[updated:LAST EDITED ON 08-01-03 AT 04:50 PM (GMT)]Greetings
I am trying desperately to track down a complete set of merlin spark plugs forone of our engines for our Lancaster in order for us to begin testing the ignition system in hopes for a possible engine run next summer.
So far I have had no help from our flying lancaster as they use then reuse the same plugs all the time. The type of plugs we need are 14mm radio shielded plugs i think the canadian number is LR3R???. They need not be brand new although this would be great but they do need to be useable for ground running the engine.
Cheers,
Peter
By: Peter - 13th January 2003 at 19:22
RE: Project FM159
Fingers crossed Mike.!
Brit that is about right for CWH. The only thing that will ground our Lanc is spares availability for the engines..
By: Bluebird Mike - 13th January 2003 at 18:28
RE: Project FM159
50 hours maintenance for every 1 hour flight time? What the hell are they doing to the poor thing?!!!
Peter, good to that hear you may be getting something sorted for your sparkers!
Mike
By: British Canuck - 13th January 2003 at 15:47
RE: Project FM159
Thanks Peter, that’s pretty much what I had thought..and still it will be very exciting doing regular engine starts and routine work on the old girl to keep her in fine tune!
I had read that the CWHM Lancaster requires approx 50hrs maintenance for every 1hr flight time. A true hangar queen!!
By: Peter - 13th January 2003 at 15:04
RE: Project FM159
Hello Brit.
Yes once the fuel system is up and runnig it will be kept serviceable(wet) all the time. The thing with Lancasters is that once you bring these fine old girls out of their sleep, they have to be exercised regularly by doing regular runups and taxiing otherwise if you were to say run a Lancaster once a month, you would need several days worth of maintenence checks etc before you caould do it.
By: British Canuck - 13th January 2003 at 12:06
RE: Project FM159
That’s ok Peter what I had meant to say..will they keep the fuel system operational at all times once FM159 is capable of running again…will fuel remain in the tanks etc. between engines starts or taxi operations?
By: Peter - 13th January 2003 at 03:15
RE: Project FM159
Not sure what you mean by this Brit.. Our fuel system is still us at the moment although it was “pickled” back in the 60s when she went into storage. this is neat as the tanks still have remains of the light grade oil in them as well as the submersed fuel pumps.
Mike.
I have high hopes that a UK company that has the best price on plugs will get the approval from the museum..
By: Bluebird Mike - 10th January 2003 at 18:17
RE: Project FM159
Pass!
By: British Canuck - 10th January 2003 at 14:43
RE: Project FM159
Do they keep the tanks and fuel lines “wet” in the cases of most taxible aircraft such as East Kirby’s NX611?
By: Bluebird Mike - 10th January 2003 at 14:07
RE: Project FM159
That’s what the’ve done with NX611, too-they didn’t fancy pumping fuel back and forth through the fuselage!
By: Peter - 10th January 2003 at 00:17
RE: Project FM159
Brit.
We are going to use the stbd inner main fuel tank to run both the left side engines and will do the opposite for the port engines. The cross feed system will be decomissioned and capped off as we have no requirement to transfer fuel between the wings.
By: British Canuck - 9th January 2003 at 21:16
RE: Project FM159
Hi Peter,
Are you planning on using the Lancaster’s own fuel tanks for the engines runs or a special setup(like an temporary fuel cell)
By: Peter - 9th January 2003 at 15:06
RE: Project FM159
Thanks alot for the tips and locations for these plugs. I would rather see these being used instead of converting our engines to use automotive plugs!! I mentioned to the engineer to contact BBMF. We had a good relationship with them at one time
By: Bluebird Mike - 9th January 2003 at 14:24
RE: Project FM159
That last suggestion is probably your best bet-the BBMF are usually very helpful with stuff like that.
By: ageorge - 8th January 2003 at 21:50
RE: Project FM159
I think I’m correct in saying that NGK either still make these plugs or have a store of some .
I looked for ages for weird spark plugs for a JAP engine eventually I contacted them , in stock , no problems except they were £45 each , I went through about 5-6 before I realised the mag timing was out and the carb was’nt set up correctly – burning the exhaust valve seats and knackering the plugs.
Ask the BBMF where they get theirs from??
By: Der - 8th January 2003 at 21:37
RE: Project FM159
Yup, thats the beastie! And, the hottest lorry there is!
By: Bluebird Mike - 8th January 2003 at 21:23
RE: Project FM159
It wasn’t the company I was thinking of, but the one Der refers to is ‘Retro Track & Air Ltd’, in the Cotswolds, UK, who have worked on Merlins for the BBMF and Lanc NX611 too, I believe, among many others. They’re the ones with the great little test-bed on the back of a truck, if that rings any bells with anyone! The full feature is in the September 2002 FlyPast, contact them at-01453 545360, email retrotrackandair@aol.com
By: Der - 8th January 2003 at 20:44
RE: Project FM159
Wasn’t there an article in FlyPast about a company that specialises in refurbishing Merlins-some time in the past year. May be what Lancman is referring to?
By: Bluebird Mike - 8th January 2003 at 18:13
RE: Project FM159
What was the name of that Merlin specialist in Jersey, anyone remember? Maybe they could help?
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January 8, 2003 at 4:48 pm