"Castor stuck" engines

[Ward Van Duzer]

OK, I know there are lots of ways to do this but...

I've not been flying for a year or so due to health reasons.  I have at least 5-6 models hanging on the garage wall with "castor stuck" engines. Mostly Aero/Thunder Tiger .36's.
I've done the oven bit with Foxes but what's your choice for ball bearing engines with plastic venturis? How much time at what temp in the oven? What else? I don't have a crock pot...

Ward-O   

[Rick Bollinger]

You might try a iron on covering blower or hair dryer. And some after run oil in the venturi and exhaust. Before you pull them off your planes. Just be gentle dont force them. It should do it if there not to bad.

[john e. holliday]

Myself I just remove the glow plug and back plate and douse them with fuel.   It may take a while for the fuel to soak in.  Also fuel in the intake.

[Phil Bare]

I just pull the plug and fill the cylinder with fuel and also fill the intake. This procedure will loosen most of them up.

Phil

[Gene Martine]

 Ward:
 Why don't you ask Randy Smith!!!!
 Gene

[Chris Wilson]

OK, I know there are lots of ways to do this but...

I've not been flying for a year or so due to health reasons.  I have at least 5-6 models hanging on the garage wall with "castor stuck" engines. Mostly Aero/Thunder Tiger .36's.
I've done the oven bit with Foxes but what's your choice for ball bearing engines with plastic venturis? How much time at what temp in the oven? What else? I don't have a crock pot...

Ward-O   

Removing the plastic venturi would enable your old method to work well enough.

But give it a shot of diesel fuel as the ether is miscible with castor oil and the kero is wonderful at flushing things out out.
That and being selective with a heat gun can work wonders.

[Joe Yau]

OK, I know there are lots of ways to do this but...

I've not been flying for a year or so due to health reasons.  I have at least 5-6 models hanging on the garage wall with "castor stuck" engines. Mostly Aero/Thunder Tiger .36's.
I've done the oven bit with Foxes but what's your choice for ball bearing engines with plastic venturis? How much time at what temp in the oven? What else? I don't have a crock pot...

Ward-O   

If it's stuck good..  you would have to remove the head, and hopefully the piston is either up top or midway.  Heat the engine where the piston sleeve is with a heat gun, then carefully push down on the piston with a deep socket or a rod about the same dia as the piston.  This method usually works without damage to other engine parts..  of course remove the plastic venturi, and whatever you do.. don't force it by turning the crank, you might end up with a broken con-rod.

[Luiz Carlos Franco]

You could try this:

http://controlline.org.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9843

BOL

Luiz

[Ward Van Duzer]

Gene,

Duh!


Tanks!

Ward-O   

[Duke.Johnson]

I just picked up a cox conquest that was stuck solid and after a few squirts of 30% and a couple minutes it fired right  up.

[Steve Fitton]

you could just give me the Aerotigers....

[Ward Van Duzer]

Uh, sorry Steve...

Well, I thought I'd start off conservatively so I took the "Florida Cure". Good ol' clubby Eric V. suggested I put the engines in a plastic baggie and lay them out in the sun. Had two of them out on the lanai for about 3 hours. It was really amazing how warm they got. A little (unforced) twist, and bingo! Sloshed them out with multiple applications of Acetone and Randy's finest Wip-a$$ followed by a good dousing of After Run Oil. Don't know if this would work in Jersey!

Ward-O   

[john e. holliday]

When the sun is shining, even in the winter time, a closed car will get very hot inside.   Any place you have direct sun light and no wind stuff will get very hot.   I have fun watching the dogs lay in the sun til they get hot and then they move to the shade til they get too cool, then its back in the sun.

[RandySmith]

Uh, sorry Steve...

Well, I thought I'd start off conservatively so I took the "Florida Cure". Good ol' clubby Eric V. suggested I put the engines in a plastic baggie and lay them out in the sun. Had two of them out on the lanai for about 3 hours. It was really amazing how warm they got. A little (unforced) twist, and bingo! Sloshed them out with multiple applications of Acetone and Randy's finest Wip-a$$ followed by a good dousing of After Run Oil. Don't know if this would work in Jersey!

Ward-O   

Uhmm  Don't use acetone again, it is best to follow what i sent to you in the email, acetone will attack the seals and rubber parts, better to use WD-40 and or glow fuel. Plastic bag sealed get near 180 degrees in the Ga.  sun, so that will work, but you could spray with oil before you bag them too

Randy

[Ward Van Duzer]

Gotcha Ran-Man. Will dispense with Acetone!

(Randy's Right!)   

[Dennis Toth]

Ward,
I recently pulled out several Foxes to set up for OTS, found one problem that you should check on all engines that have some castor lock. Pull the backplate and check that the con rod is moving freely on the wrist pin. I had two of three engines that had the wrist pin locked into the con rod. I tried heat, soak and finally had to pull the piston/cylinder and heat the rod and drive out the pin. Once cleaned up it was smooth and felt great.

Best,       Dennis