The Taipan Tyro - A 50 Year Old Model Engine Restoration

The Taipan Tyro is an Australian made, 1.9cc model diesel engine designed and manufactured by Gordon Burford in South Australia. It was the first model aircraft engine I owned and it has sat in a box for the last 40 or so years. I only found it recently and decided it would be good candidate for a restoration. In this video I discuss the history of Taipan engines, I dismantle, clean and inspect the engine and begin restoring some of the parts. I also visit Colin Maybury who helped with with fuel for this engine and the Titan engine (my previous engine series).
The book featured in this video can be found using the ISBN number 9780646524986

[roylucas]

Always a good day when I get to watch one of your videos. Thank you.

[oldschoolmotorsickle]

I’ve loved the model engine series; we get to see theory and practice pertaining to full-size machining work, except scaled down to the smallest workable engines. It’s like the best of all worlds and I can’t wait to see what’s on for a sequel!

[MarionMakarewicz]

Braver man than I cleaning a small part over a sink. Very interesting video as always.

[trottermalone]

Mark, your production quality and presentation are improving with every posting. Thank you for keeping with it! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with next.

[mrc]

I was almost sure that we were going to get to see you take apart the P-trap underneath the sink, but I’m glad you didn’t have to . Speaking from experience those little parts get pretty yukky down there . 😉 !

[nenadstojadinovic]

Hi Mark, thanks for the brilliant work! I just finished watching the Titan series, and the bits where you were talking about the stormy weather coming in were especially poignant (greetings from Lismore!).

I have a little Taipan 1.5cc twin ballrace from the same era, and you have inspired/prodded me into restoring it. I ran the little bugger for so many hours as a callow youth that the con rod bushing hole is visibly bigger than the crank pin, so a new one is in order. Incidentally, the engine had been gummed up for some 30 years, but Ed Holly, who designed the Holly Buddy 2.5cc engine, advised me to simply use a heat gun to free it up. That works like magic, and you may like to pass on that tip to your viewers.

[MalJ-ebnv]

Takes me back Mark. I still have a Taipan 1.5cc diesel engine I purchased in the 60's. Dome shaped cylinder cooling (alloy - red) I was really keen on model aircraft. I will again watch your videos with interest!!

[charlesm]

I had visions of those little parts going down the plug hole, that’s what would happen to me. Great set of videos!

[cquad]

You need a vapor blaster for those aluminum parts. Make it look brand new easily. It's amazing how well they clean up aluminum without hurting the surfaces.

[bigmanmoto]

Loving this continued model aircraft topic. As an RC pilot myself I love the history this series is starting off with.

[charleshart]

Another excellent video – as an aero modeller for 60 years, this is great stuff!

[caboose]

I LOVE that free-turning set up you made!! Fabulous bit of kit!

[graham]

Hi Mark, I still have a Taipan 2.5 diesel from the 1960's. I built & crashed many planes when I was young but the engine always survived. Found some fuel in Melbourne a couple of years ago and it started & ran ok on the bench

[czsmc]

Just love what you do what ever you do. I am fascinated of shaping metal.

[cxk]

My father was mates with Gordon Burford and they were founders of the Constellation Model Flying Club. My father used to make his own engines including a diesel and a petrol engine with spark plug. I remember seeing them as a child, but they have been lost.
I still have my first 2.5cc Taipan glow plug engine attached to my first control line plane.

[macbilling]

Hi Mark. I loved watching you working on that engine. When I was a young lad I was in to model plane's and engine's. I've still got an old Frog 500 glow plug engine and a diesel Cox Pee Wee and both still run. Looking forward to the next episode.

[ianaristotlethompson]

I have a Taipan Tyro Diesel engine I bought 30 yrs ago. I was helped with some parts for it from a guy in Aus. Looking forward.

[Chris]

Alright ! We get another Adventure ! Thank you Mark

[tomeyssen]

Very interesting. Enjoy the work and history.

[robertwalker]

Very nice using the edge finder in the tool post drill.