Brodak ARF Baby Clown

We have done a considerable number of flights on the Clown in the past few weeks, letting everyone at the field fly it, including top-end flyers like Dan Banjock and Bob Lampione. Every single person enjoyed it - there was not one negative comment.
Most people are surprised at how well it turns as well the fact that it behaves as well upright as inverted.
It takes off and lands well in grass without the usual 1/2A landing flips.
Try one - lots of fun!!!

>We have done a considerable number of flights on the Clown
>in the past few weeks, letting everyone at the field fly it,
>including top-end flyers like Dan Banjock and Bob Lampione.
>Every single person enjoyed it - there was not one negative
>comment.
>Most people are surprised at how well it turns as well the
>fact that it behaves as well upright as inverted.
>It takes off and lands well in grass without the usual 1/2A
>landing flips.
>Try one - lots of fun!!!
>
>Bob Z.

Hey Bob!

Sounds wonderful. What engine/tank are you using/recommending for this model?

Thanks,

Andy

Hi, Andy - we used both the Brodak .049 with a one-ounce metal wedge tank and the Cox Black Widow with it's own tank. The Cox showed better performance but was very temperamental. One on day, it just would not run with all factors identical to the day before when we flew it for hours.
Suggestions? I'm not too familiar with Coxes.

Bob Z

Hi Bob,

Try this. Fill the Cox tank as usual, then place a finger over the overflow and force fuel into the tank. Fuel should run out the venturi intake on the rear of the tank. Fuel is also forced to the reed valve. You may not need to prime the exhaust with this method. Just attach the glow plug clip and flip. I usually get one flip starts with this method. I think the reed gets 'glued' to the seat from castor oil. Until fuel wets it, it stays stuck. If it's stuck, the engine won't pull fuel into the crankcase.

Fred

Well it might not be too politic to suggest replacing it with the Norvel BigMig 049 on a Startup tank! I vaguely recall that it isn't setup for a sidemounted engine with an external tank. Is that correct?

>Well it might not be too politic to suggest replacing it
>with the Norvel BigMig 049 on a Startup tank! I vaguely
>recall that it isn't setup for a sidemounted engine with an
>external tank. Is that correct?

Not a problem of any kind in suggesting a BigMig 049. If Zambelli and Peabody can shamelessly go on and on pimping for Brodak products of one sort or another, you obviously have free rein to offer consumer suggestions.

Pimping? What kind of a jackass comment is that? Did you ever think that many of us don't appreciate your comments as well as your disgusting language? I'm trying to inform people about good products that I believe in, while you seem to excell in troweling out your worthless drivel - get a life.
Bob Z

BLACK HAWK
To the Cox engine, check the glow head to see if it is still tight, clean the reed, fuel line pick up and needle valve. Test the reed- you should be able to suck air through the reed but not be able to blow ANY air back through it (even squeeking air).
Larry

Hi, Larry - thanks for the help. I actually did everthing you suggested and tried different glowheads, fuel and props. When it was apart, I cleaned it thoroughly and forced fuel thought all the passages. The reed valve looked perfect as did the seat. And, it does in fact seal in the proper direction.
Still no good.
Bob

LAST EDITED ON Sep-08-04 AT 12:26 PM (CDT)
 
>Hi, Larry - thanks for the help. I actually did everthing
>you suggested and tried different glowheads, fuel and props.
>When it was apart, I cleaned it thoroughly and forced fuel
>thought all the passages. The reed valve looked perfect as
>did the seat. And, it does in fact seal in the proper
>direction.
>Still no good.
>Bob

Bob,

After all that it could only be your glow plug (or a dead battery) or your fuel. I get very good results with the Sig Champion 25, which is blended for the Cox 1/2 A engines with 25% nitro. More nitro is good, and though many claim less will work, I have a strong prejudice against less than 25%. Also, these little guys *really* want a *hot* battery. If the coil element isn’t glowing bright red, no joy. Just because you can hear fuel sizzling inside the cylinder does *not* mean your battery is good. Check visually.

