Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting

roddie Thu Mar 04, 2021 7:05 pm

I am curious whether or not this vent arrangement may have been to minimize fuel-siphoning when inverted; as compared to the original..? There's still two vents.. Huh...

My engine; as received from a fella down the road ("Dennis in Millville").. one of "two" Cox engines in a boxful of engines he gave me, one day a few years ago.

Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting Dsc04312

There was no needle.. but the spray-tube is clear. There is also no mesh-screen covering the air-intake.

Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting Dsc04311

The original dual-nipple back-plate actually allowed for connecting the two vents together via a flexible fuel-line looping "under"... with a slit/vent for when inverted. It's a nice trick.. but you don't have a lot of time to show-off with 5cc's...

Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting Dsc02511

Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting Dsc02512

davidll1984 Thu Mar 04, 2021 7:28 pm

The backplate is befor the plastiques one like the one used for texaco

dckrsn Thu Mar 04, 2021 8:57 pm

AFAIK Roddie, right you are. I've see this application before, and it
makes sense if you stare at it for a while. My senses are a little skewed
at the moment, so I won't try to explain, but trust me, it does work.
Bob

KariFS Fri Mar 05, 2021 5:42 am

I never thought about it that way Huh...

It does seem plausible though. In C/L flying, you have most of your fuel in the right side of the tank. That’s why you have the fuel pickup pointing right too, obviously. Having the vent on the left prevents fuel leaking when inverted. No fuel => no leak. Genious Thumbs Up

Too bad they came up with it pretty late, I think that style was introduced in the early ’80s, around the time when dual slit exhausts became standard. I bought my first Babe Bee in 1983 or so, it had that kind of backplate, dual slit exhausts and a brass driveplate with the red starter cam. Just like the one in the picture.

fredvon4 Fri Mar 05, 2021 10:15 am

The story I heard about the slit cylinder and the Backplate vent were due to product liability concerns.

Slit cylinder reduced fire potential

Vent arrangement prevented fuel spurting into a child's eyes. The filler bulb tube partially covered the flush air vent

davidll1984 Fri Mar 05, 2021 11:52 am

Yes story make sense it hapen To me once and nitro in eyes its bad and taste disgusting fuel in face lol dont smoke at same time Hot

roddie Fri Mar 05, 2021 6:50 pm

yea... Phred's explanation makes perfect sense. People be Lawyr'n-up. Better call Saul... S'all good man..! Shocked

**Cribbs74** Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:40 pm

Roddie the vent arrangement you show was talked about at length by Ken Cook about 6yrs ago. I was sick and tired of flame outs while inverted. It impeded my learning so much I just decided that engines with either a stunt tanks or standard are better suited for roundy round or speed. TD and Medallion are the way to go for just about everything.

NEW222 Sat Mar 06, 2021 11:09 pm

An interesting topic. I had also seen that arrangement before, and was wondering about it. That is until Fred came to the rescue with his answer. Of which makes total sense. While I have not fuelled up an engine lately, I do remember filling them up and having the fuel squirting straight up and out the other vent.

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Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting

Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting

Re: Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting

Re: Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting

Re: Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting

Re: Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting

Re: Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting

Re: Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting

Re: Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting

Re: Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting

Re: Cox Babe Bee later-model backplate venting