On the Eagles over London thread, I posted a reply saying that Merlins were electric-start, and DB engines were normally hand-cranked, yet I recall in Derek Robinson’s Piece of Cake that Hornet Squadron had to “hand-start” their Hurricanes with cranks. I’ve never seen or heard of this anywhere else.
Could it be done? Can someone clear this up for me?
(I do know what the hole in the starboard engine cowl of a Spit is for, and it’s not for handstarting! :p)
By: fuji - 16th August 2004 at 22:38
The Hurricane can be hand started, I’ve done it! A handle is put in on both sides, man on either side. First time we tried, two blades and away she went. Second time one of the handles didn’t disengage properly and went into orbit! We didn’t try again after that.
By: skypilot62 - 16th August 2004 at 21:21
Thought the attched may be of some merit…..
First 2 show Hurricane at IWM Duxford and close-up of said hole. Third pic shows MkV Spit without a crank. Not conclusive but at least you can see what Daz is referring to.
By: Mark12 - 16th August 2004 at 21:05
Crank it up
On the early Spitfires I think a crank handle clips on to the back of the seat but it is hard to imagine anyone could ever have the strength to crank it over against the compression to start it. It surely must be for turning the engine over with a set of plugs out to check timing, magnetos etc
Mark
By: Archer - 16th August 2004 at 20:02
I was leafing through ‘British Aero Engines’ by Alec Lumsden earlier tonight and there’s a photo in there of an early Hurricane with the hand crank installed. Also an account of the author of how he hand-cranked a Kestrel. I’m sure the early Merlins therefore used the same system. I could look it up of course but I’ve just stored that book away again and it’ll take me 10 minutes to get it again……. another time!
By: warbirdUK - 16th August 2004 at 19:06
There is a provision on most Merlins for turning the engine over with a type of cranking handle but that is for checking the timing not for starting it! maybe earlier engines had hand cranking systems, I know some later types had a Coffman (spelling??) cartridge starter, which I understand was fitted to the RR Spitfire Mk XIV G-ALGT for some time up untill the 70’s or 80’s.
Cheers………….
By: Christer - 16th August 2004 at 09:09
… and DB engines were normally hand-cranked …
These engines had inertia starters, which means that a fly-wheel was spun to high revs and engaged via a clutch to start the engine. On early models, the inertia starter was hand-cranked but I believe that on later models it was electric with the option to hand-crank.
The Merlin starter was direct hand-cranking.
Christer
By: DazDaMan - 16th August 2004 at 08:44
Thanks for that, chaps. Could the Merlin be started without the trolley-acc or hand-starting?
By: John B. - 13th August 2004 at 19:10
There definitley is a provision for hand cranking the Merlin. The crank spud on the engine (Now normally covered with a plate) is located on the engine block casting directly ontop of the starter motor on the “A” bank side of the engine. The ratio as I recall is around 19:1……I know I don’t want to give a whirl no matter what the airplane is!
By: JDK - 13th August 2004 at 16:17
Hand start was certainly possible on the Hurricane; and without a trolley acc, I’d guess an unpopular but only method. Not unlike your car up until the 60s would have a reserve handcrank, and a hole in the front bumper. I well remember my father nearly killing himself trying to hand crank the ex Met Black Maria we had back then…
Spitfires, being more fussy aircraft – maybe not?
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August 13, 2004 at 4:09 pm