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Cox Engine of The Month
New to me Thermal Hopper
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New to me Thermal Hopper
But not really new at all...
This one may set a new standard for "grubby". But aside from being dirty, I don't think there is anything mechanically wrong with it. It turns over and has compression. I think initial cleanup will only be soapy water and a toothbrush. Then see if it runs.
The cylinder must be a replacement. I thought all these had a thin wall, dual ported cylinder. This one is a stepped wall single port, and has wrench flats on the top fin. Am I right that the cylinder must be later production than the engine?
This one may set a new standard for "grubby". But aside from being dirty, I don't think there is anything mechanically wrong with it. It turns over and has compression. I think initial cleanup will only be soapy water and a toothbrush. Then see if it runs.
The cylinder must be a replacement. I thought all these had a thin wall, dual ported cylinder. This one is a stepped wall single port, and has wrench flats on the top fin. Am I right that the cylinder must be later production than the engine?
duaneh- Gold Member
- Posts : 199
Join date : 2019-04-06
Re: New to me Thermal Hopper
Looks like you scored, cage mount and all!
Speaking of Thermal Hoppers, I acquired one off E-Bay a year ago, thread:
https://www.coxengineforum.com/t17211-cox-049-thermal-hopper-a-never-ending-story
It was a blessing in disguise, because someone had wrapped the cylinder with masking tape to keep dust out of the cylinder in storage. Didn't look like much, so it went unnoticed until I bought it for a very reasonable price. Removed tape and cleaned up, I scored.
Also, it was a learning lesson for me. Apparently on these, you can use a later cylinder and piston. Looks like maybe someone had a bad cylinder/piston combo and replaced it.
Mine is the earlier one (pre-1956) that the cylinder uses an earlier glow head, cannot use the later glow heads as its threads and mounting is different. However, I could change the cylinder for a later one, then use the later heads.
Your cylinder is a later one. If it could talk, perhaps a previous owner needed a new cylinder and piston, mounted what he could buy from whatever hobby supply he visited or mail ordered from.
If you have another engine with earlier thin cylinder and piston, could swap those out and have an "authentic" looking Thermal Hopper. With some TLC, it should clean up nicely. You may have a future Cox Engine of the Month winner.
Speaking of Thermal Hoppers, I acquired one off E-Bay a year ago, thread:
https://www.coxengineforum.com/t17211-cox-049-thermal-hopper-a-never-ending-story
It was a blessing in disguise, because someone had wrapped the cylinder with masking tape to keep dust out of the cylinder in storage. Didn't look like much, so it went unnoticed until I bought it for a very reasonable price. Removed tape and cleaned up, I scored.
Also, it was a learning lesson for me. Apparently on these, you can use a later cylinder and piston. Looks like maybe someone had a bad cylinder/piston combo and replaced it.
Mine is the earlier one (pre-1956) that the cylinder uses an earlier glow head, cannot use the later glow heads as its threads and mounting is different. However, I could change the cylinder for a later one, then use the later heads.
Your cylinder is a later one. If it could talk, perhaps a previous owner needed a new cylinder and piston, mounted what he could buy from whatever hobby supply he visited or mail ordered from.
If you have another engine with earlier thin cylinder and piston, could swap those out and have an "authentic" looking Thermal Hopper. With some TLC, it should clean up nicely. You may have a future Cox Engine of the Month winner.
GallopingGhostler- Top Poster
-
Posts : 5327
Join date : 2013-07-13
Age : 70
Location : Clovis NM or NFL KC Chiefs
Re: New to me Thermal Hopper
The stepped wall cylinder was introduced in the 70's. While it's not original, it will save you the patience of locating the original small glow heads which are becoming harder to source.
Ken Cook- Top Poster
- Posts : 5476
Join date : 2012-03-27
Location : pennsylvania
Re: New to me Thermal Hopper
This is true Ken, I guess it depends on how genuine he wants it. Mine is 1955 or earlier, which uses an earlier glow head, cylinder incompatible with later. They continued making the Thermal Hopper past 1955, 1956 went to the "modern" thin cylinder configuration that use current heads.Ken Cook wrote:The stepped wall cylinder was introduced in the 70's. While it's not original, it will save you the patience of locating the original small glow heads which are becoming harder to source.
If heads become problemmatic, I'll borrow a cylinder and piston off one of my earlier postage stamp engines and use that, to keep the historic look of a later manufactured Thermal Hopper.
GallopingGhostler- Top Poster
-
Posts : 5327
Join date : 2013-07-13
Age : 70
Location : Clovis NM or NFL KC Chiefs
Re: New to me Thermal Hopper
That will bee nice once you get her cleaned , These are good runners you should at least put a dual port single or duel bypass cly. on it so it can perform like it should . The older 3 piece piston will come apart after a while of hard running . Had one happen to me !
getback- Top Poster
-
Posts : 10138
Join date : 2013-01-18
Age : 66
Location : julian , NC
Re: New to me Thermal Hopper
I got the engine cleaned up somewhat. It needs a new crankcase gasket, and the reed doesn't look too good to me. I flushed it out as best I could, but it's still oozing green. I don't know how to get the reed assembly apart, and didn't want to risk damaging anything.
It does not have the older 3-piece piston. A previous owner replaced the cylinder, piston and glow head with newer parts. Probably it was easier to do that than find the old type glow heads. I put a thin wall cylinder on it to look a bit more original.
It does not have the older 3-piece piston. A previous owner replaced the cylinder, piston and glow head with newer parts. Probably it was easier to do that than find the old type glow heads. I put a thin wall cylinder on it to look a bit more original.
duaneh- Gold Member
- Posts : 199
Join date : 2019-04-06
Re: New to me Thermal Hopper
Great looking little engine Duane! I've been curious about the "Cricut" machines.. and their ability to cut gasket material.. (which it definitely can..) and other parts like the reed-valves for our engines. High-tech... meets Vintage iron...
Re: New to me Thermal Hopper
https://www.mh-aerotools.de/airfoils/documents/cox_test_thermalhopper_049_aeromodeller_february_1954.pdf The reeds are not to hard to get out but need to bee careful with them , it will run off of just the thicker reed by it self if needed .. Just pry the retainer off a little at a time the gasket are available at Cox Inter. >> https://coxengines.ca/back-end/cox--049-thermal-hopper-space-bug-jr--crankcase-gasket-2.html
getback- Top Poster
-
Posts : 10138
Join date : 2013-01-18
Age : 66
Location : julian , NC
rsv1cox- Top Poster
-
Posts : 10603
Join date : 2014-08-18
Location : West Virginia
Re: New to me Thermal Hopper
It cleaned up nicely for you duaneh….. Should make a good runner for you…. If it will start maybe that’s the finish cleaning of the reeds
rdw777- Diamond Member
-
Posts : 1311
Join date : 2021-03-11
Location : West Texas
Re: New to me Thermal Hopper
Duane, it cleaned up really good and the thin cylinder restores its post 1955 Thermal Hopper look. Looks like you have a good candidate for the next Cox Engine of the Month contest.
Other day, I fired up my Space Bug Junior with earlier head / cylinder, but it would only run on prime. I suspect a venturi leak in the tank, may need to make up a venturi gasket from a slice of silicon fuel line.
GallopingGhostler- Top Poster
-
Posts : 5327
Join date : 2013-07-13
Age : 70
Location : Clovis NM or NFL KC Chiefs
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