In late 1979 to March 1980 I managed to recover a complete Merlin engine from the above aircraft which crashed at Whaplode Drove, Nr Holbeach. I removed a piston, con rod, inlet and exhaust valve plus a spark plug. The remainder of the engine was put into a large Farm shed, pending cleaning and restoration. However this was stolen, and never recovered. Having removed the piston, I have just found it in the loft of the house, and noticed that one of the circlips that hold the gudgeon pin in is missing, also, the piston has no rings. Therefor, I am looking for a set of piston rings, and a gudgeon pin circlip to make the piston into a small montage. Can anyone help me to acquire the aformentioned items please. I am willing to pay for these items, as the aircraft has sentimental values.
Thanks
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: Trolley Aux - 7th January 2022 at 14:05
Great info, unfortunately LINCOLN 7 ( Jim ) the originator of this thread is no longer with us, he would of been over the moon, thank you for posting
By: davester304 - 5th January 2022 at 23:10
I am not a restorer, but I thought you would be interested to know that my Dad was the Bomb Aimer in PD201 for his time in the RCAF/RAF. His plane was nicknamed ‘E for Easy’. He flew with Pilot Fred Shorney from Bristol England, and my Dad earned a DFM. He trained in Alberta Canada and then went to England for more training and deployment. PD201 crashed only a short time after my Dad and crew finished their tour in it and handed it off for a new crew. The rest of the PD201 crew were MId-upper gunner Hugh Mark, from Ontario Canada, Tail gunner George Meddick, Ontario Canada, Wireless operator Dave Gleason from Wales, Navigator Clair Sullivan from Ontario, and Wireless operator Bill Hardwick from England,
Lancaster PD201 – my Dad is on the left. He was stationed in Wickenby with 12 Squadron.
By: Arabella-Cox - 21st November 2020 at 19:15
Perhaps an enquiry to the local Parish Council might produce a result?
http://parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Whaplode/section.asp?catId=15718
By: l.garey - 21st November 2020 at 15:51
PD201, Bruce: I’m sorry to have to inform you that our friend Jim (Lincoln 7) died a couple of years ago. I had known him since we were in the ATC together.
Laurence
By: PD201 - 21st November 2020 at 12:31
Jim, my uncle was one of the crew that was killed on this plane. We have never been able to establish exactly where it came down, so I would be most interested if you can remember exactly where it was you recovered the engine from.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks
Bruce
By: TonyT - 23rd February 2017 at 09:45
Not just that, they are a totally different piston in construction.
By: Lincoln 7 - 22nd February 2017 at 22:43
Agreed Warren as the aircraft would have had far, far less load and stress on the pistons than the Tanks.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: Creaking Door - 22nd February 2017 at 21:41
I am a bit surprised, as the Meteor albeit for a Tank engine would have had a completely different circlip than the standard short skirt Merlins.
Possibly all three are different? The Meteor clip is noticeably thicker wire than the early Merlin…
…but then it is for a tank, not an aeroplane!
By: Lincoln 7 - 22nd February 2017 at 21:32
No comment !!
Jim
Lincoln .7
By: Lincoln 7 - 22nd February 2017 at 21:30
It’s the one on the right Warren.I am a bit surprised, as the Meteor albeit for a Tank engine would have had a completely different circlip than the standard short skirt Merlins. But who am I to question R/R ?.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: TonyT - 22nd February 2017 at 19:12
Jim wears the one on the left through his nose :eagerness:
By: Creaking Door - 22nd February 2017 at 15:39
Quick photograph to show the different circlip designs:
Left – Merlin (earlier long skirt piston) / Right – Meteor (non-supercharged ‘Merlin’ tank engine).
By: Lincoln 7 - 20th February 2017 at 23:27
Thanks for your help in answering all my questions Warrren, I will P.M. you when done, one way or the other.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: Creaking Door - 20th February 2017 at 13:20
No, the gudgeon pins aren’t tapered; they will come out either way.
