Bristol Hercules 14 Cylinder Sleeve Valve Radial

Bristol Hercules 14 Cylinder Sleeve Valve Radial Engine Run

In 1986 the Bristol Freighter ZK-CPT ('Merchant Courier') was flown into Omaka Aerodrome (Blenheim, New Zealand) and retired. The aircraft engines were subsequently run on several occasions, but this has not occurred for over 20 years.

Enter Alastair Marshall - ex RNZAF Engine Technician, now commercial pilot, and a piston engine enthusiast. Over the past few months, Al has been working on the two Bristol Hercules engines on the aircraft, with the goal of getting the old girl to come to life once more.

On 13th June 2008, Stage 1 of the project was completed - the port engine was successfully run for the first time in over two decades. Well, done that man!

We look forward to Stages Two (starboard engine run) and Three (a full aircraft taxi) soon!

A high quality downloadable version of this movie is available on the Historical Aviation Film Unit website: http://www.aviationfilm.com/bristol/engine.html


If anyone wants to read more about this project, see this website:

http://rnzaf.proboards43.com/?board=Airshows&action=display&thread=25...

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Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Bristol
• Hercules
• 14
• Cylinder
• Sleeve
• Valve
• Radial
• Freighter
• Engine
• Start
• Omaka
• Blenheim
• Type
• 170
• HAFU
• Airplane

[Shalinar45]

If these engines are in tune and well pampered, they are a joy to start and run...if they have been neglected and are handled roughly, big piston engines are tempermental beasts that will bite back.

[larrylewislarry]

This is big round engine theory 101. There is an exam at the end. The radial engine can soak itself in oil if left stationary for a period. If the amount of oil in the lower cylinders exceeds the space left over between the piston and the cylinder you are in big trouble. If there is blokeage available, they are a good indication of any hydraulic lock that may occur. The Bristol manual suggests that groundcrew pull the engine through '8 blades' before start. PTO next....

[johnpetermalcolm]

@steamgeezer

Hardy Kruger says "Du verdammter arshficker".

Dickies too pissed to care.

I appreciate your humour :)

[sbentjies]

What a din! a lovely din

[alteisenfahrer]

Amazing! Have never seen an aircraft sleeve valve engine before. I know about only by an old technical book printed 1940.

[matthius13]

Very rich running there?

[steamgeezer]

IM GONNA USE ONE CARTRIDGE IGNITION OFF CLEAN OUT THE CYLINDERS

[Kitcatcoat]

this engine sounds like when i recycle empty beercans :P

[TestECull]

@larrylewislarry Ahh, I see. Strange design, but I suppose it puts a bit of a fail-safe in should it lose oil pressure.

[larrylewislarry]

@TestECull yeah I did consider that and we tried opening her up a few times. Nothing happened! This carb has an eccentric input to give the pilot control of the throttle butterflies up to 10-15%. Oil pressure operates the carb beyond this. As much as I wanted to open the throttle, 20 years of stodgy, sludgy old oil had to move thru the carb before she would respond. I had SAFE Air's former chief pilot, the late Bill Ashley, Reg Taylor and Lester Hope along with me for the very first run.

[BlackWiiOwner2010]

Very cool! Keep an eye out for a poof at 4:08.

[plummy1952]

if you had heard a beverly ticking over wow it had four of these engines !!