2 minute read
Spares News
By John Durry
Hi All, A few weeks back a the trailer was backed up to the spare parts roller door full of car parts, thanks to Warren Wrigley for the parts which came via Premier Services in Hastings. The spares group have spent the last 3 Tuesdays sorting & putting away. We also sorted through 2 large tins weighing approx 50kg of bolts, nuts, upholstery fittings and all sorts of fittings, the story goes they came from the floor sweepings of the Ford Motor Company in Seaview Wellington. Hopefully there is something there that can help get a vehicle back on the road.
This months resto story is from Lyn Gentry. Until next time. RADIAL ENGINE Lyn Gentry has had 49 years with the HB Branch of the VCC with many restorations and great times. But now its time for a change and what better than chasing all of NZ for an aircraft Radial Engine covering from the Bluff to Ardmore, every maintenance facility and aircraft engineers to finally get one. It’s a Pratt and Whitney 16 litre supercharged 9 cylinder radial with 200 serviceable hours still on it and it came in knockdown condition. Trying to get service data on the mags, starter motor and carburetor was impossible due to all bolts and nuts wired to which only the service agents have access. The starter was severely damaged with all the planetary gears and bearings knackered . I did an Ebay search and found just the part in the USA . Six weeks later with parts in hand and many days googling photos and blogs and soon assembly was complete. Mounting on the frame and fitting the auxilaries, ie separate oil tank, petrol tank, oil pressure and rev counter gauges, priming pump, solenoids etc etc.
CLUB SPARE PARTS CORNER
For any enquiries phone Brian Taylor on 027 4436009 or contact the Club’s Spares Dept. on Tuesday mornings between 9am & 11am on 06 835 1483.
Timing the mag took forever as the cam lobe for nine cylinders only has 4 lobes ( figure that out ). The oil I have to get through a company in Wellington. Its dry sump and returned to the supply tank. The exhaust pipes are stainless and only 300mm long as I wanted as much noise as possible. Then came the propeller. I wanted a three blade and googled how its done, Once again down to Wellington to get one of 3 types of wood used in propellers and Maple was chosen which I laminated and machined on some jigs I made. Each blade is made individually and bolted to the machined hub. It took 3 weeks full time to make. The first start I had many friends around to hopefully wittness the smoke, fire and noise. To date I have only taken it to 1500 rpm but I think its max is 2400 rpm. There was many teething problems but perfect now with no oil leaks. You can see it going on the youtube (radial engine pratt
and whitney first start)