From the sounds of it your piston is in pretty good condition; dry storage since being recovered from the ground. I would give it a try; the pistons, especially the short ones, are much stronger than you may imagine.
Balance the piston on a nice big block of wood to protect it and try drifting the gudgeon pin out; if I remember a half-inch socket extension is a pretty good fit (upside-down) into the tapered centre of the gudgeon pin. You won’t need a sledge-hammer; a bit of WD40 and just a few taps with a regular hammer and the gudgeon pin should move…
…or it won’t…..it should be pretty clear which before you do any damage!
By: Lincoln 7 - 20th February 2017 at 11:08
Warren, The Pin moves very freely on the con rod, from what you have said, do I take it that the wrist pin is tapered, and will come out just one way?. EEEK !! Having the Drift a pin out with a sledge hammer seems a bit drastic, and obviously, these pistons are hard to come by, and especialy this one, so I would prefer to leave well alone rather than cause any damege to it, it is in a remarkable condition, as it was removed from the engine just a matter of hours after being dug up. Many thanks for you advice.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: Creaking Door - 19th February 2017 at 20:07
No, the gudgeon pins aren’t pressed in, they’re fully-floating but whether you can ‘drift’ them out depends a great deal on the condition (corrosion) of your piston and connecting-rod. Does the rod move on the gudgeon pin?
Most of the Merlin / Meteor gudgeon pins that I’ve removed have come out alright unless they are very badly corroded. The small-end has a lovely phosphor-bronze bush in it so it is usually fairly easy to get that moving with a bit of heat and brute-force! The problem is usually the very small clearance between the alloy piston and the steel gudgeon pin; if this has lost its lubricating oil film and electrolysis has set-in between the different metals it can be seized solid…
…the hardest one I’ve removed required an over-my-head blow with a sledge-hammer!
By: Lincoln 7 - 19th February 2017 at 18:18
Hi Warren, mine is round, apart from the split in the middle to compress it to get it out, I think that most of the ones that one sees on Ebay et al, are all short skirt ones.So it should fit.
The wrist pin/ Gudgeon pin, is that PRESSED in, or can you gently “Drift them out” ?.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: Creaking Door - 18th February 2017 at 23:52
Also, the piston is a short skirt one…
Jim,
Sorry, I haven’t sent you a circlip as I wasn’t sure about the short skirt pistons; it turns out the circlips for the short skirt pistons are different!
The good news is that the circlip you need is, I think, completely standard, circular and round section (as opposed to that on the earlier type of piston) so much easier to get hold of. Can you check with the one circlip you have?
Cheers,
Warren
By: Lincoln 7 - 16th February 2017 at 16:32
Hi Tom, Many thanks for your reply, and leads which I will obviously follow up. I have another Piston, from a Spitfire, long story, but the rings I was able to obtain for that came from a Fellow Forumite in the U.S.A. I don’t know if THEY were Packard, but they did fit.
Thanks again
Jim,
Lincoln .7
By: Tom Kay - 16th February 2017 at 14:45
Hello Jim;
I am not sure if the piston is Rolls-Royce or Packard, or if anyone can tell the difference, but here are a few possible sources of parts;
1. Merlin Pete, who frequents this forum. Haven’t heard from him in a while, but his Flickr website is being updated.
2. Mike barrow, (Air Sparrow Company). His contact info: Air Sparrow 90 Skylane Dr., #4, Hollister, CA 95020, (831)-902-5978 email to: [email]sparrow@hughes.net[/email]
3. Vintage Wings Gatineau, Quebec Canada 819 669 9603 Paul Tremblay ext 227 [email]paultremblay@vintagewings.ca[/email]
4. Jack Hovey 209 274 4422 California. It’s been 2+ years since I talked to Jack, but he should have lots of parts kicking around.
Please let me know if any of these work out for you. Tom.
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February 14, 2017 at 3:32 pm