So what to do?

Clean old engines?

Took out the Coxes and gave them a toothbrush rub with soap and water.
Actually the 50-60 year old ones were clean enough as I had overhauled them last year. The top two are brand new and unrun. The bottom two are incomplete.

Now that they are clean, what next?
Might as well run them.
But then I need a mount...

a bench vice

Quote from: pnkyjs on September 28, 2025, 02:04:24 PMa bench vice

That's a complete NO NO.
Don't ever be tempted to mount in a vice!

But I do have a mount.
It's on the thrust test bench for electric motors.
Coxes can be mounted, but they spit out a lot of oil.

So the next job is to fuel proof the bench.
Found a can of Wonderwood that hadn't dried up and gave the bench a coat.

While waiting for it to dry, decided to post my activity on the forum, which otherwise mostly has sales posts nowadays...

I had read about different ways to clean an old, dirty, gummed up engine.

1. Leave overnight in antifreeze in a crockpot at a warm (not hot) setting
2. In an ultrasonic cleaner
3. With with soap, hot water and a toothbrush

I didn't have a crockpot or ultrasonic cleaner. So I got a can of antifreeze/coolant, put it in a pot, dropped in an engine, and put the pot on a gas stove on low flame.
Got distracted for a bit, and when I came back, found that the engine had turned black!

Found out later that this happens if the antifreeze is too hot and the engine is left in it for too long.

Well, one lives and learns...

Lesson learnt.
So I've since restricted the cleaning ingredients to just hot water and soap.

BTW, it's bath soap.
What happens with detergent is another story!

   enjoy yourself!