Author Topic: Fun with engines! (Read 8395 times)

Bill Ervin · « **on:** January 25, 2008, 11:44:20 AM »

Man I love running engines! Sometimes I like to throw a few into a shoebox and head out into the desert just to see if the laws of physics (as they apply to catalytic reactions, combustion, gas pressure and liquid dynamics) still exist...

Oh hell, who am I kidding, I just want to make a bunch of noise!

Was talking to my new friend Gary Tultz last week and we came to the same conclusion and that's that it's impossible to be in this hobby for any length of time without "accidently" becoming, at least, a closet engine collector. Blame it on osmosis, magnetism, Plato's Theory of Disorder or man's natural tendency to gravitate toward (and fondle) small, metal objects; there's no avoiding it. If your stash of engines isn't so large that you are embarrassed to admit to the size of it then you haven't been in the hobby long enough!

So, with that disclaimer out of the way, see if you can spot these engines:

PAW 19
Romag 36
PA 51
McCoy 32 Duramatic
Supertigre G21/35
Supertigre G20/15 Jubilee
Silver Fox 40
Veco 32

ps- happy to report that the laws of physics are still intact

Bill

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2008, 11:45:43 AM »

couple more

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2008, 11:47:15 AM »

An easy one

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2008, 11:49:12 AM »

Probly not even a challenge for you guys

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2008, 11:50:52 AM »

What with all the ecksperts here...

Notice the Heathkit Thumbtach? Received as a Christmas gift back in '75 (when I was 12). Soldered it up on Xmas day while still in my pajamas and it continues to work to this day! Little did I know how much that gift helped to seal my fate as I went on to a "lucrative" career as an airfield electrician.

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2008, 12:08:41 PM »

For 5 bonus points name the mountain range in the background.

Willis Swindell · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2008, 01:02:20 PM »

Boy did I ever put a lot of time on my Tigre 15 diesel in TR. and using the same Heath kit tac. Still have both and use the tac once in awhile.
Willis

Andrew Hathaway · « **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2008, 01:05:14 PM »

Neat pics! The Veco looks like a 35, probably just a typo... I don't think they offered a 32 in that model, just the 29, 31, and 35. Last summer I got on a kick and ran quite a few engines on the bench. Didn't take snapshots of most of them, but here's a few...

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2008, 01:26:58 PM »

Thanks for the pictures Andrew! I've never run ignition (just ran my first ever diesels) but will probably have to give it a try someday. With the ignition stuff you have more things to tweak!

Willis, I picked up that ST 15 diesel from a friend about 20 years ago (40 bucks NIB!) then stared at it for 15 years before giving it to another friend. He gave it back, said he couldn't get it to run. So I stared at it for another five years before finally putting it on the stand last week. It runs beautiful! It's got about 6 runs on it now, the case has a "1960" cast into it. Did you see the one on Ebay a couple days ago? NIB 1970 version, went for $277!! Up until a week ago I had a NIB 1960 version! Oh well, I'll get way more than $277 worth of fun out of mine. Already have.

Bill

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2008, 01:30:42 PM »

Quote from: Bill Ervin on January 25, 2008, 12:08:41 PM

For 5 bonus points name the mountain range in the background.

EAST- Frenchman Mountain Range; WEST - Spring Mountain Range; NORTH - Sheep Mountain Range; and SOUTH - McCullough Mountain Range. My real guess is:

Spring Mountain Range......Mt. Charleston

Andrew Hathaway · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2008, 01:38:06 PM »

I wasn't too interested in ignition until recently. Flying regularly with Jim Kraft, he really makes it look too easy. I asked him how to set it up and followed his instructions and it has worked well so far. Now just to get a plane built with provisions for the ignition hardware.

Watch out on Ebay, the Super Tigre collectors are very serious.

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #11 on:** January 25, 2008, 01:41:38 PM »

Ding! Ding! Ding! Congrats Crist you are the winner! For someone who lives in the midwest your knowledge of western geography is uncanny!

It's as if you used to live here or something!

In that picture I'm actually standing in the middle of a dry lake just west of Pahrump NV. On the other side of that mountain is Las Vegas.

Bill

Randy Powell · « **Reply #12 on:** January 25, 2008, 02:27:22 PM »

Bill,

Weirdly, I'm one of those guys that only keeps what he uses or believes (really believes) he will use shortly. Maybe I just like breaking in new engines. But right now, my entire engine collection consists of:

2 OS40VF
1 OS46VF
1 RO-Jett .65
1 OS 46LA
2 Saito 56 (that I am in the process of unloading)
1 PA 40UL

That's it. I recently sold a PA 40 (old style), an OS40VF NIB (did think I needed 3), a Stalker 61, a PA 61 and an OS35FP

What can I say, I keep what I use.

