Picture of the day

Frick, starting German tanks has always been like solving a rubik's cube. The Leopard wouldn't fire up unless you knew the secret handshake. Flick switches......lever turned clockwise......finger on button.....let turn over for 7 odd seconds then let go of everything at the exact same time. At least it was child proof.....kinda.

smellie said:
"Ratchet" on most of the engines back then was a double spiral cut, 180 degrees, into the front of the crankshaft. Twin lugs on the Crank engaged these and the crank itself was on a spring; you had to push it IN before you could engage it.

Cranking itself was not all that hard if the weather was good and you were in good shape. Technique was to wrap your hand around the crank with your thumb PARALLEL to your fingers (NOT opposed) so that if it did kick back, the crank would whip out of your hand without breaking your thumb. This was generally easier of you had manual spark advance; you could retard the spark so that the thing did NOT want to kick back. Automatic spark advance made things a lot more hazardous.

Whole process was prime the carb and turn the engine over manually 2 or 3 full turns by the crank, the slowly pick up a compression point, flip the ignition ON and quickly yank UP on the crank, a full half-turn. That would generally set her to running.

All the engines were set up that way and everybody knew the technique for using the crank. Batteries were scarce and expensive, did not hold a lot of power and were not all that reliable, especially in the cold. I have the same thing on my 1934 Ford, just folded up and in the trunk...... but it is there any time it is needed. On the Model T and Model A, 490 Chev and such, cranking was common and during the Thirties it was done a lot because nobody had $6 for a new battery.

Engines commonly made provision for manual cranking up into the early 1950s.

Prime carb, Engage crank, roll over 3 turns, retard spark, thumbs parallel to fingers and suck UP just as fast as you can. You'll get it!

Happy cranking!



PS: wouldn't it be more proper to say that the Fliegerabwehrkanone (FLAK) ABWEHRS Fliegers?? (Although it certainly KANONEs them as well!)
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Hey fellow Gunnutz :) New day new picture !!!

253567_10150258948810664_1816973_n.jpg


Cheers
Joe
 
Recently restored to flying condition:

[youtube]Lf6gV3T7iCw[/youtube]

How's your Russian?

Like most good Russian kit, maintenance can be performed with a large rock and a busted screwdriver, while drunk, in the dark. Simple, strong, effective. Good engineering!
 
"Prime carb, Engage crank, roll over 3 turns, retard spark, thumbs parallel to fingers and suck UP just as fast as you can. You'll get it!"


Used a similar technique to start my plane many times - a 180hp Lycoming (360 cu. in.)
 
"Ratchet" on most of the engines back then was a double spiral cut, 180 degrees, into the front of the crankshaft. Twin lugs on the Crank engaged these and the crank itself was on a spring; you had to push it IN before you could engage it.

Cranking itself was not all that hard if the weather was good and you were in good shape. Technique was to wrap your hand around the crank with your thumb PARALLEL to your fingers (NOT opposed) so that if it did kick back, the crank would whip out of your hand without breaking your thumb. This was generally easier of you had manual spark advance; you could retard the spark so that the thing did NOT want to kick back. Automatic spark advance made things a lot more hazardous.

Whole process was prime the carb and turn the engine over manually 2 or 3 full turns by the crank, the slowly pick up a compression point, flip the ignition ON and quickly yank UP on the crank, a full half-turn. That would generally set her to running.

All the engines were set up that way and everybody knew the technique for using the crank. Batteries were scarce and expensive, did not hold a lot of power and were not all that reliable, especially in the cold. I have the same thing on my 1934 Ford, just folded up and in the trunk...... but it is there any time it is needed. On the Model T and Model A, 490 Chev and such, cranking was common and during the Thirties it was done a lot because nobody had $6 for a new battery.

Engines commonly made provision for manual cranking up into the early 1950s.

Prime carb, Engage crank, roll over 3 turns, retard spark, thumbs parallel to fingers and suck UP just as fast as you can. You'll get it!

Happy cranking!
Click to expand...

That's really neat. A couple of the guys who taught me how to move dirt used to talk about the pup motors the old cats had. Get the little gas pup motor running, engage your pawl to let the pup crank the Diesel (or big gas) motor over a couple times until oil pressure came up on the big one then give the big one throttle and it would always go they said. Times are sure different. When I started operating a D8K with an open air cab was bottom of the line. I ran a standard shift boom once, but that was it. Those old boys ran cats with live draw works vs hydraulics, standard shift, NO RIPPER! etc. I could not imagine how frustrating working in the winter must have been, no cab, no frost cutting tools, no down pressure on your implements, motor could be torque stalled if you weren't paying attention...Cat made $11/hr, man made $1, sometimes less. Nowadays if you have an open cab or aren't paying over $32-33/hr for the man or $230+Hr for a D8T no one will work.

I always would have assumed that the tanks used the pup motors too, especially if they were expected to run in the north.
 
Joe, this thread is great! Since I've been here in early 2008 I have to say that, in my opinion, this is one of the best threads ever on this entire forum. I haven't looked through all the pages yet but I know what I'll be doing tonight! Keep the pictures and comments coming.....
 
flying pig said:
That's really neat. A couple of the guys who taught me how to move dirt used to talk about the pup motors the old cats had. Get the little gas pup motor running, engage your pawl to let the pup crank the Diesel (or big gas) motor over a couple times until oil pressure came up on the big one then give the big one throttle and it would always go they said. Times are sure different. When I started operating a D8K with an open air cab was bottom of the line. I ran a standard shift boom once, but that was it. Those old boys ran cats with live draw works vs hydraulics, standard shift, NO RIPPER! etc. I could not imagine how frustrating working in the winter must have been, no cab, no frost cutting tools, no down pressure on your implements, motor could be torque stalled if you weren't paying attention...Cat made $11/hr, man made $1, sometimes less. Nowadays if you have an open cab or aren't paying over $32-33/hr for the man or $230+Hr for a D8T no one will work.

I always would have assumed that the tanks used the pup motors too, especially if they were expected to run in the north.
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Man I remember it all very well. When I started the open-air ROPS canopies were even unheard of. Oh ya and just because it had a putt motor didn't mean starting was inevitable. first you had to get it going and if the sun went behind a cloud...propane torches,tarps and booster cables became very important kit.
 
armorman said:
Joe, this thread is great! Since I've been here in early 2008 I have to say that, in my opinion, this is one of the best threads ever on this entire forum. I haven't looked through all the pages yet but I know what I'll be doing tonight! Keep the pictures and comments coming.....
Click to expand...

Thanks armorman !!
Glad we can keep ya busy :) Thanks to all the other members who have posted pics too!! I have learned lots from all the posts :)

Cheers
Joe
 
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