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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / March 2009



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Castor Oil...Remember that?

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Ken Cashion - 24 Jan 2009 16:04 GMT
Some Advice Needed –
 
I have some unopened, sealed fuel.  The AP NFX w/25% nitro has
synthetic lube and I want to run it in old (but still good) small
engines and I want to add some castor oil to it to take care of the
engines.

How much?

Again, I used to know these things but I have to remember so much now,
some things get buffered right out of my memory disc. <g>

And whatever this amount is, would it be the same amount of added
castor oil for Mach 2 fuel with 15% nitro (but also with synthetic
lube)?  I want to run it in some Max 15 - 35's?

Thank you guys...

Ken Cashion, AMA 69222.
The Natural Philosopher - 24 Jan 2009 16:23 GMT
> Some Advice Needed –
>    
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>  
> Ken Cashion, AMA 69222.
Dont take it as gospel, but generally the ratio of ultra good sythetic
to ordinary mineral to castor is about 1:2:4, so if its say 5% syntheic,
id put in 15% castor to make it up to 20%.
Ken Cashion - 24 Jan 2009 16:46 GMT
>> Some Advice Needed –
>>    
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>>  
>> Ken Cashion, AMA 69222.

>Dont take it as gospel, but generally the ratio of ultra good sythetic
>to ordinary mineral to castor is about 1:2:4, so if its say 5% syntheic,
>id put in 15% castor to make it up to 20%.

Thank you...so noted...

Ken Cashion
icerinkdad@gmail.com - 25 Jan 2009 19:31 GMT
Depends a bit on the motor.   The Cox guarantee was only good if you
ran 20% castor oil in your fuel.    Cox engines suffer from using a
ball joint that is not well lubricated to hold the piston and
connecting rod together.  Other small engines say 20% oil with half of
that being castor.    Synthetic oils are good but generally less
tollerant to lean runs which are easy to get with small engines.   You
can probably use the fuel but find out how much oil is already in it
and add castor to bring it up to about 22% total oil.   If you are
running a Cox engine plan on resetting the connecting rod after about
10 runs.
Bob Furr
Ken Cashion - 25 Jan 2009 21:33 GMT
>Depends a bit on the motor.   The Cox guarantee was only good if you
>ran 20% castor oil in your fuel.    Cox engines suffer from using a
>ball joint that is not well lubricated to hold the piston and
>connecting rod together.  Other small engines say 20% oil with half of
>that being castor.  

Yep...I have some other fuel for my .049s, of which I have a lot, but
I was thinking about my OS Max, 10, 15s, 20s, and 30s.  Either way, I
am going to have a gunky model and the gooey stuff everywhere.  That
is what got me out of glow and into e-flight.

I might have to buy a modern engine so I can use synthetics and keep
the gunk down.  I dislike the grease to the point I would be content
to buy a new engine and face the wear just to be rid of the goop.

I might need to invent a "goop collector" and drain it after each
flight.  This could be done.

>Synthetic oils are good but generally less
>tolerant to lean runs which are easy to get with small engines.   You
>can probably use the fuel but find out how much oil is already in it
>and add castor to bring it up to about 22% total oil.   If you are
>running a Cox engine plan on resetting the connecting rod after about
>10 runs.
   
I have a resetting tool and have used it often when abusing some of
the little engines...and I have a few rod/piston key ring
novelties...with holes worn in the piston top from the pounding rod
ball.

Ken Cashion
Ted Campanelli - 25 Jan 2009 21:48 GMT
Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not
so great) words of knowledge:
> Some Advice Needed –
>    
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>  
> Ken Cashion, AMA 69222.

I ALWAYS add 4 oz of castor oil per 1 gallon of fuel.

Yes, it does create somewhat of a mess, however, all you need is 1 lean
run and your engine could very well be toast (needing a complete rebuild
anyway).

