WWII Bomber ? Triumph 2 cyl. Aux. engine. aircraft usage I.D anybody ?

I’ve had a quick flick through AP4306A – Data Book Of Ground Servicing Equipment. This particular copy seems to have been printed in the early ’60’s but covers a lot of equipment going back to the ’40s and probably earlier. I paid attention to anything apparently using a petrol engine. Nothing at all powered by a Triumph twin (or any Triumph engine for that matter).

Looking at the photos, aren’t I seeing matt green paint? Isn’t that a clue as to it’s origin?

Bit of thread drift here but the Short Shetland DX166 burned out at its moorings when the Rotol AGP caught fire when the cooling air intake duct was inadvertently left closed following start up, the watchman wanted power to cook his breakfast.
The Rotol unit was a sleeve valve 2,4 or six cylinder flat power unit designed by Mr Pobjoy, Flight had this about it in 1943 https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1943/1943%20-%202633.PDF
And more detail here http://www.philipdingle.consulting/page6/files/Contemporary_HO_Engines.pdf

Richard

Hi Fiat 12-2,
During my time of owning and operating Triumph twins (Motorcycles ) (50 yrs. ago ) The Triumph Grand prix machines and engines were highly valued. So no doubt that’s where your Cylinder block and head ,etc went to. I knew that these generators were used in RAF Aircraft, but never checked what ones. The Triumph Grand Prix Barrels would fit on same crankcase studding as a “Speed twin” set of barrels, so almost certainly your generator crankcases would take a set of “Speed Twin” Barrels if you wished to re-build it. I say that because “Grand Prix” barrels would be “Un-obtanium” these days. The Speed twin exhausts are splayed outwards wheras the Grand Prix ones run straight out in front, then curve down. You’ll also need a Twin magneto ,head and rocker boxes, oil drain pipes, oil pump, etc, etc. It looks like the std. Crankcases (Speed twin ) parts would fit your (well stripped ) engine, so an interesting project there and historic.

First time I’ve actually seen a pic. of one of these Triumph Generators too. Presume they pumped out 24 Volts DC current. All the best with it,

Bill T.

Thanks for the info Bill
It’s not mine, it’s a friend of a friends (& for sale ) whos been told it’s from a Lancaster. The missing crankcase etc. would fit in with your info

Hi Fiat 12-2,
During my time of owning and operating Triumph twins (Motorcycles ) (50 yrs. ago ) The Triumph Grand prix machines and engines were highly valued. So no doubt that’s where your Cylinder block and head ,etc went to. I knew that these generators were used in RAF Aircraft, but never checked what ones. The Triumph Grand Prix Barrels would fit on same crankcase studding as a “Speed twin” set of barrels, so almost certainly your generator crankcases would take a set of “Speed Twin” Barrels if you wished to re-build it. I say that because “Grand Prix” barrels would be “Un-obtanium” these days. The Speed twin exhausts are splayed outwards wheras the Grand Prix ones run straight out in front, then curve down. You’ll also need a Twin magneto ,head and rocker boxes, oil drain pipes, oil pump, etc, etc. It looks like the std. Crankcases (Speed twin ) parts would fit your (well stripped ) engine, so an interesting project there and historic.

First time I’ve actually seen a pic. of one of these Triumph Generators too. Presume they pumped out 24 Volts DC current. All the best with it,

Bill T.

They are described as portable generators when mentioned in connection with motorcycles which leads me to think they weren’t fitted to aircraft.
On the other hand, if they weren’t, why would they need aluminium barrels as opposed to the standard Triumph cast iron?

Thanks for the info so far, I have also seen discussions on 100 Group aircraft & apu’s & if they had them, but no conclusion either way.

Didnt some 100 Group aircraft have a separate generator to run all the jamming kit? Am sure I read that somewhere?

I think it was only Flying Boats which had A.P.U.s during WWII, and the standard unit seems to have been an A.B.C. – see AP1507A Vol I. I can’t recall a mention of an A.P.U. in any wartime British bomber?

Always thought they were a ground power unit. The head and barrels would be square with a cowling bolted onto them. After the war they modified the head and barrel for the 500Triumph GP racer.