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #13 on:** January 25, 2008, 03:43:22 PM »

Randy, your self control is impressive!

Hey, wait a minute, what about that SSW Magnum 53 you had in your gorgeous yellow and white USA-1 from a couple years ago?

Randy Powell · « **Reply #14 on:** January 25, 2008, 04:41:00 PM »

Whoops, forgot about the SSW Magnum 53. There's also an ST 60 in there earmarked for a Colussus kit. What happens when you are quoting from memory.

The Magnum was damaged when the USA-1 bit the dust. Thought I was just going to have to replace the crank, but as it turned out, the only thing original is the case. Everything else was replaced with new. I haven't even broken (or, perhaps, re-broken) it in yet. It is earmarked for the new classic plane I just started. A Bernie Ash Supersonic.

gary tultz · « **Reply #15 on:** January 25, 2008, 05:41:08 PM »

Bill, how much you want for that SLAG motor in the second picture

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #16 on:** January 25, 2008, 06:27:33 PM »

Quote from: gary tultz on January 25, 2008, 05:41:08 PM

Bill, how much you want for that SLAG motor in the second picture

Sorry Gary, too late

, already dumped the brand new Romag off to some poor schnook on Ebay. He fell for my "buy it now" price of $25 (free shipping too). You gotta get up pretty early to pull one over on us Vegas boys.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #17 on:** January 25, 2008, 08:19:22 PM »

WEST of Pahrump? Geez, whatcha doing out there besides waking up the neighborhood?

Joey Mathison 9806 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 25, 2008, 08:23:20 PM »

i think he was trying the keep all the monte carlo smoke out of his motors

Garf · « **Reply #19 on:** January 25, 2008, 09:54:27 PM »

My last inventory was 53 engines ignoring the .049's down. I know I have more now.

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #20 on:** January 25, 2008, 11:27:56 PM »

Quote from: Joey Mathison 9806 on January 25, 2008, 08:23:20 PM

i think he was trying the keep all the monte carlo smoke out of his motors

Joey, aint that the truth! Just got back from taking wifey out to dinner. If you get anywhere near the Strip you can still get a big whiff of all the burnt styrofoam.

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #21 on:** January 25, 2008, 11:36:12 PM »

Quote from: Garf on January 25, 2008, 09:54:27 PM

My last inventory was 53 engines ignoring the .049's down. I know I have more now.

Finally, someone with a respectably excessive number! Good one Garf.

PaulBowman · « **Reply #22 on:** January 25, 2008, 11:40:22 PM »

Hey bill, remember the huge analog tach that ed southwick would use sometimes ?
What a classic !!

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #23 on:** January 25, 2008, 11:48:21 PM »

I do vaguely remember the tach Mr. Southwick used on his maroon Skylarks. Thanks for jogging the memory Paul!

john e. holliday · « **Reply #24 on:** January 26, 2008, 08:46:18 AM »

Hey Bill you kid, it is amazing how many engines we tend to accumulate. Quite a few of mine were when my son was flying with me or I was flying with someone else. I have a small plastic tool box that is nothing but Fox 35's. Almost all the planes have engines. When I thought the grand kids were going to fly mouse I started buying all the Black Widows I could get. When I cleaned out Meriwethers stuff a couple of years ago I had my little Aerostar van that I made about six trips with hauling nothing but airplanes ready to fly. Most were combat wings. Then Wayne and I found severa suit cases that were full of engines. Sold about 90% on the bay. If it wasn't so dad blame cold I would be out now flying or running engines. That sun looks so great today. I like the pictures of your engines you were playing with. Later, DOC Holliday

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #25 on:** January 26, 2008, 09:43:29 AM »

Good morning Doc! I'm guessing you've probably been in the hobby longer and have seen more than most guys here. Enjoyed the story about hauling stuff away in truckloads! The thing that seems kind of funny is that, back before we all had computers (way back in the mid-nineties

) I thought O.S. 35s were rare. Now, you can pick one up without too much trouble at all.

Andrew Borgogna · « **Reply #26 on:** January 26, 2008, 10:35:03 AM »

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I thought I was the only closet engine collector in the world. "My name is Andy I collect engines I don't need, I just want.". There I feel so much better for getting that off my chest.