Also, they really like a pretty juicy prime. Open the ports and squrit plenty of fuel on to the top of the piston. A spring starter will also work much better than hand flipping.

GOOD LUCK!

Andy

It might need the con rod reset to the piston.

Hi, Tom & Andy. Thanks again.

We tried different plugs, fuels and props. The situation was the same every time - it would run for around 30 seconds then slowly die.
Note that the day before (Saturday), we ran it continously for around an hour and a half, flight after flight and it ran perfectly.
Everything changed when we tried to repeat the perfromance on Sunday. Initially, we tried the same settings and nothing worked. That's when we tried all the other stuff - we didn't get one flight in.
I'm going back to the Brodak .049. It was fine with that engine.
Bob

Bob,

In my previous post I assumed you were unable to get it started. NOW I understand. If this is one of the newer Cox BWs, my guess is the crankshaft is tight. Is black oil coming out the front? That's a sure sign the crank is tight. I've seen this on a lot of newer Cox's. Solutions are: lots of careful bench running OR lap the crankshaft in the crankcase (using a drill and compound) and clean thoroughly. Once they're loose enough, they'll hold a steady run.

Fred

Hi, Fred - nope, the crankshaft is free - in fact, the engine turns over smooth-as-silk. Absolutley no binding whatsoever. It has a perfect "snap" when flipped - it just will not run for more than 10 -30 seconds. When hot, it still feel perfect.
Scrap heap????????????????
Bob Z.

Bob,

There is alot of reasons your Black Widow is acting up. With a Cox reedie be sure to check for air leaks. If the engine is still on the plane pull it off and make sure the 4 screws in the backplate are tight. The head while still good looking with a nice glow can be bad. I have had that happen a hundred times. Could be a varnish problem too with the cylinder. The varnish is making the engine run hot and once started as it heats up it runs slower and slower til it stops. Try just changing cylinders or clean the one you have with some Hopp's #9 gun cleaner.

>Bob,
>
> There is alot of reasons your Black Widow is acting up.
>With a Cox reedie be sure to check for air leaks. If the
>engine is still on the plane pull it off and make sure the 4
>screws in the backplate are tight.

But beware *overtightening* too. It's easy to pull the screws tight enough to break the backplate, metal or plastic.

Hello, Brett and Tim - thanks again for the help and advice.
Brett, I tried what you suggested - even when pressurizing the tank, there were no signs of distortion related leaks.
The varnish suggestion is something I never thought of - I just assumed that since the engine turns over so freely, it was fine - I will investigate.
This weekend is the Musciano event so it will be OK Cubs (gasp) all day tomorrow!
The event, by the way, is great fun and I highly recommend attending if you can. Tom McClain and the crew do a first rate job and it's truly a nostalgia trip.
AND, you get ot meet one of the all-time legends of C/L, Walt himself!
Bob Z.

Bob,

I think Tim's got the Cox solution. I forgot about the varnish buildup problem! Remove the cylinder. Usually a light scrub with a dowel wrapped with 0000 steel wool does the trick. Then wash thoroughly with soap and water. I didn't know Hoppe's #9 was still available or else they changed the formula. It used to made with Nitro Benzine, I believe.

Enjoy the Musciano event!

Fred

Bob,
I didn't read much about the needle valve. You might remove the needle and flush out the assembly. Have you tried a piece of fuel tubing in place of the spring to seal the needle?
Of course this was probably done when you flushed out the engine.

Good luck at the W Musciano meet.

Take the needle out and make sure that a "step" has not developed on the taper. Sometimes a cox gets the needle overtightened and the little distortion of the needle valve will keep it from running.
Bob Furr

Bob,We flew my Baby Clown this Wednesday and we had lots of fun, I have a Cox BW on it and it really flies great . Bob Lampione , Frank Carbone and myself flew it all day and it only used about 5oz of fuel.SEE YA NEAL:)