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50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
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50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
Picked this one off the bay for $20 shipped.
What especially attracted me to this one, was
the mess that it was. I date it to about 1964.
New screws, fuel pickup tube and gaskets.
Was able to use everything else, even the reed.
I polished the hell out of the tank, then dulled it
back with some steel wool.
Hope to start her tomorrow.
Despite the exterior looks, I don't think it has much
run time on it.
Bob
Fast forward.....
What especially attracted me to this one, was
the mess that it was. I date it to about 1964.
New screws, fuel pickup tube and gaskets.
Was able to use everything else, even the reed.
I polished the hell out of the tank, then dulled it
back with some steel wool.
Hope to start her tomorrow.
Despite the exterior looks, I don't think it has much
run time on it.
Bob
Fast forward.....
Last edited by dckrsn on Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:25 pm; edited 1 time in total
dckrsn- Diamond Member
- Posts : 2750
Join date : 2010-10-21
Age : 71
Location : Long Island, New York
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
I always like to see the restoration of a neglected engine.
Did you re black the cylinder or did it clean up to that finish?
Did you re black the cylinder or did it clean up to that finish?
ian1954- Diamond Member
- Posts : 2688
Join date : 2011-11-16
Age : 69
Location : England
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
No Ian, I used Hoppe's #9 in a sonicator for 20min and blew it offian1954 wrote:I always like to see the restoration of a neglected engine.
Did you re black the cylinder or did it clean up to that finish?
with compressed air. I was a little surprised myself.
Bob
dckrsn- Diamond Member
- Posts : 2750
Join date : 2010-10-21
Age : 71
Location : Long Island, New York
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
That was fortunate. I have never had one that cleaned up that well.
I would have been surprised!
I would have been surprised!
ian1954- Diamond Member
- Posts : 2688
Join date : 2011-11-16
Age : 69
Location : England
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
Did you use Mothers on the tank? What is your technique for the Ultrasonic cleaner? You have a jar with Hoppes resting in Ultrasonic cleaner? The engine looks great. Andy
anm2- Gold Member
- Posts : 292
Join date : 2013-03-30
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
Looks great Bob!
Cribbs74- Moderator
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Posts : 11899
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 50
Location : Tuttle, OK
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
Wow Bob! That put a smile on my face! One of my favorite subjects here at CEF, is when someone documents a restore/cleaning such as this. Well done!
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
roddie wrote:Wow Bob! That put a smile on my face! One of my favorite subjects here at CEF, is when someone documents a restore/cleaning such as this. Well done!
Same thing with me...I was really touched to see her becoming a beauty after so many years of careless storage by the previous owner...Poor li'l thing...I am curious to learn if the assumption of a short previous runtime on her was right and the compression etc are fine...
balogh- Top Poster
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Posts : 4755
Join date : 2011-11-06
Age : 65
Location : Budapest Hungary
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
Thanks Ian, Andy, Ron, Roddie, Balogh and Jacob for
the kind responses.
Andy, that's exactly how I use the sonic cleaner and Hoppe's #9.
I'm a little leery about putting the #9 directly in the sonicator, as
the bath liquid heats up somewhat. I put the parts in a small
jar with the #9, and imerse that in the water bath. Seems to work well.
Also, I did use Mother's billet polish on the tank.
Balogh, on re-assembly, she has lots of compression.
Now for the rest of the story.
I fueled the Bee up on the test stand and drip,drip,drip.
I know the factory tank screws are a little(3/32"?) shorter.
It's never been a problem before, as I always bottom tap
the case threads to accept the extra length (3/4") screws.
I guess the holes in the old case didn't
have the extra depth to tap.
Anyway, I shortened the screws(pita) and fired her up.
Tight as a drum now and runs like a champ.
I didn't tach her, but she sounded good.
Thanks again all, here she is.
Bob
the kind responses.
Andy, that's exactly how I use the sonic cleaner and Hoppe's #9.
I'm a little leery about putting the #9 directly in the sonicator, as
the bath liquid heats up somewhat. I put the parts in a small
jar with the #9, and imerse that in the water bath. Seems to work well.
Also, I did use Mother's billet polish on the tank.
Balogh, on re-assembly, she has lots of compression.
Now for the rest of the story.
I fueled the Bee up on the test stand and drip,drip,drip.
I know the factory tank screws are a little(3/32"?) shorter.
It's never been a problem before, as I always bottom tap
the case threads to accept the extra length (3/4") screws.
I guess the holes in the old case didn't
have the extra depth to tap.
Anyway, I shortened the screws(pita) and fired her up.
Tight as a drum now and runs like a champ.
I didn't tach her, but she sounded good.
Thanks again all, here she is.
Bob
dckrsn- Diamond Member
- Posts : 2750
Join date : 2010-10-21
Age : 71
Location : Long Island, New York
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
Now that's what I like to see! Here's a greenie for ya.
Cribbs74- Moderator
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Posts : 11899
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 50
Location : Tuttle, OK
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
I like the engine test stand. That looks nice and shiny too!
ian1954- Diamond Member
- Posts : 2688
Join date : 2011-11-16
Age : 69
Location : England
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
Really nice job < BOB > Looks great and the stand too did you buy or build that test stand? Glad it ran out good for you . Getback
getback- Top Poster
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Posts : 10168
Join date : 2013-01-18
Age : 66
Location : julian , NC
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
Thanks guys!
