Antique Case Gas Powered Toy Tractor

[CrawlinMike]

Guys at work know I'm into Rc gas and electric. One of them has asked me a couple times if I thought I could get one of his childhood toys to run one more time like for the memory and back to the shelf. Welllll he brings me this and I have no idea. There's no gas tank I see and not even sure what I'm looking at. This is not RC. It's made to be started and set down to run straight. He even has the sled to pull behind it with a weight that slides forwards as it moves. Ok here's the pics. All I see it COX on the pull cord and AMC on the bottom alum. Would like to know more about it. Like what time period, what's it missing, what's it need, and what its worth? I can take more pics if you need anything closer or different angles. Its only 10-12 inches long at most total. Thanks for help.

 

[jetboat]

its an old Cox Puller... very cool. Allot of guys use those to convert for rc pulling.

Take the motor apart and soak it in wd40 for a day or 2 before trying to do anything with it.

 

[relic68]

What you have is a late 70's early 80's pulling tractor. They were all hand made by the owners using a Ertl toy tractor they would pick up at the dealer. I don't know of many left around where I live either. It was kind of a fad there for a few years. Most likely parts will be hard to find, the early gas engines left a lot to be desired. Good luck on getting it running, it would be cool to see one run again "thumbsup"

 

[CrawlinMike]

I have a thread on scale 4x4 asking about this too. Thanks a lot for the info so far. I'm going to see tonight if he will let me take it apart and clean it maybe try to get it running. Hoping it's all there. That's about the smallest nitro motor I've ever seen. At least I have some info to take back to him now.

 

[Knarly Nerd]

Is that a recoil starter cable coming out of the bottom plate? Is the engine mounted to a round plastic dome (that would be the fuel tank)?

 

[CrawlinMike]

Yes the pull cord comes straight out the bottom. Looks unusual to me but then again this it only made to run on a smooth flat surface. Here's a pic of what I think is the fuel res but seems to be missing a piece. There's what looks like a port in the center.

And in this small slot open behind the head/radiator looking part you can see the piston move when the flywheel is turned.

 

[BurnLatex]

Thats the cooloest thing ever. I'm an ag farmer. lol

 

[Knarly Nerd]

I believe that is a Cox Thimble Drome engine. The silver dome shaped item which is part of the crankcase is the fuel tank. The piece of hose I see is probably attached to the needle valve. On either side of the needle valve should be two nipples used for fuel filling. Looks like there is also a remote glow plug connection.

That's quite a find. Ask him if he wants to sell it. I'd be interested!:mrgreen:

 

[Knarly Nerd]

Here's a picture of what I believe the engine might be.

 

[CrawlinMike]

Well he def don't want to sell it but he did tell me do whatever I think I can to get it to run. So in the next few days I suppose it'll get taken apart and cleaned up. Hope to get the pull spring to work right or replace it. If I get it running I'll put up a YouTube vid here.

 

[Knarly Nerd]

Well he def don't want to sell it but he did tell me do whatever I think I can to get it to run. So in the next few days I suppose it'll get taken apart and cleaned up. Hope to get the pull spring to work right or replace it. If I get it running I'll put up a YouTube vid here.

Please do keep us i the loop. I for one, would like to see how you progress. There is not much to that engine and I'm pretty sure parts are still available. Worst case you could find a used replacement on eBay. I know one thing; that is gonna be a noisy little fawker!

 

[hellbounder]

I have one of those motors , havnt tried to make it run yet tho.

 

[CrawlinMike]

Well after some dust collecting-- I have pulled it back to the table and disassembly has started. There's no foam in the fuel "cell" or "bulb". Not sure what it's name is. There's supposed to be foam right? I see how the mixture screw works now I have it apart. Looks like more of a flow rate. I also still am not sure what would be used to fuel it up. Clutch shoes and bell look good and the recoil cleaned up nice. It was gooed up. That was a PITA to reassemble. Also I lubed the rear main gears and axle assembly. They have nil play and roll smoothly. Looks like this was actually taken care of to an extent.
What would you use to get this darned glow plug off? I want to clean the head out but not going to mangle it in the process. Also something interesting is the "radiator" heatsink says 1970. Boy this is oolldd for a gassy. The owner still has the pull sled this came with. The weight tray is tied to a string and actually rolls forward as the axle rolls. Here's a couple pics to show what I have so far. Please reply if you know an answer to my questions on the motor.

 

[Knarly Nerd]

The glow plug is an integral part of the head assembly. The two slots on the top fin are for removal of the head. There is (was) a special tool used to replace glow heads that fit those slots. They and the heads should still be available on eBay. If not it would be an easy tool to make or use a pair of needle nose pliers like I used to do. You should look for parts for the "Thimble Drome" motors on eBay. I'm going over trhere now and see what I can find for you.

 

[gregrocks90046]

Very cool!
Like previously stated, that started life as an Ertl toy/collectible. I had that same Case when I was a kid.

 

[ROWDY RACING]

its an old Cox Puller

:lmao::lmao::lmao:

 

[Knarly Nerd]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MODEL-ENGINE-PARTS-COX-THIMBLE-DROME-LARGE-ASSORTMENT-/221043876916?pt=Radio_Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item33773de434

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cox-Thimble-drome-vintage-049-tether-car-engine-Glow-Head-Plug-Airplane-Mint-Moc-/360465519576?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53ed6b53d8

I'd buy this one just to get the wrench!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Cox-Thimble-Drome-049-Control-Line-Glow-Plug-Engine-RC-Airplane-Motor-/261043039597?pt=Radio_Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cc760ad6d

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HUGE-LOT-GLOW-HEADS-CONVERSION-COX-MOTORS-RC-ENGINE-PARTS-THIMBLE-DROME-TEE-DEE-/140771664547?pt=Radio_Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20c6a522a3

http://www.ebay.com/itm/COX-GLOW-HEAD-MED-15-UN-ANODIZED-THIMBLE-DROME-NEW-RC-NOS-ORIGINAL-PARTS-USA-/140771680229?pt=Radio_Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20c6a55fe5

These should get you started. There are couple of decent deals which will quickly increase your stock of old parts! You could also use "Cox" as a search word when looking on eBay such as "Cox Thimbledrome" or "Cox Thimble Drome".

 

[CrawlinMike]

Thanks knarly! I'll be checking out those links now. Glad some people remember them. I'm definitely looking to get it to run. All the parts came apart easy enough. Just let her soak in penetrating lube for a few.

 

[Knarly Nerd]

I forgot to mention that these can be fueled the same way vehicles are today. Use one of the nipples on the tank on either side of the needle valve and fill until it squirts out of the other nipple. We used squeeze bulbs like oversized eye droppers for fueling. I don't think there was any foam in the tank.

 

[Knarly Nerd]

This might save you some headaches...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/049-Glow-Plug-Head-Conversion-Cox-049-Engine-Radio-Control-Throttle-Type-B-/390370583962?pt=Radio_Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5ae3e6659a