To me, it is cheap insurance, and Windex and paper towels are cheap.
Ed Cregger - 25 Jan 2009 23:39 GMT
> Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not so
> great) words of knowledge:
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> To me, it is cheap insurance, and Windex and paper towels are cheap.

If a person hates the goop as much as you do Ken, why would you even think
of returning to glow engine usage?

Things have come a long way in power-to-weight ratios regarding electric
flying since you have been gone. If it is all out performance that you seek,
the electric systems are much closer in power ouput versus weight than they
were when you left the hobby some time ago.

I don't mind cleaning up the goop from larger engines because the goop is
directed away from the model mostly, but the one half A engines blow it
everywhere. That and the annoying sound of tiny high revving engines have
made me go electric on the smaller models.

Ed Cregger
Ken Cashion - 26 Jan 2009 00:14 GMT
    <snippage>

>If a person hates the goop as much as you do Ken, why would you even think
>of returning to glow engine usage?

Superb question, Ed, and one deserving a full answer rather than
something flip.

I am aware of the improvements in e-power over the years, but I got a
little tired of the tinkering...this tinkering is what got me turned
on to e-power, but it got a little old and tiresome keeping up with
the technology.  I finally decided that I wanted to tinker less and
fly more.

Brushless and LiPo is a whole 'nuther technology and glow is old, old.
I remember having models sit for months, squirting some 3-in-1 in them
and going flying.

There is a whole lot more support equipment (and expense) with most
advanced  e-power than with glow.  I wanted to go fly when the mood
hit me.

I have kept flying e-power though, and I will continue to.  I am just
returning to glow.  We too often think in exclusives...either you fly
electrics or wet.  No, we can fly both -- just not on the same outing.
<g>

When I used to take both to the flying field, the wet engines stayed
in the car and I flew e-power.  I am taking about five e-planes to the
field now and haven't gotten a glow plane going yet, though just today
I did send in an order for some stuff I needed to replace for glow
flight.

I have ordered a little radio system for a twin-400 He-111 I want to
design and build.  It will be about 44" wing span and have retracts
using the modified servos I did the article on in AM...only this time,
it will be operating some landing gear with a worm drive from a guitar
tuner.  I will still be flying e-power -- just not competitively.

>Things have come a long way in power-to-weight ratios regarding electric
>flying since you have been gone. If it is all out performance that you seek,
>the electric systems are much closer in power ouput versus weight than they
>were when you left the hobby some time ago.

Ed, I stated this wrong, earlier.  I am not returning to the hobby but
to glow.  I find this funny because  I swore on a stack of Bibles (big
one) that I'd never fly another glow plane.  <g>  (Never say "Never."
<g>)  And I have an Oe-FB in MO who is hardly speaking to me since he
learned I was going back into glow.

>I don't mind cleaning up the goop from larger engines because the goop is
>directed away from the model mostly, but the one half A engines blow it
>everywhere. That and the annoying sound of tiny high revving engines have
>made me go electric on the smaller models.

I have mufflers on my TD .049s, use low-compression heads, and a bad
prop.  I want my Storch to fly at scale speeds...and it will ROG. Fire
it up, set it down, stand on the trailing antenna and when ready for
take off, I raise my foot.  <g>

I don't fly my pressured .049s anymore.  It makes my fillings hurt.
<g>

Ken Cashion
Ed Cregger - 26 Jan 2009 00:40 GMT
> <snippage>
>
[quoted text clipped - 62 lines]
>
> Ken Cashion

------------

That was a terrific reply, Ken.

And yes, I misunderstood some of your original content.

Like many aircraft modelers I began flying models using .049 engines back in
the late Fifties. Most were discards that I picked from other folk's trash a
few weeks after Christmas. Usually all they needed was a new screw to hold
on the prop. Some were missing mounting ears, but you could get by with at
least one mounting ear on the top and bottom of the engine, hopefully they
were on different sides.

I'm am still a rank newby when it comes to electric powered flight. I have a
lot of gear accumulated, but most of it is outdated. Still, so am I, so any
electric experience will likely be a good experience. LiPo packs scare me -
still.

