Anything mechanical will last longer if it is used.If maintained properly and run to well within limits engines will last.

I believe that all depends on how frequently it is run. There is a rather sobering AAIB report that deals with this issue and as another example I think WR963 has also had to have pre-oilers fitted due to excessive wear from infrequent running (please correct me if i’m wrong)

Could anyone give us some detail on the engine runs that were carried out in the 80’s on the 410 etc?
I haven’t heard any hard information about these runs other than seeing one or two photos on the internet and seeing some people say they took part in it. It seems a terrible shame that the 410 in particular had less than adequate treatment, (shaved props, cooling from a fire hydrant) if the aircraft had to be cooled by a fire hydrant then it sounds as though it had not had the necessary care required to have it running correctly.
Personally I get worried just leaving my car standing idle for a few days without running it, it fills me with horror thinking about waking up a motor that hasn’t been run for 50 odd years without carrying out a proper inspection and strip down as would be required unless you were happy to accept the damage that may occur from sludged up oil pathways, perished seals, dry bearings and perished diaphragms, not to mention the accumulated crud and debris in the oil and coolant lines after 50 years of sitting around. I have played with 70 year old German oil, hoses and original German leather/muslin diaphragms and seals that have sat around for 70 years and I would not run an engine without thoroughly inspecting and satisfying myself that it would be safe to run the engine without causing more harm than good.
Is there anyone out there who can dispel my impression that these runs did more harm than good? Or was proper care taken to ensure the future preservation of the engines? At least there should be some film documenting what these superbly rare aircraft sounded like while running, if not then what was the point??….
Was it worth cutting the blades and possibly damaging these rare aircraft just so a couple of people could see them run in the 80’s or is it another case of the bad old days? I wonder??

Please some one dispel my views!

Surely the answer is to contact these guys and observe one of their recoveries, I take it you are looking more for a complete aircraft for the public to look at rather than bits, if so this is my bet, there site doesnt show it all but they do the lake recoveries in America and have been pulling up complete warbirds for a few years now!

http://www.atrecovery.com/Pages/Airplanes.htm

if you interested in Luftwaffe then take your pick…

http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/axis-2.html

Although not in situ anymore the norwegians could give you a run for their money with their numerous JU88 and HE111 recoveries and subsequent restorations. Interesting stories and some of the best wrecks ever!

http://ju88.net/

Bruce,
I hope there was some pleasure in those 6 years!

Lovely photo! I’m a bit mixed up on these motors at the moment, I know theres someone on here who might be able to straighten things out a bit though (cough Bruce cough). So vintage radials have white ones motor and have run it, (the video we saw in july?) and Paul Allens 801 has been restored by Vintage V12’s and has been running recently, is this correct?
Matt

lol, good luck!

Heres one of one our engines during testing, it was not totally set up so lots of untidy wires and missing one exhaust at that time but its closer to complete now. The flames are a visual treat from waking up a long dead engine for the first time and we don’t get that anymore, the engine also now runs up to normal idle and is quite impressive when its running fully!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybulUmdn2LI

and when it was starting to settle down a bit and light off better

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF8C1EcL_6A