KEEPERS AND SKEEKERS OF ODD KNOWLEDGE: I have a couple of Fox 15 steel fins that have the needle valve mounted on the wrong side. The fingers get alittle warm and oily adjusting the engine. It appears to be press fit.
What is the safest way to reverse the needle body without damaging the engine?
I believe that's a press in spray bar. You can risk pressing it out and then pressing it in the other way, but it might be loose forever. How about a piece of fuel line as an extension to the needle, or a alum tube with JB weld, or a brass tube with solder as an extension.
Or, if the thing doesn't seal back up, you could probably swap to a different needle assembly. Check with Leonard before you do anything and see what needle he recomends. I imagine whatever works for an OS 10-15 fp/la would work for the Fox. I have a couple and haven't worn out the needles yet, but I'm working on it!
From somewhere near Parkville, Mo.
William Crane
AMA 6733
Once you have the correct needle setting, you won't have to touch it. Just leave it as is. Currell
Leave the needle valve screwed out to the point where the engine runs really rich. Then, mount a OS .10FSR RC needle valve assembly somewhere on the plane and use that in line with the existing needle valve as a remote needle.
Take your old needle valve body out and try to press it in fron the other side. If this doesn't work, order a new needle valve assembly from fox. The later model nva's were made to tighten with a nut, like all modern ones.
I have owned a couple of the old Fox .15 steel fin engines, the original needle assembely is the very best and like it has been mentioned if you could tap the assembley out just check it and see if it will go in tight on the other side, I think it has been a while since I took one apart they sort of taper when going in so if it feels like it will go in tight the other direction then it should be okay. I had another Fox that someone had replaced the needle assembley in I tried the Needle valve from Fox for a .15 that has the nut to hold it in and it will work but the engine seemed harder to start after.I do not think you could hurt anything if you tap that needle assemblely out and if it won't go tight the other direction you could either put it back as is or try a newer needle valve but keep the original one as like I say they seem to work the very best.
