Bendix Eclipse starter energizer

[Charlesst]

Can anyone tell me about this nicely made tool? How was it used? When, and on what? Are they still used? I've just gotten it fixed up and working nicely.

Lots more pictures and a couple of videos:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qi9wtpu5mpfgber/AACtjrLDamzbmmX7xfR9edE6a?dl=0
Were these popular, or common? Is anyone still interested in them? I don't find much online about them.
Thanks! Chuck

[shrike]

With a suitable adapter shaft, this replaces the junior enlisted man (or gullible civilian lineboy) on the hand crank to start an airplane with an inertia starter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zXkVQnVmuo

[Charlesst]

Thank you, Shrike. I appreciate the information. That's a lot more than I knew already!

I'm still curious about the device: Were these starter energizers ever popular? If so, with whom? Maybe someone used to go from plane to plane, starting up a whole fleet?

Does anyone still use them, or is anyone who has an inertia starter such a purist that they prefer to hand crank it? Or was lugging the tool around and keeping it plugged in really no improvement over hand cranking (It is pretty heavy)?

Or maybe they were just used around the hanger, by mechanics?

Just wondering... Thanks!

Chuck

[Charlesst]

And I meant to ask, can anyone tell me how the output with the retracting drive socket was used? Having an output on each end of the shaft makes sense, since is an easy way to drive in either direction, but why the complex retracting mechanism, and why on only one side?

This mechanism doesn't show on the outside, but you can see its effect in the video (the picture with the little camera icon on it).

[shrike]

It would be used by the ground crews with a generator on a tug, or on a separate cart, so lugging it around isn't that bad. You could use it when you had a lot of airplanes to start in a short period of time, or if one was being difficult.
I doubt they get much practical use anymore, as most airplanes they work with have either had up-graded starters, or don't have a dedicated ground crew and equipment to work them, but then I do ground crew living history, so one of these is on the acquisition short list.

The retraction mechanism is to allow for movement of the input shaft to disengage from the gearbox on the engine, so the mechanism doesn't try to drive the energizer. It's a simple toothed cam and peg drive (the officiial term escapes me)

[Charlesst]

Well, that answers all my questions. Thanks again.

Maybe you can solve another problem for me. The nice tool is looking for a good home. My airplanes are models, and would be destroyed by contact with this monster. I got it with some salvage stuff from an ancient machine shop in Bristol, Pennsylvania. I don't know why they had it; probably the same reason I do - it's too nice to throw out.

It seems to be in excellent condition, probably low mileage. The gear case was dry, and I filled it with automotive gear oil, which may not be exactly right, but it sounds good, and isn't leaking onto the floor. The brushes and armature look perfect, and appeared to have never even been looked at before. The cord was shot, but it's a nice good one now, and should last for years and years.

Can you tell me more about your ground crew living history enterprise? Arizona? I'm in New Jersey.

[shrike]

PM sent.

You can also check out these threads

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