St .51
St. 3000
K&B .28 (2)
K&B .65
PAW 1cc
PAW .19
PAW .29
and many small diesels
McCoy .35 red head
McCoy .29 red head
McCoy .35 black head (Testors)
Johnson .35
Fox .35 (2)
Fox .36
RJL .60
OS .90
OS .40FP
Saito .40a
Forster .35 ignition
O&R .60 ignition
Super Cyke .60? ignition.

I am sure there are more but I would have to go in the garage to check. As I told Larry Renger I have enough engines to last a life time but that won't stop me from getting more.

Please tell me there is no cure for this ailment, its a mental illness I can live with.
Andy

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #27 on:** January 26, 2008, 10:47:29 AM »

Andy, admitting you have a problem is the first step toward recovery. Unfortunately there is no known cure, it's just something we all have to live with like football... and beer... and pizza...

Nice collection by the way!

Gary Anderson · « **Reply #28 on:** January 26, 2008, 12:10:14 PM »

Hi guys, I've got a few engines:

Merco Engines: K&B's O.S.Max Engines:

8-61's 2-61's 1-60fp
4-49's 4-40's 6-40fp's
1-40 1-50 1-35fp
2-35's 2-46fs
1-40fs
Super Tigre's: Veco Fox Engines:
1-60 1-61 6-35's
1-51 1-19 3-40
3-46's 4-19's
1-40
1-35

These are just the one's that can be seen, I have a few more that is hidden. My wife thinks I need help?

I don't have a clue what she means?

?? Each time I run one, its like love all over again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ha Ha Ha have a great day, Gary

Gary Anderson · « **Reply #29 on:** January 26, 2008, 12:32:37 PM »

Quote from: Gary Anderson on January 26, 2008, 12:10:14 PM

Hi guys, I've got a few engines:

Merco Engines: K&B's O.S.Max Engines: Enya Engines:

8-61's 2-61's 1-60fp 2-60's
4-49's 4-40's 6-40fp's 1-45
1-40 1-50 1-35fp 1-15
2-35's 2-46fs
1-40fs
Super Tigre's: Veco Fox Engines:
1-60 1-61 6-35's
1-51 1-19 3-40
3-46's 4-19's
1-40
1-35

These are just the one's that can be seen, I have a few more that is hidden. My wife thinks I need help? I don't have a clue what she means??? Each time I run one, its like love all over again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ha Ha Ha have a great day, Gary

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #30 on:** January 26, 2008, 08:17:02 PM »

Ty, they're up to about 35,000 now. The only reason I make the 50 mile trip every once in a while is because I have several friends who have retired out there. All were long-time Las Vegas residents who didn't want to put up with the overcrowdedness here in Vegas. The place has large shopping centers and more than a couple large casinos. My retired buddies refer to the place as "like Las Vegas used to be in the 70's". The housing market goes up and down along with the Vegas market but overall I'd say you could get an equivalent home for about 30 percent less out there. The Pahrump valley is actually the same size as the Las Vegas Valley in terms of sq. acreage.

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #31 on:** January 26, 2008, 08:21:34 PM »

[ My wife thinks I need help?

I don't have a clue what she means?

??
[/quote]

Nice collection Gary! Gee, I can't figure out what your wife could mean by that either.

Bill

john e. holliday · « **Reply #32 on:** January 28, 2008, 08:23:50 AM »

My wife says I am beyond help. But, I have fun. DOC Holliday

George · « **Reply #33 on:** January 28, 2008, 11:14:37 AM »

I plan to put all of my engines in ships...provided I can live another couple hundred years.

But then I will live forever or die trying!

George

Leo Mehl · « **Reply #34 on:** January 28, 2008, 06:25:24 PM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on January 28, 2008, 08:23:50 AM

My wife says I am beyond help. But, I have fun. DOC Holliday

I agree!

Kim Mortimore · « **Reply #35 on:** January 28, 2008, 06:42:39 PM »

This is a fun topic! I'm glad I'm not the only one who enjoys bench-running engines. Some of my friends think it's a little strange.

Hey Andrew,
What is the engine in pic PB050025.JPG with the wagon tipped on its side?

Thanks,
Kim

Andrew Hathaway · « **Reply #36 on:** January 28, 2008, 07:12:50 PM »

I suppose I could have mentioned what they are... The first is a Mohawk Chief .29 glow, middle is an Anderson Spitfire .60, and the last is a Vivell .35. The Mohawk was OK's effort to sell a cheap engine. They took the old OK 29, removed the OK 29 script, replaced it with an indian chief emblem and sold the engine under the name Mohawk Engineering Company at a reduced price.

