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Cox Engine of The Month
August-2024
balogh's
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"Cox TD09 R/C Beast of Burden featuring Kamtechnik head and DIY metallic fuel nipple"
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PAST WINNERS
balogh's
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"Cox TD09 R/C Beast of Burden featuring Kamtechnik head and DIY metallic fuel nipple"
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PAST WINNERS
Glider Timers
Page 1 of 1
Glider Timers
Hi All
I searched around the forum and could not find much on this subject?
Well now that I'm getting back into model airplanes again and I thought I'm going to build another free flight glider like the ones I built back in the day.
Over the years I've been collecting the old clockwork free flight timers.I never was a big fan of the burning cotton cord timers. they had a tendency to go out flying them along the California coast. (humidity) I think? lost a couple planes over that, chased them for miles and watched them thermal up and out of site,gone.
I just loved the clockwork timers but as a kid could barely afford one.
One thing I noticed is that some of them brand new in the box Ive been collecting were never mounted and freezing up? locking up not completing their run cycle?
I guess over the years being in a damp environment has caused some internal oxidation, corrosion or even rust.
on many it says on the instructions (Do not oil or attempt to repair yourself) but the manufacturer had gone out of business.I don't know if there is anyone out there still repairing these.
So not knowing what else to do I tried several light oils even some WD 40 etc, didn't help at all. just seemed to gum them up more.
So I cleaned them out with solvent (Note: avoid any solvent on face plate) may remove paint. and went back to trying to figure out how to save and use these timers?
Well I'm sitting there thinking it can not be wet with oil and then it clicked! DRY LUBE! powdered graphite lube.
Sure enough I opened them up (removed back cover)your going to need a good watch screw driver set to open them. blew them out with a little air. even box/paper lint, balsa dust will jam them up. I got a tube of graphite powder lube and puffed into the timers on everything,gears, flat springs, shafts,pins, levers,.
and low and behold they came back to life. the more I ran them the smoother they got.
Give it a try it may bring your old clockwork tail/engine timers back to life.
Basswood
I searched around the forum and could not find much on this subject?
Well now that I'm getting back into model airplanes again and I thought I'm going to build another free flight glider like the ones I built back in the day.
Over the years I've been collecting the old clockwork free flight timers.I never was a big fan of the burning cotton cord timers. they had a tendency to go out flying them along the California coast. (humidity) I think? lost a couple planes over that, chased them for miles and watched them thermal up and out of site,gone.
I just loved the clockwork timers but as a kid could barely afford one.
One thing I noticed is that some of them brand new in the box Ive been collecting were never mounted and freezing up? locking up not completing their run cycle?
I guess over the years being in a damp environment has caused some internal oxidation, corrosion or even rust.
on many it says on the instructions (Do not oil or attempt to repair yourself) but the manufacturer had gone out of business.I don't know if there is anyone out there still repairing these.
So not knowing what else to do I tried several light oils even some WD 40 etc, didn't help at all. just seemed to gum them up more.
So I cleaned them out with solvent (Note: avoid any solvent on face plate) may remove paint. and went back to trying to figure out how to save and use these timers?
Well I'm sitting there thinking it can not be wet with oil and then it clicked! DRY LUBE! powdered graphite lube.
Sure enough I opened them up (removed back cover)your going to need a good watch screw driver set to open them. blew them out with a little air. even box/paper lint, balsa dust will jam them up. I got a tube of graphite powder lube and puffed into the timers on everything,gears, flat springs, shafts,pins, levers,.
and low and behold they came back to life. the more I ran them the smoother they got.
Give it a try it may bring your old clockwork tail/engine timers back to life.
Basswood
Basswood- Gold Member
- Posts : 141
Join date : 2020-02-19
Age : 68
Location : Phoenix, Az.
Re: Glider Timers
'Ere ya go Bass.
Hank Nystrom Texas Timers
TXTIMER@TN.NET(don't know 'bout the caps)
http://www.texastimers.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-OSAFgzXb7SkEkJ-PeA8ag
(423) 282-6423
Hank's a great guy. I've dealt with him for a while,
and he'll steer you straight on those timers.
Bob
Hank Nystrom Texas Timers
TXTIMER@TN.NET(don't know 'bout the caps)
http://www.texastimers.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-OSAFgzXb7SkEkJ-PeA8ag
(423) 282-6423
Hank's a great guy. I've dealt with him for a while,
and he'll steer you straight on those timers.
Bob
dckrsn- Diamond Member
- Posts : 2750
Join date : 2010-10-21
Age : 71
Location : Long Island, New York
Re: Glider Timers
Thanks Bob any info I can get on these timers helps. Basswood
Basswood- Gold Member
- Posts : 141
Join date : 2020-02-19
Age : 68
Location : Phoenix, Az.
Re: Glider Timers
Would you share a photo of such timer? Preferably a photo of the guts, if you have one.
dirk gently- Gold Member
- Posts : 430
Join date : 2012-02-03
Age : 42
Location : Poznań
ticomareado- Account Under Review
- Posts : 1089
Join date : 2013-10-03
Location : NC
Re: Glider Timers
I don't have a photo of one opened. it usually only takes removing the two tiny screws to remove the back cover. but that patent photo will give you a good idea what they look like on the inside. most of mine are Tatone timers.
I'll tell ya that "Tube-O-Lube" powdered graphite works like greased lightning and doesn't gum them up.I have old timers that are brand new in the box that where freezing up from oxidation over the years and it fixed them.
And it works on metal,wood or plastic.
Basswood
I'll tell ya that "Tube-O-Lube" powdered graphite works like greased lightning and doesn't gum them up.I have old timers that are brand new in the box that where freezing up from oxidation over the years and it fixed them.
And it works on metal,wood or plastic.
Basswood
Basswood- Gold Member
- Posts : 141
Join date : 2020-02-19
Age : 68
Location : Phoenix, Az.
Re: Glider Timers
Basswood wrote:........
I'll tell ya that "Tube-O-Lube" powdered graphite works like greased lightning and doesn't gum them up.I have old timers that are brand new in the box that where freezing up from oxidation over the years and it fixed them.
................
Basswood
I'm an "Old Timer" that's been frozen up for several years --- I wonder if the "Tube-O-Lube" might help me out. Hmmmm -- should I put it on the affected parts or take it by mouth?
![I Love This Forum!](/users/3015/29/34/60/smiles/1901776121.gif)
Re: Glider Timers
If the nozzle is a comfortable size . . .
ticomareado- Account Under Review
- Posts : 1089
Join date : 2013-10-03
Location : NC
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