Playing around with a sandcast Enya .29 Tornado

rsv1cox Tue Mar 26, 2019 10:22 am

Enya's first engine along with the similar .19.

Nice day, so I tried to fire up this engine that had been sitting since last fall. Loose NVA, fixed that. Cox 35% fuel and no start until I hit it with the 12 volt starter. Started right up running rich, leaned it out and it quit and wouldn't start again.

Checked everything still no go. Then thought head bolts. Yup, loose. Original nickle plated slots quite worn wouldn't tighten up to my liking but it started running poorly. Decided to replace the head bolts before going further.

Playing around with a sandcast Enya .29 Tornado Trees_10

Found that Enya .29/35 machine screws would not fit, but .15/19 would.

Took the head off and found a head gasket, not original to these engines but nicely done.

Playing around with a sandcast Enya .29 Tornado Silver36

Using new machine screws I tightened down the head giving a squishy feeling as the screws took up the gaskets slack unlike the feeling you get when no gasket is involved. Going to run it like this anyway, but will probably remove the gasket and run it again just to see the difference.

Playing around with a sandcast Enya .29 Tornado Silver37

Thinking about using some JB Weld to repair the exhaust port damaged when some PO tried to attach a muffler and paint the head and prop drive washer VHT red and retire the thing. To worn to consider anodizing.

**Cribbs74** Tue Mar 26, 2019 1:31 pm

Aaacckk 35%!!!!!

It’s not going to last long with that much nitro. 5-10% would be plenty. Removing a gasket would make starting even more difficult. Surprised the head didn’t blow right off.

rsv1cox Tue Mar 26, 2019 3:34 pm

Cribbs74 wrote:Aaacckk 35%!!!!!

It’s not going to last long with that much nitro. 5-10% would be plenty. Removing a gasket would make starting even more difficult. Surprised the head didn’t blow right off.

Yeah, I had some Traxxas 10% car fuel and Brodak 5% but was to lazy to go in the house and get it. Ran great on the Cox 35% though when it ran.

Hoarding the Brodak but might try the Traxxas next time I run it with a little extra castor.

Bob

rsv1cox Fri Mar 29, 2019 2:51 pm

No success.

Tried everything to get this engine to run again. Different plugs, with head gasket, without head gasket, different fuels, flip start, electric start, every needle combination imaginable. Nothing. Curious as it had run initially on Cox 35% fine until the fuel ran out.

Almost no compression, typical of these but this one even less. I think the cylinder, piston, or both are just too tired.

Three hour crock pot boil and cleanup.

Playing around with a sandcast Enya .29 Tornado Enya_215

Playing around with a sandcast Enya .29 Tornado Enya_214

Debating whether to just put it back together as is or JB Weld the broken exhaust port and VHT paint the head and prop washer red.

If I repair the port it will show, so I'm thinking gloss or semi gloss black the case (not fins) and red or gold the head and prop washer and put it away. I respect these old timers and hate to cheapen it, but it would be a peach to see.

Playing around with a sandcast Enya .29 Tornado P7040012

NEW222 Fri Mar 29, 2019 4:08 pm

I'm thinking re-assemble it and try running it one more time. SOmething may have been amiss and teh cleaning may have solved it. If that did not work, then a quick cleaning, repair, then a nice paint job like you posted a photo of would be cool. I had always wanted an older engine with a colored head, but never got one. Good luck on whichever way you decide to do things as I know it will look great when you are done.