Silver Fox
My Experiences Trying to Make a Gas-Powered R/C Car Run
I’ve come in to possesion of a Silver Fox gas-powered r/c dune buggy. It was manufactured by Varicom, circa 1987.
I’ve done some work cleaning and adjusting it, but at this point I have been unable to make it run. Lack of an operating manual is a major problem.
I will have some pics and descriptions up here shortly describing what I have done so far and what isn’t working. Hopefully someone can give me some feedback so I can get this thing running. If nothing else, this is interesting from a historical perspective.
Here’s a pic of the car:
And here’s a series of other pics.
–phil 7/8/2001
More details: when I first got this car, the engine was completely gummed up - you couldn’t rotate it by hand at all. I took the engine apart and cleaned it with carb cleaner. I found the book All About Engines by Harry Higley (available at Tower Hobbies) to be an invaluable resource for understanding how these little things work.
After cleaning and reassembly, the engine turns smoothly. The bearings seem to be in fine shape, and compression seems ok (I can spin the driveshaft easily, but you have to give it pretty firm push to pop through).
However, I can’t get the darn thing started. One annoyance is that this old engine doesn’t have a pull starter, so you have to start it with an electric spinner. The main problem seems to be that the engine is not getting fuel. That’s a two-part process - the engine compression should suck fuel, and the engine exhaust is also used to pressurize the fuel tank to push gas in to the engine as well.
My suspicion at this point is that the carb is not seating properly on the engine, and air is leaking in through that joint. I might try a new o-ring there, or maybe a new carb (the existing one is a little dented).
That’s where it stands at this point. I suppose if worst comes to worst I can always purchase a new engine and fit in on the buggy. The rest of the mechanical and electrical components are in great shape.
–phil 3/19/02
I spent several hours attempting to start this car with my good friend Andy. We actually managed to make it catch several times, but each time the car stalled out in a few seconds. It seems that fule flow is still a problem. We’re not quite sure how to adjust carb screws, particularly since there is also a fuel flow adjustment in the fule line as well. If anyone has info on that, I’d love to hear it.
Also, I searched on ebay and found a Kyoto Landjump for sale. Thanks to Ruenjou Lu, I now know that is the same car as the Silverfox (although apparently with a different engine). That buggy was selling for $255. I’m low on cash right now, so selling this thing is really tempting. Guess we’ll see…
I’ve also added Ruenjou’s comments at the bottom of the page. This Silverfox seems to be the one thing on my website that everyone is interested in.
–phil 1/29/03
Update: I sold the SilverFox! I never really got it running, and I realized I just didn’t have the time to devote to it. The good news: it went for $406.00 on ebay! So, I don’t feel too bad.
–phil 3/19/03
Update: Bob Harald sent me a link to his page about engine problems. I don’t need the info now, but maybe one of you out there will find it useful.
Comments
I'm Dotan and i'm from Israel. I'm like you searching for information about the dune buggy SILVER FOX and without any result. I have also this kind of car and beleave me she is running VERY GOOD. Please fill up what type of problem you have, so i can help you. My mail acount is "dotanchn@netvision.net.il" Please response fast.
My name is Vincent, but everybody call me Vince. I also have a Silver Fox and I still have the manual. Not the one from Varicom, but the older one, from Thunder Tiger. In fact it's exactly the same buggy with just few minor changes, so the manual I have may help you. If you would be interested, maybe I can scan it and give it to you by email in PDF format. I have to admit that there is not a lot of information in it though. Anyway, if you want to contact me, feel free. v_montambault@hotmail.com
Good luck with that great buggy!!
i used to own a kyosho vanning and this silver fox which i have never heard of looks exactly like it other than the suspension placement.
To start the engine you need an airplane style starter with a rubber starting wheel on it. It is cumbersome to hold the car still and make sure good contact of the starter to flywheel. It also depends on your experience level on model engines.
I was able to start my Silverfox and adjusted the car to have some fun. Unfortunately the major problem of this car, including Kyosho Landjump and Vanning, is the chain drive. Either the chain breaks or the main gear is stripped with a short run time. I eventually sold both cars. The new generation buggies are shaft driven and are much more reliable.
I still collect vintage buggies. It is a 2WD Kyosho Baja Rowdy or Baja Racing. If you are interested, take a look at http://members.aol.com/ruenjou/vintage_buggies
I am also in the Bay Area and belong to Bayside RC Club in Fremont. If you need help starting the Silverfox, drop me a line and I can help you out.
