Spitfire Mk.II Coffman Starter Access

If it helps anyone, I’ve just found a Spitfire Coffman starter stainless steel tube in one of the sheds whilst retrieving the Christmas Tree stand. As you do!

Cowling

There is a way I think,something about using a real early MkIX cowling drawing as its essentially a MkV cowl with an added on bit.Or am I thinking of the top cowl?

Sorry Bob; I thought you wanted the size of the coffman unit. I can’t help on the cowling.

DAI

Hello, yes, length of cowling. It has been “deduced”, but I haven’t found any clear published dimension for the original single-speed Merlin Spitfire cowling.

Thanks,
bob

Another question, inspired by the drawings above- does one of them give a “front to back” dimension? I can see almost enough to add them up, but not quite.

bob

Bob – are you wanting the length? I can measure tomorrow.

DAI

This is a link to Conrad Huffstutler starting the Wildcat he rebuilt with a shotgun starter.
Not a Spitfire I realize, but interesting and relevant none the less I think.
With a bit of practice it would start every time.
He said an important key was keeping the breech clean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65qrzgbTTcQ

Andy

I don’t see ANY dimensions on that one! What I had in mind is from Frame 5 to the forward edge of the cowling panel. Oh, you weren’t talking to me, were you?

One thing that last drawing did was make me realize that the starter has an exhaust hole- seems obvious now! (It was mentioned on the earlier drawing, but I wasn’t thinking about it…)

bob

p.s. I also never really thought about the need for different controls in the cockpit, so this thread is being interesting.

Are these of any help?

Another question, inspired by the drawings above- does one of them give a “front to back” dimension? I can see almost enough to add them up, but not quite.

bob

Thanks, not clued up on Spitfires at all. They say you learn something new everyday, well think have had my weeks quota today

Martin

Edit: Yes, should have read Seafire’s post more slowly. Apologies.

Didn’t realise that the breach was within the cockpit and that…

Martin

I would be pretty sure the breach and cartridges are in the engine bay. 🙂

The starter push button is on the main panel and the ring pull to index the starter round to the next cartridge is bottom right of the main panel.

Mark

Many thanks to everyone for their replies, again so much appreciated. Didn’t realise that the breach was within the cockpit and that acccess to the starter itself was only possible by removing the starboard panel. Perhaps should have thought a little more before putting fingers to keyboard. Least we have shown the blister to be rivetted in place. Done one thing right!

Best wishes,

Martin

According to the Pilot’s Notes:

(para 33) A type L.4 Coffman starter is fitted on the starboard side of the engine and the multi-breech is mounted on the engine mounting. The control for reloading the breech is situated at the bottom starboard side of the instrument panel and is the means by which the breech is rotated to place a new cartridge in position for firing. The control is operated by slowly pulling on the finger ring and then releasing it.

(The starting button is to right of center on the lower instrument panel.)

bob

p.s. This doesn’t answer how you actually reload the multi-breech, but note the D-shaped access hatch over the unit, near the aft end of the starboard panel.

The cartridges were loaded in a magazine closer to the cockpit, with a stainless steel tube taking the blast to the starter under the blister. There is a unit on eBay at the moment. Very unusual.

That drawing calls for the blister to be riveted or spot welded in to place.
The entire R/H cowl could be removed fairly easily by undoing the 20 (or so) turn lock fasteners.
I’m not sure if they are called Dzus fasteners on a Spitfire.
The starter itself would likely hold more than one cartridge, so, in theory you could get more than one start.
Someone who knew what they were doing could have that cowl removed in under a minute.

Andy