FOX FAI .049 Engines

Excuse my ignorance please, but the FAI design is for running with no nitro, correct?  Are the major differences in port timing, combustion chamber shape and different heads with the rest of the engine basically the same as it's nitro breathing counterpart?  

Just curious.  I never had any idea about the depth of Cox engine lore until I started hanging around you guys.  

I inquired to Doug about 6 months ago for some .07 parts. Basically, it's all the same engine excluding the cylinder and piston. He didn't have any but I believe he mentioned he had several pieces unfinished and no way or intention of grinding them to the proper diameter due to cost. Matt, did you also inquire needle valves and spraybars as these fit the Fox .15 slant, coffin back .15's, baffle and bb .25's and a few others? I've always wanted to try Fox FAI .049.

       The FAI Fox did come with a larger intake and different bypass configuration. It doesn't require FAI fuel and it will run with considerable gain on high nitro. If no nitro fuel is run in a FAI version Fox it offers more rpm's over a standard Fox .049.

the case is cut different as well, so case, cyl and piston.

I saw Fox, but read Cox. Geez. There's two lifetime's worth of learning in the history, lore and the legacies of both Duke and Roy. What an amazing time that was.

One thing I noted about the Fox .049/.07 plugs is that they're true to tradition that they don't work well. Bob Matte makes a adapter for the Fox .049's. I highly recommend it.
http://www.flyfreeflight.com/Site/Fox_049.html

In addition, most standard plugs don't work well with 1/2A's due to volume area and loss of compression through the threads. For some reason, the Fox works rather well when the plug is drilled and tapped for a conventional plug.

Fox manufacturing didn't have any plugs in stock and it took a few years then Henry Werner of Virginia Hobby Sports I believe in conjunction with Doug started offering parts and complete engines. One of my flying partners Dan drilled a bunch of the Fox plugs for R/C longs and this worked amazingly well. In fact, he was disqualified for using this setup at a Musciano event. They reinstated his win as legal because he explained as to why this should of been allowed due to the engine losing compression and rpm's as a result of a standard plug. Dan can fly a brick with wings and win and it wasn't the engine run that caused him to place high. Fox plugs were not available and this was the only way to make the engine work.

Yes I also found the same link, but can't figure out how to order it on the web site.

Dave P. wrote:Excuse my ignorance please, but the FAI design is for running with no nitro, correct?  Are the major differences in port timing, combustion chamber shape and different heads with the rest of the engine basically the same as it's nitro breathing counterpart?  

Just curious.  I never had any idea about the depth of Cox engine lore until I started hanging around you guys.  

The crankshaft, crankcase, and cylinder were the major differences which yielded more power.

For the fuel you could run a straight 3:1 methanol / castor, but they run well on 10 to 20 percent nitro as well, with the higher nitro boosting power accordingly.

Matt

Ken Cook wrote:I inquired to Doug about 6 months ago for some .07 parts. Basically, it's all the same engine excluding the cylinder and piston. He didn't have any but I believe he mentioned he had several pieces unfinished and no way or intention of grinding them to the proper diameter due to cost. Matt, did you also inquire needle valves and spraybars as these fit the Fox .15 slant, coffin back .15's, baffle and bb .25's and a few others? I've always wanted to try Fox FAI .049.

       The FAI Fox did come with a larger intake and different bypass configuration. It doesn't require FAI fuel and it will run with considerable gain on high nitro. If no nitro fuel is run in a FAI version Fox it offers more rpm's over a standard Fox .049.

Sorry, nothing other than the 049 parts. We have the .07 parts where they are the same fit as those for the 049.

Matt

Ken Cook wrote:        One thing I noted about the Fox .049/.07 plugs is that they're true to tradition that they don't work well. Bob Matte makes a adapter for the Fox .049's. I highly recommend it.
http://www.flyfreeflight.com/Site/Fox_049.html

In addition, most standard plugs don't work well with 1/2A's due to volume area and loss of compression through the threads. For some reason, the Fox works rather well when the plug is drilled and tapped for a conventional plug.

Fox manufacturing didn't have any plugs in stock and it took a few years then Henry Werner of Virginia Hobby Sports I believe in conjunction with Doug started offering parts and complete engines. One of my flying partners Dan  drilled a bunch of the Fox plugs for R/C longs and this worked amazingly  well. In fact, he was disqualified for using this setup at a Musciano event. They reinstated his win as legal because he explained as to why this should of been allowed due to the engine losing compression and rpm's as a result of a standard plug. Dan can fly a brick with wings and win and it wasn't the engine run that caused him to place high. Fox plugs were not available and this was the only way to make the engine work.

We have all parts to build the original glow heads and will build them. Having said that, I agree that the stock head was not the best and for those who would like an adapter for standard long, I plan on having this available as well.

Matt

Also - here is the MAN article from the mid 60's in case anyone is interested in the review.

Awesome Mark - love the old ads!

Cool Mark. Note the cameo for one of Berkeley's bankruptcy kits that Duke Fox bought up.

11336966129
Nice Fox 07 Compact Stunt Motor on EBay.  Has the Comet emblem ground off the case and the rear cover is made by sawing away part of the fuel tank.  A very nice early example!

11336966129
Nice Fox 07 Compact Stunt Motor on EBay.  Has the Comet emblem ground off the case and the rear cover is made by sawing away part of the fuel tank.  A very nice early example!

Looks new to me

Question for some of the Fox guys out here: Is Randall Hopkins still around? I have heard conflicting information as to his possible passing.

That may be a question directed to Doug Martin.

Unfortunately, Doug doesn't know either. He mentioned trying several emails he had, but didn't get anywhere.

Ken Cook wrote:        One thing I noted about the Fox .049/.07 plugs is that they're true to tradition that they don't work well. Bob Matte makes a adapter for the Fox .049's. I highly recommend it.
http://www.flyfreeflight.com/Site/Fox_049.html

Ken

I was glad to find the web address of Bob Matte written in your post.

I read on his website he also modifies COX TD09 glow heads to accommodate Nelson glow plugs. Do you now if Bob Matte is still active i.e. undertakes the said TD09 head modifications? (Just asking because he wrote on the page he had retired some 20 years ago so may be in his 80-s?…)

I sent him an email but so far have not heard from him. In which US state does he reside?

Thank you for the answer, Andras

When we run the glow heads they will be with a slightly thicker coil than the original heads since this caused consistency issues when running. Will also have a glow head adapter for standard plugs.

Matt

Matt do I understand correctly that you will have aftermarket 09 heads sold in your webshop? If yes, when is that going to happen? Sorry if I misunderstood you.

balogh wrote:Matt do I understand correctly that you will have aftermarket 09 heads sold in your webshop? If yes, when is that going to happen? Sorry if I misunderstood you.

Sorry, no plans at this time for 09. I was referring to the Fox 049, sorry for the confusion.