"Jcarr" (jcarr)
11/24/2014 at 13:11 • Filed to: Planelopnik
12
20|
"Jcarr" (jcarr)
11/24/2014 at 13:11 • Filed to: Planelopnik | 12
| 20 |
Back in the 1930s and 40s, before electric starting technology came into its own, shotgun starters were popular on anything from an aircraft radial engine to a farm tractor.
The way a shotgun starter works is quite simple. A blank shell filled with cordite is loaded into a breech and fired. When fired, the blast from the shell either drives a piston forward that turns the engine over or pushes directly upon one of the engine's pistons, depending on the type of starter.
A Coffman starter and some paper cartridges.
Schematic of how a Coffman works.
Before the days of reliable electric starters and batteries, shotgun starters were the way to go as they were simple, reliable, and lightweight. The obvious drawback was that you needed a supply of shells on hand.
Below are a few videos of shotgun starters in use.
Photo Credits: Starter and Cartridges - keithnewsom Photobucket, Schematic - tradiper Photobucket
CalzoneGolem
> Jcarr
11/24/2014 at 13:15 |
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Brings new meaning to firing up an engine!
Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
> CalzoneGolem
11/24/2014 at 13:25 |
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Backfire?
Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
> Jcarr
11/24/2014 at 13:26 |
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I remember seeing a shotgun starter in a movie (The Flight of the Phoenix remake with Dennis Quaid) and always wondered how it worked. Thanks!
lone_liberal
> Jcarr
11/24/2014 at 13:26 |
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In the original Flight of the Phoenix part of the drama was that Jimmy Stewart only had a few shells to try to get the engine started with.
BoulderZ
> CalzoneGolem
11/24/2014 at 13:29 |
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Heh, very true!
Took my 2 year old to a train museum this past summer. They also restore and run trains in addition to all the usual museum displays, functions and activities. We went on a Friday, and they were getting ready for a big event on Saturday when they'd actually be running the trains. In talking to the volunteers, we learned that if you want to take a coal-fired steam train ride on Saturday, you need to "fire up the engine" on Thursday night. It apparently just takes that much time to get a big enough fire and boil that much water to get a head of steam. By 4 pm Friday, they were happy they had finally got enough steam to work the whistle at least. Like this shotgun starter, it really helped me reset my perspective on just how easy it is for us to do the things we take for granted now. Want to travel? Get in a car and turn the key (or press a button if all that twisting is just too hard). Kids: "Daddy! Daddy! Let's go for a ride!" Dad: *heavy sigh* "I'll get the matches and a shovel... see you tomorrow when we're ready to go..."
ACESandEIGHTS
> Jcarr
11/24/2014 at 13:46 |
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Bring back the hand crank.
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Jcarr
> ACESandEIGHTS
11/24/2014 at 13:53 |
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Save The Cranks!™
Chris Clarke
> Jcarr
11/24/2014 at 13:53 |
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Don't like hand cranking your engine? Try using a Huck's starter .
I love that first video with the preserved Wildcat.
SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> Jcarr
11/24/2014 at 14:03 |
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I can't think of a more manly or American way to start a car. Why is this not still a thing? I might have to rig a LeMons car to start this way...
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Jcarr
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
11/24/2014 at 14:05 |
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Do it. Do it now.
You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
> Jcarr
11/24/2014 at 14:08 |
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There is an interesting/scary story about the Martin B-57 Canberra from the day Kennedy was assassinated. As soon as word got out that Kennedy had been killed the U.S. armed forces went on high alert in the event the assassination had been carried out by the Soviets and it was a prelude to an attack. A squadron of Canberra's was alerted and rushed to their planes. Usually this would be a drill, and they would get the planes loaded up, "show smoke" and then stand down. This time they were told that they would maintain radio silence and wait in their aircraft without starting them. There was a truck parked in the gate between the hangar/parking area and the runways. If the truck moved they were to start up and head out to their briefed targets. IIRC the squadron in question was armed with nuclear warheads, but this is going on memory of an article I read in Air & Space 20 years ago.
This is the first time I've seen the start sequence for a Canberra, so the term "show smoke" that they use to indicate engine start makes a lot more sense.
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Jcarr
> Chris Clarke
11/24/2014 at 14:08 |
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Did you see the one at Oshkosh a couple years ago? It was being restored by a teenage kid. He was there talking about when we walked by, but I didn't get to see him demonstrate it.
Cé hé sin
> Jcarr
11/24/2014 at 14:10 |
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Something didn't go well just here.
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Jcarr
> You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
11/24/2014 at 14:13 |
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Wow, that would definitely be a Code Brown in the old flight suit.
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Jcarr
> Cé hé sin
11/24/2014 at 14:13 |
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Crankin' off
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Chris Clarke
> Jcarr
11/24/2014 at 14:16 |
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Nope. I usually miss all the cool stuff at Oshkosh. And how the hell does a kid get the opportunity to restore a warbird?
Destructive Tester
> Jcarr
11/24/2014 at 14:16 |
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Sadly, these are still in use... In "modern" military aircraft... In the U.S. Air Force...
Now who wants a couple more F-35s?
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Jcarr
> Chris Clarke
11/24/2014 at 14:21 |
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Have a dad that owns a jet modification facility. I was off a bit, looks like the kid was in his early 20s.
https://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/…
Tohru
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
11/24/2014 at 14:24 |
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"The 'I Got Screwed' award goes to SidewaysOnDirt and their homemade shotgun starter, which blew a hole through one of the pistons before they could even get out on the track." - LeMons judges, probably
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Jcarr
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
11/24/2014 at 15:50 |
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Just don't use shells with buckshot in them...