Penetrating Oil on Rusty Joints

We have lots of rusty parts to disassemble.  Before touching any of them with a wrench the joints need to be soaked with penetrating oil to try loosening them.  It also provides a lubricant as the mating surfaces move to prevent scratching and galling parts or breaking fasteners.  If you've been following my WACO NINE project I'm now hooked on Corrosion X for all these tasks.  It is nothing short of amazing and I've tried everything the old car guys have recommended.

The stuff does stink somewhat and I work in my attic so I bought some totes with latching lids to reasonably contain the mess and smell while parts soak.  All my past uses have freed up parts in 1 hour but I'm not in a hurry to get the engine done, lord knows I have enough work to do on the rest of the plane, so I'm letting parts soak for a few days before trying to loosen parts.

The first parts are the rockers for M2573.  They are standard Curtiss rockers.  I've squirted oil in all the oil holes and brushed it on all the fasteners and joints.  I bought squirt bottles instead of the aerosol cans so I get every drop.  Also the aerosol easily sprays more than needed. A flux brush works fine for oiling most joints without much waste.

I Now Have An OX-5 Motor

While at the Antique fly-in at Blakesburg John Swander stopped by my booth to check on the progress of my WACO NINE project.  He had acquired 2 OX-5 motors some parts and a radiator.  After a little discussion I purchased them for $2800.  The motor you can see in the door is the most complete and hopefully restoreable. The other motor is on the other side of the van.  The motor mount is believed to be for a Travel-Air as well as the radiator.

 The valves on the best motor are Miller valves which use a grease fitting instead of oil holes in the castings.  The cylinders are also from a dual ignition OXX-6 motor.  The second plug hole is plugged with what appear to be factory made slotted brass plugs.

Both motors were made by Willis-Morrow Company of Elmira, New York.  The better motor has Manufacturer's Number M3607 but is missing the Army acceptance tag.  The other motor is number M2753 and was accepted 15 May 1918.  The motor John Gaertner is working on is number M6195 and was accepted 11 Dec 18. Assuming steady production, M3607 was probably made about 6 Jul 18.

The extra parts include a header tank for the radiator and various water and intake pipes.

The prop hub on the left is not for an OX-5 but looks like it may be for a Hisso.

Some Berling Magneto cores and parts.

3 Zenith Carburetors.

Water pumps.

Standard OX-5 valve mechanisms from the second engine.

Intake manifolds.

Overall this is very cool.  The next step will be to start soaking all bolts, pistons, etc. with Corrosion X.  The plan is to clean up, repair and organize each item as it's removed.  The bigger problem is how to get the motors to the attic.  I probably will have to break it down to cylinders and case in order to store it while I'm working on each piece.