46 Friday; found both similar in performance.  Always liked Sonic-Tronics plugs.  Fireballs do benefit from some epoxy or what have you.

[Dan McEntee]

  Peter;
    How old is your stash of Fox glow plugs? If they have a price tag on them that may help date them. The plugs they made the last ten years they were in business were only good for fishing weights! I remember a club member coming to the field with a fresh half dozen of the standard long plugs, and they lasted exactly one flight! This was on plain, stock Fox .35s in sport models running proper fuel and running well when they ran. But upon trying to restart for the next flight, they would not glow at all, some even though they showed continuity. I don't think they produced any plugs after 2014, when they ceased engine production, and now I believe they are closed up completely.
   Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

Dan,

You are correct that my Fox plug stash is older.

Peter

[Steve Helmick]

Memory says that Swanson (Fireball) was always very generous with giving donations for club contests. What I don't recall is whether they gave actual glowplugs or some sort of discount coupons. Didn't matter to me, because I already had my fill of their leaky damned junk glowplugs. Just say "NO"!

Great to see that Thunderbolt glowplugs are available again! Dirty Dan always used SIG glowplugs and seemed to have good results with them. Most good American made glowplugs are made by Ohlsson Corporation. Thunderbolt, K&B, suspect RO-Jett and Zinger, maybe SIG, but not certain. If anybody knows or can find out, please do!  Steve

[BillP]

Well the comments here tweaked my interest so I pulled a fireball from my superclown with fox 35. The plug has about 10 flights on a 4 oz tank with Sig 5/25. I mounted the plug in my vice and tempted to check the post using small vice grips...no wiggle or side movement. Then tried to twist the post around...couldn't budge it. Last try was pulling it out...couldn't move it that way either. The first attempt broke the tip of the post off and second attempt broke it off almost flush with the body leaving a stub too small to grab.   

In the last 25 or so yrs I've compared a bunch of different glow plug brands under my 3k power microscope. Focusing the coil to the size of a pencil eraser gives a good look. The common denominator is small wire is hot and large wire is cold. Almost all have had  3ish coil wraps. Chamber depth (what you can see that is) looks the same with little differences in dome shape. I'm not able to see the post/wire connection with any clarity.There is nothing that stands out making a fb different from the others either.

The absolutely worst plugs I've ever used were the K&B1L...they always burn out quickly and I gave up after trying a card and a few singles. Whatever the reason they just don't last for my type flying.

[YakNine]

I think one of the problems with the Fireball plugs is it's hard to tell how old they are. I have gotten a bunch from Eric at RSM and had very good luck with them , I bought some hots at a swap meet and 3 out of 4 leaked at the stem. I like the ones from Eric and will continue to buy them from him but I am not willing to risk a plane on a cheap card off eBay to save a few bucks.TJ