Cox Mercedes tech

Low tech.

This one got by me.  Checking it yesterday I found the engine locked up.  Totally locked!

Removed the motor, applied a little heat.  Nothing, More heat, more nothing.  Dropped a little Rem oil in the open port and around the prop drive, more heat and got it to move.  Carefully rotated the flywheel back and forth until it loosed.  Took it apart.  Didn't look bad until I removed the reed after a Simple Green soak.  Haven't seen this level of green gunk under the ears in a long time.  Had to chip it out with a tooth pick.  






Now for the low tech part.

There are many ways that you can reassemble this engine, most of them wrong.  I have done it many times and still need a reference.  

You see there is this little hole in the bottom of the pan (toothpicks) it has to align with the overflow tube on the fuel tank, easy, but the top and bottom tubes are off-set.  You have to ensure the correct tube is aligned with the hole or you will get a pan full of fuel when you gas it up.  How do I know , you can install the fuel tank either way.  That, and the needle has to be in the correct position.  Four chances to get it right.









Of all the Cox Products, the Mercedes is far and away the most complicated and to me the most interesting, fragile, frustrating, worthless piece of kit that Cox ever put out.  As a tether car it disappoints.  Getting it started by cranking the rear wheel feels like your destroying it before you even set it on the ground.  Leaning out - the thing is screaming, set it down and you must ensure that it is pointed in the right direction or it will yank the tether wire sending  the car in towards the base.  I literarily destroyed old number 2 in the process.  That part was fun.   Sorta staged.




But, to take apart, especially the differential it's a joy.  Everything is well thought out, Pull the steering wheel back unlocks the hood and the hinge keeps it open.  The steering wheel assembly is nicely done and works well, the fit and finish are first rate.

As eye candy and a collector piece for me it's a keeper.  But as a tether car forget-about-it.