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #37 on:** January 28, 2008, 08:41:47 PM »

I'm glad you're enjoying the thread Kim! (Sigh!)Looks like I'm gonna have to take the test stand out again.

Came home from work today and guess what was waiting in the mailbox? Yep, another engine

10 points for the first correct I.D. on this little jewel.

Mr Bain! Good to see you here! My apologies, but I'm going to have to disqualify you from the competition (you know why

). If it's of any consolation I'm blaming you for making me $90 poorer.

Keith Polzin · « **Reply #38 on:** January 28, 2008, 09:58:16 PM »

Keith Polzin · « **Reply #39 on:** January 28, 2008, 09:59:26 PM »

Quote from: Keith Polzin on January 28, 2008, 09:58:16 PM

What is it?

Andrew Hathaway · « **Reply #40 on:** January 28, 2008, 10:24:57 PM »

Quote from: Bill Ervin on January 28, 2008, 08:41:47 PM

I'm glad you're enjoying the thread Kim! (Sigh!)Looks like I'm gonna have to take the test stand out again. Came home from work today and guess what was waiting in the mailbox? Yep, another engine 10 points for the first correct I.D. on this little jewel.

Mr Bain! Good to see you here! My apologies, but I'm going to have to disqualify you from the competition (you know why ). If it's of any consolation I'm blaming you for making me $90 poorer.

Looks like an Oliver Tiger or maybe one of the clones.

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #41 on:** January 29, 2008, 09:27:24 AM »

That's it Andrew! It's a Oliver Tiger Clone made by CS. This one is 1/10 the price of an original and I've heard they run just as good, should be fun in a little sport plane.

I'm going to guess Keith's engine is a K&B Stallion 35.

Andrew Hathaway · « **Reply #42 on:** January 29, 2008, 10:04:33 AM »

The Stallion has a one piece case and steel cylinder fins... The Stallion looks about like a 4 bolt backplate greenhead torpedo with the exhaust pointing the normal direction.

Ray · « **Reply #43 on:** January 29, 2008, 10:29:52 AM »

The K&B in the picture is a plain bearing version of a "Series 71" 0.35 engine.

Andrew Borgogna · « **Reply #44 on:** January 29, 2008, 10:54:27 AM »

The good news as was pointed out is there is no known cure for my lust for engines afflictions. Finally something in my life that no wife/girlfriend, doctor, close friend or family member can save me from. I feel really good about this, infact I think I will go out and get another engine. I feel the need for more motors!

Andy

George · « **Reply #45 on:** January 29, 2008, 03:33:36 PM »

Quote from: Bill Ervin on January 28, 2008, 08:41:47 PM

Mr Bain! Good to see you here! My apologies, but I'm going to have to disqualify you from the competition (you know why ). If it's of any consolation I'm blaming you for making me $90 poorer.

Bill,

From the outside, that CS Oliver looks really good. Let us know how it runs.

George

Marvin Denny · « **Reply #46 on:** January 29, 2008, 04:13:11 PM »

My greatest pleasure with "ENGINES" is finding one that has been trashed out, abused, gunked up and just generally shot. Ifind them on E-Bay, and at a lot of swap meets. I like to "Save" them (or rescue them) from a horrible fate and restore them to servicable condition.
That is especially so with Foxes.
I currently have a "in new condition" Fox 29X of the late 50s era.
Bigiron

Andrew Hathaway · « **Reply #47 on:** January 29, 2008, 08:53:22 PM »

I'm with you Marvin... The Vivell I posted on the test stand was found on ebay in the condition shown in the picture. When it first came out of the box, I was pretty sure it would be a difficult save. After carefull cleaning, with the plug and coil that came with it off ebay, it was running. The only part I couldn't salvage was the high tension lead since the insulation had rotted. Truth told the engine was virtually new, just seized, and very dirty.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #48 on:** January 30, 2008, 08:48:47 AM »

Andrew, you are a very lucky person. Looking at that picture I would have said it was trash. Glad it worked out tho.

George · « **Reply #49 on:** February 01, 2008, 02:40:15 PM »

Quote from: Bill Ervin on January 29, 2008, 09:27:24 AM

That's it Andrew! It's a Oliver Tiger Clone made by CS. This one is 1/10 the price of an original and I've heard they run just as good, should be fun in a little sport plane...

Holy Cow! The originals are going for that much? I think I paid $24.95 for my original in ~1957...had a three month waiting list at that time. They were hand made one at a time. Original and CS copy.

Don't blame me if you spend your money on toys...Don't we all?

George

Author Topic: Fun with engines! (Read 8395 times)

Willis Swindell