Ruenjou
I found myself buying up all the Silver Fox on eBay to build a fleet (wife killed me)!
I have 20 plus of these heart pumping buggies in many levels of construction and have parted out many of them. The weakest point on the buggy seems to be the front end. Many of the units I bought had major repairs to this piece. I also collect the Kyosho Vanning, Landjump, Mint Las Vegas, Impacata Baja, and many others, but I have only run the Silver Fox because I have so many replacement parts. Here is a link to one of my Foxes: http://landjump.net/fox%20gold.html.
The Silver Fox came in THREE versions. GOLD (all the upgrades and gold pieces), GREEN shock version, and SILVER shock version. Thought I would share. Cya, Jessie.
Email me if you need parts: jessie@landjump.NET
for a- silver fox like you have ok plz
ari85@walla.co.il
I don't have pdf of the Silver Fox manual, but I do have fresh hard copies if you want one. Drop me an email to jessie@landjump.NET Do you have pictures of your project?
As far as the alternative to a pull start, mine, the guy made a custom attachment for an electric starter, uses a plane starter and a shaft. Works kind of like the HPI Roto Start, I guess.
vintagerccars@hotmail.com
martindj_99@yahoo.co.uk
http://lightninghobbies.com/silverfoxes.html
Now that I'm an engineer I'd get it running easily. That was one of the first gas cars of it's time and there wasn't much support for it. The rip cord and pull start cars today are a snap in comparison.
First I'd get the engine running on a bench before putting it in the car (that thing was a pain installing). Gravity feed the gas... make sure your glowplug is hot... and while turning over the engine make adjustments on the carb. I'd rig up a fixture to allow me to turn over the engine continuously (that was my biggest problem as a kid).
Same thing after you install it in the car... make sure you have an easy way to turn over the engine continuously. Build some sort of rig to hold your starting motor and car sits on top (out of wood?).
Engines only need 3 things. Gas, air and spark (or in this case a glow plug to get the engine started).
Good luck.
I have a thunder Tiger Silver Fox Gold Edition and I was wondering if anyone had Royal .21 Engine parts(blew the crank and rod) and also wondering if anyone has the little guy that goes over the servo box. Email me back with any info at TonyHawkdjb104@Aol.com
Hi, sad you sold it. I had one from the -80's (and stil have it!). It's rather easy - you change the filter on the carb, to one of them with plastic "around them", press down the top of it so almost no air can come in thru the air filter - and voila : It starts. It needs a boost of compression I would guess.
These days I work with engines (mostly motorcycle engines) and fine-mechanics. Managed to redo some of the layout of the car itself, it is now outfitted with a magnapull start engine. I can't sell mine, it's like been there forever.
Hey Dan, have you tried to look on eBay or similar?
Hello there. My name is Tony, I just resently was digging threw some of my old rc stuff, And came across a old kyosho rowdy baja vanning buggy. And I was woundering if you might be able to share any information about this item. I'm thinking about putting on ebay. But I like to learn a little bit about it before I list it. Any information would help. Hope to hear from you soon. Thank you.
I just bought one myself lookin forward to restoring it! I will post some pics @ vintagercmag.com under thunder tiger
i have a silver fox i bought new. i never babied it. i wasn't impressed with the chain drive. i would run it for a little while and the chain would stretch end up coming off one off the sprokets.. i was running it in a parking lot, went out of range full throttle and smashed into a curb folded it in half, broke all the plastic parts in the front end. i've worked at a machine shop so i made new supports for the front. had to do away with the four wheel drive. but i changed the chain drive,. then i tried a cog belt worked alot better but still slipped. i rerouted the belt to get more wrap around the drive pulley. what a big differance this thing rips now. about the thunder tiger engine i went through two and blew both connecting rods. i made some out of steel they work ok i guess, they run. i put a os engine in it. solved that problem. it would be nice to be able to buy parts for it. i cant wait to set it up with four wheel drive with the belt drive. i think if someone was to offer this belt drive upgrade this buggy would be crazy fast. maybe a winner again. i would love to hear from people about this. send me an email.
that email is martincorrow@gmail.com.
IM LOOKING FOR ONE OF THOSE BUGGIES , IF ANY ONE SELLING ,PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT 347 725-5127..
i have a 80s thunder tiger for sale not all complete but almost ,also an rc transmiter batterie pack etc email
Hi - Is tghis still 4 sale - if so can you please e mail me on colinge@msn.com
Thanks
Cool roll cage on the dune runner and great reference on the Hary Higley Book on Engines.
Are you still looking for the Silver Fox?