Popular tips

How do you start a radial engine?

How do you start a radial engine?

When a radial engine has been sitting a while oil collects in the bottom cylinders. During the walk around you pull the engine through “X” amount of blades to begin pulling the oil out of the bottom cylinders and back into the crankcase. When you start it, you let the starter do the work, but for the same purpose.

Why do radial engines take so long to start?

A well set up and regularly run radial will start just as easily as an in-line. Some times inexperienced handling by the pilot with a particular installation will see them over or under prime the engine causing a prolonged start.

What should be checked with regards to a radial engine before starting?

Before starting a radial engine that has been shut down for more than 30 minutes, check the ignition switch for off; turn the propeller three or four complete revolutions with the starter, or it may be pulled through by hand to detect a hydraulic lock if one is present.

How much horsepower can a radial engine generate?

Modern radials A number of companies continue to build radials today. Vedeneyev produces the M-14P radial of 360–450 hp (270–340 kW) as used on Yakovlev and Sukhoi aerobatic aircraft.

Why are radial engines so hard to start?

Why are Radial Engines so Hard to Start. Why are Radial Engines so Hard to Start. In this video of some P-47 Thunderbolts starting up, they pilots seem to have a devil of a time getting them started, and even after thay start the have a propensity to quit. As well, they often admited puff of smoke after about 30 seconds.

How many cylinders does a radial engine have?

Unlike a turbine engine in which one or several burner cans can typically be lit at the same time and easily, the radial engine may have 9 to 28 cylinders to individually light off. During the start process as prime is applied, it’s dumped into the supercharger as raw fuel, slung around the supercharger, and dumped into cylinders.

Why do ground crews rotate a radial engine’s propeller?

Why do ground crews rotate a radial engine’s propeller before a motor/cartridge start? In footage from WWII you often see the ground crew rotating the propeller of a radial engine a number of times before the pilots start the engine. I know it’s not the same as hand-starting (hand-propping).

What causes hydraulic lock on a radial engine?

Radial engines – especially older large-bore designs like you find in WWII era warbirds – can suffer from a phenomenon known as hydraulic lock. Basically while the engine is off and cooling some oil from the crankcase seeps past the piston rings in the lower cylinders, and collects there.