Nice chatting with you.

Ed Cregger
Ken Cashion - 26 Jan 2009 01:47 GMT
    <snippage>

>> I have mufflers on my TD .049s, use low-compression heads, and a bad
>> prop.  I want my Storch to fly at scale speeds...and it will ROG. Fire
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
>And yes, I misunderstood some of your original content.
   
I mis-speak sometimes.

>Like many aircraft modelers I began flying models using .049 engines back in
>the late Fifties. Most were discards that I picked from other folk's trash a
>few weeks after Christmas. Usually all they needed was a new screw to hold
>on the prop. Some were missing mounting ears, but you could get by with at
>least one mounting ear on the top and bottom of the engine, hopefully they
>were on different sides.

There were three of us who would gather these reed  valve engines and
then use Teflon reeds, bore out the intakes, use the dual-port
cylinders (270s I believe), reseat the ball sockets, use high
compression heads, small props, and lots of nitro...on little
air-boats.

We had marathons.  We would race the circuit, come in, refill without
killing the engine and send them back out.  The water was maybe four
inches deep.  <g>

We would run the engines one afternoon and have to completely rebuild
them...they were worn out in one outing.  <g>   

And I gained a new respect for Cox when I was flying some events using
the Texaco .049.  A 7-7 in the still a.m. and turning only 5,500 rpm
gave a long flight.

>I'm am still a rank newby when it comes to electric powered flight. I have a
>lot of gear accumulated, but most of it is outdated. Still, so am I, so any
>electric experience will likely be a good experience. LiPo packs scare me -
>still.

I have been on a schedule for sometime now and I must maintain
it...this sounds medical but isn't...it is just the only way I can get
the stuff done I want to do.  I will not spend the time in the shop I
used to because it cut into the other two things I enjoy...and one is
a passion and calling; the others are just fun.  <g>

>Nice chatting with you.

Same here, Ed.

Ken Cashion
Ken Cashion - 25 Jan 2009 23:58 GMT
>Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not
>so great) words of knowledge:
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>
>To me, it is cheap insurance, and Windex and paper towels are cheap.

Thanks a bunch for the input.  This is twice what one modeler
recommended.  I will consider an average?

A roll of paper towels and squirt gun is part of my flight box.  I
will put a sheet of ply in the back of the Buick Estate Wagon to
protect that carpet...  (This wasn't necessary with e-power.  <g>)

And yes, my engines are in good shape after many years because I used
good lube...well, the TD .049 on pressure and bored out has seen
better days, I guess.  <g>

Ken
Morgans - 26 Jan 2009 10:18 GMT
> I ALWAYS add 4 oz of castor oil per 1 gallon of fuel.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> To me, it is cheap insurance, and Windex and paper towels are cheap.

Yep.  Meeee toooo!
Signature

Jim in NC

oldmodeler - 05 Mar 2009 04:05 GMT
KEN, 2 0UNCES PER GALLON OF BAKERS AAA DEGUMMED CASTOR OIL AVAILABLE FROM SIG
MFG. NOT THE DRUG STORE KIND. YOUR OLDER ENGINES WILL LAST LONGER ON 10%
NITRO AND 15% MAX . I USE 10%. PUT SOME A DROP OR TWO OF CASSTOROIL AND A
DROP OR TWO OF SYNTHETIC IN AN OLD FRYING PAN. TURN UP THE HEAT. MANY TIMES
THE SYNTHETIC WILL BE GONE LONG BEFORE THE CASTOR OIL. MOST FUELS TODAY HAVE
SOME CASTOR OIL IN THERE AS A BUFFER. THER IS A FORMULA FOR ADJESTING FUEL
RATIOS TO EXISTING FUEL BUT I HAVE TO LOOK IT UP. OLD MODELER, GOOD LUCK

>Some Advice Needed –
>  
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
>Ken Cashion, AMA 69222.
 
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