stanzahero

Ahrens Fox - Mystery Engine Hi Turbo, I was at the Fire Museum in Penrith (Sydney) today when I noticed this truck. #Attached Photo# The engine has some very distinguishing features: T-head; Twin cams - one either side of the block; Enrichment thimbles; Even the plugs are in the same type of housing. The one I found was a 1929 so it is likely that the extra valve and spark plug are a development. They were originally built in 1917 so the time-line seems to fit as well. I'm thinking we have the engine - at least the application. This is also a link with some more Photos... 1931 Ahrens Fox 1000 gallon piston pumper for sale Stanzahero

Engines Steam is an external combustion engine therefore it requires a pressure vessel to contain the energy (in this case steam). This is bad for at least two reasons: 1. extra weight, and 2. safety hazard - carrying a super heated canister under pressure at altitude creates more bad possibilities than just finding somewhere to stick it. Wankel rotarys (Mazda, Suzuki, Morton, etc) have reliability issues because all the combustion pressure is kept in check by two apex seals and some flimsy looking side rings. These also tend to twist (the front and back rotor housings) if they are put under stress. Ever wonder why there are not many rotary racing cars? I can't see CASA approving any hydrogen powered device flying in the near (or any) future because of Hindenburg type events...i_dunno Just my opinion... Stanzahero

Sensational images... The Boomerang looks so docile compared to the others. Nice shots of the Canberra as well. Stanzahero

My three 1. D.H.2 - WW1 rotary pusher 2. Me 109G - with the 605A injected engine 3. Hawker Hurricane - for a touch of class :big_grin:

Welcome to the forum... I like the name! :thumb_up: Stanzahero.

Car engines are not designed to run at full revs for extended lengths of time though.. Just be aware there may be some reliability issues involved. The oils that they are designed to use may also not be suitable for aerial applications either. The AE81 Subaru engine is a long tested example having earned it's stripes over many years but not all automotive engines may fare as well. That being said... Ive always wondered how the little Toyota and Suzuki V6 would cope... Stanzahero

Ouch!! Poor bugger!

Engine designers put a lot of time and energy into making their engines work as designed... Regardless of the type, if you do what the manufacturer recommends, you should have little issues with either. The types are usually a preference thing (...unless you are using it for ground attack when air-cooled radials have the advantage of not getting bullet holes in their radiators...) Stanzahero.

Eastern Islands of Australia

Women in planes... My wife started flying before me.. After a couple of times sitting on the ground watching, I went for a TIF myself. We both have our certificates now and are keen to get into the air at any opportunity. Also our daughter is getting some hours up aswell. ;)

Hi Turbo, Yes this had me stumped as well when I saw it and I'd be interested to know what it was. The year was a bit of a clincher for me as far as aero engines go. The Liberty was either an eight or a twelve but it didn't come till '18. I still don't deny the idea that someone may have developed their own four as there was no machine or manufacture marks on the engine. But then what was flying in that period of time for someone to get that adventurous with engine size? The aerobase at Tocumwal (local area) didn't come into being till WW2 so that rules that out. Agriculture or River Trade was my conclusion. And the enrichment thimbles on the top of the cylinder heads... I have a movie of it running but at 4Mg it won't upload Did he start the BIG diesel for you Turbo? Stanzahero

It spins counter clockwise... Is that the one at Finley in NSW? The guy found it in a scrap yard and then got it going.. maybe an oilier from a steam engine - pile driver from when they built the bridge? IT looks way too heavy for aero... It has similarities to a 1910 tractor from the UK. Something similar: http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i8/dgwparfitt/images2/Saunderson_SwanHill07_1c.jpg Most aero engine from the time were aircooled and anything bigger than a couple of cylinder was radial. Stanzahero

No... riding motorcycles is no more dangerous than walking across a road. The danger in most instances (not all) comes from drivers who see a motorcycle from a car and either don't register it as a threat, or don't register it at all. I've been hit while stationary at a roundabout from behind while on a 1200cc Tourer and all she (the driver) did was tell me of for going ballistic at her and for the damage done to her Holden Statesman. I also find it hard to believe that one in four road deaths are motorcyclists. But then insurance premiums indicate that flying is dangerous... ... Statistics say that sleeping is dangerous... Have you any idea how many old people die in bed?? Welcome to the forum HappyFingers and good luck with the return to the air. Stanzahero (active motorcyclist, RAA pilot and someone who sleeps.. though not all at once)

mmmm two props... not RAA

I bought some wing from the RAA shop to celebrate the certificate... They adorn my computer work desk at the moment...

Turbines still have a "four stroke cycle" with an induction, compression, ignition/power and an exhaust phase. The only difference is it takes place in a specific area of the engine...similar to a rotary car engine... Stanzahero

How's this look? The connecting rods have been omitted because they just got confusing...

I used a toy plane to visualize what was happening to the aircraft... especially when it came to the primary and secondary effects of control surfaces. It helped me understand by looking at what the plane was doing. Stanzahero

Sounds like a well equipped shop. The only thing you didn't mention was cam grinding! I spent my early (8) years doing cylinder head and block work for Isuzu, Toyota, Bedford and Perkins then ended up as a BMW and Benz head specialist. One of the things that got me into aviation was the Piston engines in the planes. And now my wife (also a RAA pilot) and I are even looking at getting our own wings. I hope you have a great time with the Jab. Stanzahero

Hi MHz, Time is irrelevant when learning... Things you cannot control usually extend the fun. Start with what you would like to end up with. Gliding involves a lot of different skills to powered flight. I started in February and have only just completed my X-country for RAA, and haven't regretted any of the eight months in the learner seat! Stanzahero.

Greetings Cool! A man after my own trade! I retired from that and am now a computer programmer. What type of engines do you work with? Welcome to the site, diesel.

Flying at 2500 ft over Dimboola... Proof that there is water in Victoria...

To me it looks like a part of a big end bearing or a small end bush. I'm not familiar with the construction, but most plain bearings are white metal (a tin alloy) overlayed onto a harder copper alloy with a steel base. the damage to the top of the piston would be due to metal transfer through the inlet port. Try to hold the crank still and see if there is movement either in the conrod big end or the small end. If it has come from either of these two areas you will be able to move the piston in a twisting fashion. The second piston looks as if it had been running well because there is very little scuffing apparent around the crown. Stanzahero

Greetings Louie, i_dunno ..... I knew a Louie in Shepp once... ..... We went to school together in Ky... Welcome to the fold. Stanzahero.

umm...the 109s engines were Benz built... MMM... BMW aero engines... Here's a couple of pics I took in Germany. The V12 was a four hundred hp V12 built in 1925.