Meco Tip Compatibility?

admin

All,    A friend of mine has offered me some free Meco tips from his stash.  He saved them from the scrap at the old Buick site in Flint, Mi. about fifteen years ago, and he does not have any Meco torches.  My question is whether or not the adaptor which works with the R-series and P-series (square drive) tips will also work with the RS-series (hex drive) tips?  I know that the threads and taper angle are the same, but the threads on the RS-series tips are longer.  AIso, is there a source for information on old Meco stuff?  I couldn't find anything online.    By the way, I am adapting this stuff to fit a Harris torch, since free Meco tips are more appealing to me than not-free Harris tips.                                                                                  Sincerely,                                                                                  Christopher J. Mikesell                                                                                  taylorcraft1947
Reply:Chris:Have you tried the website of the Tinman - Kent White ?  He sells the meco torchand tip new.  I have not found any other place that sells them.  Appairently they aremade by Victor but Victors page does not even show them. Try www.Tinman.comKent does great videos too.The buidling I work in on the weekends they are restoring a 39 model taylorcraft.And another fellow has just finnished one (maybe a 39 as well but I cant remember)The seccond one may be at sun-n-fun this week if you get there.The first one is going to be creme with forrest green trim. ceconite covering.We're doing a 34 model fairchild 24. (radial)  Tim
Reply:Tim,    Kent White does sell the Meco N-midget torch, but all of the "free" tips fit the older style adaptor tubes that were discontinued.  The tips which are available for the N-midget screw over the top of the adaptor, but the tips that I can get were used on larger torches and screw into the end of the adaptor (like the harris tips).    I bought an adaptor tube for a Meco torch on ebay (not here yet) and it had a square-drive P-series tip installed.  I also have a lone R-series (square drive) meco tip and three RS-series (hex drive) tips that I took home to test and see if they fit the Harris.  They don't.    Also, I noticed that the Meco Aviator Jet and Harris 50 series torches use the same size and style connections at the mixer outlet.  I think that the adaptor that I just bought is for an Aviator Jet.  If I am correct, then the adaptor should just screw in.  If not, then I will get my hands on a "shot" Harris tip and make myself an adaptor.  Consequently, I need to know if the two types of meco tips fit the same Meco adaptor.    I won't be going to sun-n-fun this year, as I don't have the spare cash for the trip.  Also, the T-craft that I fly is a 42' Deluxe with an A-65.                                                                                 Sincerely,                                                                                 Christopher J. Mikesell                                                                                 taylorcraft1947
Reply:All,    I should probably add that while the Meco Aviator Jet tips will fit in my Harris SF medium-duty mixer, the Harris adaptor DOES NOT fit in the Meco.  The Meco Aviator mixer has a 45 deg. seat, while the Harris mixer has a flat seat.  Thus, since the Meco tips have a small flat area on the inside edge of the seat, they seal without damaging the Meco tips.  However, a Harris tip or tip adaptor has little chance of sealing against a Meco mixer without damaging it.    Also, for interest sake, I weighed both my Harris model 50 and my Meco Aviator torch+mixer sets.  Without hose adapters for a standard size hose, the Meco weighed in at just under 8 oz. while the Harris weighed in at just under 13.  However, adding the hose adaptors increased the weight of the Meco to just under 10oz.    Big whup, you say, but when you realize that my Harris model 50 is the autotorch model, and that it has a long mixer, then it seems feasible that the Meco-equivalent Harris torch might be very close in weight to the Meco.  It turns out that the Harris model 16 with a short H-16 mixer weighs about 1 1/2 ounces less (from Harris' website) than my Model 50, which makes it only 1 1/2 ounces heavier than the Meco with hose adaptors.    Thus, if you are in the habit of using regular hoses with your Meco Aviator Jet, then the Harris equivalent will only be 15% heavier.  However the Aviator has a distinct advantage when it is used with small hoses.  In this case, the Harris equivalent is 44% heavier than the Meco.    I am definetly going to look at getting the smaller hoses for my Aviator.                                                                                  Sincerely,                                                                                  Christopher J. Mikesell                                                                                  taylorcraft1947