Just a quick update for all those interested in our Lancaster project. 🙂
The elecitrcial system is all complete for running the stbd inner engine. Work left to do now is to complete the connections and circuits forward of the engine bulkhead.
Now for the bad news: 🙁
While timing the engine, some hay and feathers were noticed in the exhaust valves. When a thin piece of wire was pushed into the cylinder in question to find out if the piston was almost at top dead centre, it came out coated in very thick brown grease. The engineers thought that maybe this debris could be flushed out using hot high pressure oil. This was attempted one evening with poor results. This left the engineering team no choice but to pull the heads on this engine for inspection and cleaning. 😮
Once the heads were pulled leaving the banks installed on the block, it was very apparent that what had happened was that the original inhibiting oil in the engine had dried out and had become very thick like a jar of treacle that has been left with its lid of for 30 years! Fortunately from what we could see on initital inspection, there was no serious damage to any of the valves or pistons and cylinder bores. Both camshafts were also coated in heavy black carbon deposits that were also coated in thick black grease.
The camshafts,cylinder heads and coolant tubes were all sent out for cleaning and inspection. They came back looking like new! When the valves were tested, 4 of them were leaking one sufficiently enough to be pulled from the head and repaired. We are now awaiting word on new seals and gaskets before the engine can be reassembled.
Attached are some pics showing the state of the heads etc.
We are still on schedule for the first “Public” run next summer!
By: Peter - 7th June 2004 at 02:52
fm212…..
Well she could be made ground running worthy but besides the fact that the centre section floor between the spars and all of the spar webs being cut out,most of the engine control chains and sprockets are gone from the same section as well.
If money ever comes available, then these parts could be reengineered and yes she may one day run up her engines..
By: Bluebird Mike - 6th June 2004 at 18:08
Ground-running must surely be the way to go for so many otherwise entirely static aircraft-just look at the success of NX611.
By: trumper - 6th June 2004 at 17:54
🙂 Is there any chance of FM212 being made up to a ground runner as well 🙂
By: Peter - 6th June 2004 at 17:33
That’s right Ant
Sorry for the confusion.
FM159 is “our baby” that we hope to have ground running next summer. She is and has been inside since 1992.Her rear turret is fully restored and working! and all of her elctrics for running the inboard engines have been renewed. The bombaimers, cockpit canopy and front turret glass have been replaced as well.
FM212 is under care and maintenence until she can be put inside hopefully within a year or so. She has had lots of work done to her which due to weather and time, need doing again. She has had all her cockpit panels rebuilt and her nav table and canopy glass. Sadly these are all in very rough shape once again.
I have attached a pic of FM159 when she went for a “walk” to stretch her legs last fall.
The second pic was taken recently showing the condition of the paintwork on FM212 in Windsor.
By: Ant.H - 6th June 2004 at 00:46
Hi AJ,
Yep,I was confused about that aswell for a moment!I’m presuming Peter is referring in this post to FM159,which is currently under taxyable restoration at Nanton,Alberta. The other Lanc Peter posts about is FM212,currently(?) mounted on a plinth in Jackson Park,Windsor,Ontario.
Have I got that right,Peter?
By: Peter - 5th June 2004 at 20:40
been inside
Yep shes been inside since 1992 recieving lots of t.l.c.
By: Bluebird Mike - 5th June 2004 at 20:02
FM159…one of Avro’s finest, Merlins, and the aroma of gently burning meat…
😀
By: Peter - 5th June 2004 at 19:42
this is Fm159
By: Peter - 5th June 2004 at 19:39
Mike if thats what your food looks like on the bbq then remind me not to pop over for tea ! LOL
Thanks guys yes it is a bit of a setback but we will”press on”
ps website addy is
www.lancasterfm159.freeservers.com
By: Bluebird Mike - 5th June 2004 at 18:10
Yeesh, that camshaft looks like it’s been on my barbeque!!! 😮
By: JDK - 5th June 2004 at 17:04
Hi Peter,
Many thanks for sharing. It’s good for people to get an insight to the challenges you foks face, rather than just thinking you put some gas in and fire it up!
Cheers
By: Stieglitz - 5th June 2004 at 15:24
Thanks for that update peter. When this bird makes his first public run, I hope to see some nice photo’s! 😉
Greets,
J.V.
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June 5, 2004 at 2:59 pm