Getback, the stand is an old Tatone with
a mount block I picked up on E-Bay years ago.
Bob
Getback, the stand is an old Tatone with
a mount block I picked up on E-Bay years ago.
Bob
dckrsn- Diamond Member
- Posts : 2750
Join date : 2010-10-21
Age : 71
Location : Long Island, New York
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
Whooooo Buddy.....you really brought that Baby Bee back to the fold. Kinda like the Tin Man on the Wizard of Oz)))) All spiffed up.
I too like that engine test stand.
Love seeing an old engine get on back in the game.
Shug
I too like that engine test stand.
Love seeing an old engine get on back in the game.
Shug
ShugEmery- Moderate Poster
- Posts : 10
Join date : 2014-04-04
Age : 66
Location : Roseville, Minnesota
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
It must have crashed on its maiden flight judging from the photos before cleaning, nice job. Those old bees are nice runners.
For me they always run the opposite way I flip the prop.
For me they always run the opposite way I flip the prop.
crankbndr- Top Poster
- Posts : 3073
Join date : 2011-12-10
Location : Homestead FL
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
where can i get one of those sonic cleaners? ive seen some on ebay for cleaning jewelry go for 30 to 40 bucks. are those things any good for cleaning engines?
looperdude- Silver Member
- Posts : 83
Join date : 2013-07-30
Age : 26
Location : High Point. NC
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
looperdude, I've used one of the less expensive cleaners(Chicago Tools), andlooperdude wrote:where can i get one of those sonic cleaners? ive seen some on ebay for cleaning jewelry go for 30 to 40 bucks. are those things any good for cleaning engines?
they're no great shakes(yuk yuk). A good small unit will set you back
$150-$200. I was lucky to be gifted one by a scientist friend who made the
leap fron research to acedemics. A few forum members have had
good results using Hoppe's #9 as a good plain soak. A decent
sonic cleaner just speeds things up.
Bob
dckrsn- Diamond Member
- Posts : 2750
Join date : 2010-10-21
Age : 71
Location : Long Island, New York
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
Your project inspired me to save this old Bee, 10$ shipped on eBay. Looking at the tank and backplate made me think it could have the early flathead screws, I don't have one.
It turned out to have the newer screws but it does have the 4 piece piston. Having a hard time cleaning the black off the backplate and of course it has the plier marks.
It turned out to have the newer screws but it does have the 4 piece piston. Having a hard time cleaning the black off the backplate and of course it has the plier marks.
crankbndr- Top Poster
- Posts : 3073
Join date : 2011-12-10
Location : Homestead FL
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
Looks like a worthy candidate! Seems you are well on your way. Fine sandpaper works wonders on fins and heads. Hope to see it when it's done.
I have to ask though what's the fourth piece in the piston?
I have to ask though what's the fourth piece in the piston?
Cribbs74- Moderator
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Posts : 11899
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 50
Location : Tuttle, OK
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
Hi Ron, I got to work on those plier marks, the head is not so bad, if I can get em out of the cylinder it will need to be blacked.
I was thinking about using this from Blue Wonder http://shop.bluewonder.us/gun-black-kits/blue-wonder-gun-black-2-oz-refinishing-kit/
I have never blacked a cylinder before and don't want to use a complicated process.
Ya the piston I've seen em called 3 and 4 piece, I guess 4 would be piston, rod,retainer and clip?
I was thinking about using this from Blue Wonder http://shop.bluewonder.us/gun-black-kits/blue-wonder-gun-black-2-oz-refinishing-kit/
I have never blacked a cylinder before and don't want to use a complicated process.
Ya the piston I've seen em called 3 and 4 piece, I guess 4 would be piston, rod,retainer and clip?
crankbndr- Top Poster
- Posts : 3073
Join date : 2011-12-10
Location : Homestead FL
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
That should work well. I have used lesser quality stuff than what you have and it turned out OK, but not as dark as from the factory.
I have taken one of those older pistons apart and all it consisted of was the piston, rod and a clip to hold in the rod.
Maybe there is also a 4 piece version? Don't know...
I have taken one of those older pistons apart and all it consisted of was the piston, rod and a clip to hold in the rod.
Maybe there is also a 4 piece version? Don't know...
Cribbs74- Moderator
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Posts : 11899
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 50
Location : Tuttle, OK
Re: 50 Year Old BabeBee Restore
Hey Doug, looks like a nice engine there. Older
than the one I just restored.
Lots of beauty to be uncovered.
The Blue Wonder looks interesting. I've never
tried bluing, but I have several cylinders that
could some. Thanks for the link.
Bob
than the one I just restored.
Lots of beauty to be uncovered.
The Blue Wonder looks interesting. I've never
tried bluing, but I have several cylinders that
could some. Thanks for the link.
Bob
dckrsn- Diamond Member
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Join date : 2010-10-21
Age : 71
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crankbndr- Top Poster
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Location : Homestead FL
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