Several questions.

7Mile wrote:1. Does the glow head have to be bright red to work, or can the glow be faint?  Yes,  faint glow means low heat and less likely to start

2. What’s the best way to clean a cylinder?
exterior I use soap and a stiff toothbrush, the interior ID Cox recommendations fine steel wool wrapped around a pencil to very gently remove varnish, remember to clean rinse and re-rinse to remove any stands of steel wool

3. What’s the best way to attach the drive plate to the crank (disincluding screwing.)
the best way is to follow the instructions using the Cox installation tool.https://coxengines.ca/assembly-tool-for-cox-.049-engines.html   in a pinch you can install a drive plate using a long prop screw and a propeller to press the drive plate on the splines of the crankshaft, making sure the driver stays flat against the prop as you screw it on. Opps, you didn’t want to use screwing, sorry, it can’t be done.


4. Are there ways of obtaining more compression other than screwing tighter.
Yes, but not easy, do you have access to a machine shop? If not, using two or three Cox copper head gaskets to lower the compression is the best way to start, then remove a gasket at a time to achieve optimum performance. Screwing tighter just makes it more difficult to remove glow head, use new gaskets and snug down tight to make a good seal, because used hardened gaskets make for poor sealing/leaks and low or no compression  

5. Can a control line plane be thrown or does it have to take off on its own? And do you pull upwards to make it take off, or do you use the bellcrank?
My you are new aren’t you?  Yes a plane can be hand tossed or ROG  rise of ground. If you haven’t watched any Control line flying on You tube, there are different styles of releasing a plane. Most instructions say to let the plane gain speed then slowly add UP elevator to let the plane take off, sometimes that won’t work if the “runway” isn’t smooth, flat and clear of obstacles. That’s when a hand toss is called for.  Once in the air holding the handle in your hand, give up or down inputs by raising or lowering your arm at the elbow. The movement of your handle transmits the changes to the bellcrank

6. What do the dual bypass ports (as I believe they are called) do?
breifly the ports allow more fuel/air mixture to enter the combustion chamber. They are  more involved than that but that’s a explanation for our experience experts to fill in.

7. Is there a better way to keep the radiator attached to the head other than the screw? (It keeps vibrating off.)
i have not had one vibrate off! Here’s were screwing down tight would be appropriate. Could be you have a “worn” glow head and the clamping of the heat sink just can’t grab it tightly.

8. Can too much air intake make the engine slower?
Yes. Air leaks are probably one of the most common problems, leak at the venturi inside the tank, leaks at the needle valve

9. How do you attach the metal mesh to the air intake?
I don’t know, never had any luck re installing a screen one it was removed.

10. What’s the best way to clean reeds?VERY CAREFULLY!   If you have a original copper reed I use a cloth soaked in old fuel, or alcohol 91% and wipe each leg of the star one at a time, being careful not to bend it,  the other reeds, mylar, and steel can be wiped clean the same way.

11. What is a good fuel mixture for good speed and a long life? (Babe Bee.)

25% nitro, 20% oil with at least 10% of the oil being Castor.
Glow plug boy, SIG are good choices.

12. If any of you know the model the Sandblaster (Baja racer) is there any way to repair a broken tread for the back wheel.
I don’t have any advice on this one......anybody else?

I hope I can have some questions answered, thanks!