Easy way to clean a Bee?

[rootbeard]

I have read post on doing the crock pot thing, but is there a real easy way to clean a old Golden Bee with out a lot of fuss or mess? I do not want to scrath or harm the Gold.

Thanks
Paul

[Garf]

If you like to live dangerously, use an acid brush and laquer thinner.

[StuntMaster]

Not as far as I know.

SM

[tperry2054]

Paul,

I just finished cleaning up and repairing about a dozen reedys. All were over thirty years old and really gummed up bad. I had enough overhaul kits left from flying years ago to finish most of them.

First thing I did was disassemble the engines and soak them in dope thinner. On a couple of the more stubborn ones, I had to use a small needle to clear the fuel passages. I am diabetic and the small needle on my syringes worked well. After more soaking I manged to clean them out fairly well. An easy check is to spray a little WD-40 using the plasic tube, into the needle valve hole. When it comes out of the fuel pickup and the backscreen it is clean.

While waiting for the parts to soak some more, I visited my local gun store and bought a small brass bore brush and some Hoppe's # 9 solvent and oil. Just take one of your cylinders with you, the dealer will give you the right size. Dip the bore brush in the Hoppe's solvent and pass it through the cylinder several times. Pull a small cloth through th cylinder and when it is clean put a few drops of oil on the inner surface of the cylinder. If you can hear and or feel any play in the ball socket of the con rod and piston use your handy dandy resetter and fix it. These can be had for less than $15 dollars from Davis Diesel. They also sell the overhaul kit for less than 5 dollars.

After you reset the head take a small piece of scotch bright to the top and outside of the piston. After oiling the the surface of the piston check for fit in the cylinder. I've found that resetting the ball joint seems to expand the piston slightly. Reassemble the piston/cylinder to the crankcase and put a few drops of oil into the crankcase and let it flow into the shaft. Mount a prop and spin it several hundred times while watchin TV. (builds character).

If your engine is old the fuel pick up tube will be hard as a rock and will fracture if you bend it. Try to get the small spring, that acts as a stint, out of the plastic tube in one piece if you can. I had some of the tubing left over from long ago but after making new pickups for all the engines I need to find a new source. I fly control line but for you RC guys it shouldn't be a problem as you will probably make a small clunk tank anyway.

If you find an older reedy at a yard sale you should be able to drill a hole through the side of the tank and run a silicon tube out and back to the tank. If you are using a Baby Bee or Golden Bee type engine with the built in tank you will want to cut a small slice if small silicone tubing to use a seal when installing the tank. You should be able to feel it squeeze together when you reassemble the tank to the engine. Reassemble the engine and break it in with a 6-2 prop if you can find one I use a wooden prop cut down 7-2 to break mine back in. Run it with a fairly rich setting for about 5 or 10 minutes. After a cool off period let it warm up again and adjust the needle for peak. If it runs without sagging your done, if it sags repeat the previous steps until it will hold a peak setting. Have fun with your "new" engine.

Tight lines,

Tom

[circlejrk]

The obvious answer.

They prefer warm, not hot water with the addition of floral scented bath oil. Allow them to soak at their leisure.

WARNING - WARNING ---- Do not, I repeat do not rub them the wrong way! ;D