Coffman starter,flight of the phoenix

[agent86]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... ACjOvyx5hs
ok,I'm not sure this is gonna work but this is the Coffman starter scene

[agent86]

OK Mr.Doorfman,Start pulling! it doesnt get any better than this scene

[agent86]

ok,the remake was not too bad,but it doesnt even come close to this.does it?

[Holedigger]

Hard to replace Jimmy Stewart.

[Robbie Roberts]

ok,the remake was not too bad,but it doesnt even come close to this.does it?

I hated the remake. Watched both with friends- the original was found, by all, to be the preferred version! None of us thought the extra bs high tech special effects were really that necessary... Guess when you have bad acting,you have to meke it up somewhere!
Scott

[avenger2504]

i think the remake was better as far as the engine start was concerned. The 1965 one didn't sound right at all. The remake sounded like a real radial trying to cough into life!

[agent86]

and as the engine coughed into life in the remaked,the movie blew

[Saville]

Here is what I don't understand about the "clean out the cylinders" expenditure of one cartridge:

I don't understand what difference it made to have ignition off (other than creating dramatic tension because you KNOW the engine won't be started with that cartridge). You pop the cartridge, you turn the engine, gas and air is pumped in and then pumped out....how does this "clean" the cylinder any more than with the ignition on?

thanks

[Tiger Tim]

I don't understand what difference it made to have ignition off (other than creating dramatic tension because you KNOW the engine won't be started with that cartridge). You pop the cartridge, you turn the engine, gas and air is pumped in and then pumped out....how does this "clean" the cylinder any more than with the ignition on?

Bearing in mind I have no experience with Coffman starters and even less with flying boxcars, I would assume the mixture would be at idle cutoff or the fuel off to clear the cylinders. To ease the drama a little maybe they could have pulled it through backwards by hand, but who would want to watch that movie?

-Tim

[agent86]

Maybe to blow the crud off the plugs and unburned fuel in the cylinders that fouled the plugs in the first place.also called blowing out the cobwebs.oh,and maybe the oil in the jugs too.radials leak lotsa oil,fuel and foul plugs. Ever wondered why you see videos of guys turning the props on B-29's before firing them up? its a very bad situation known as a hydrolock.really bad things happen to an engine with one or more cylinders full of any kind of liquid.Oil,Gas ,anti freeze.remember liquids dont compress and things in the engine(Valves,Heads) tend to self destruct when spun with liquids in the cylinders. i've resurrected(not repaired) 1950's vintage ferrari ,V-12 engines that suffered this fate .a million dollarar ferrari with bent valves aint cheap to fix,trust me. and an R-3350 aint either

[Saville]

Maybe to blow the crud off the plugs and unburned fuel in the cylinders that fouled the plugs in the first place.also called blowing out the cobwebs.oh,and maybe the oil in the jugs too.radials leak lotsa oil,fuel and foul plugs. Ever wondered why you see videos of guys turning the props on B-29's before firing them up? its a very bad situation known as a hydrolock.really bad things happen to an engine with one or more cylinders full of any kind of liquid.Oil,Gas ,anti freeze.remember liquids dont compress and things in the engine(Valves,Heads) tend to self destruct when spun with liquids in the cylinders. i've resurrected(not repaired) 1950's vintage ferrari ,V-12 engines that suffered this fate .a million dollarar ferrari with bent valves aint cheap to fix,trust me. and an R-3350 aint either

Well I understand the "intent". I just don't understand what difference it makes whether the ignition is on or off.

[agent86]

Maybe to blow the crud off the plugs and unburned fuel in the cylinders that fouled the plugs in the first place.also called blowing out the cobwebs.oh,and maybe the oil in the jugs too.radials leak lotsa oil,fuel and foul plugs. Ever wondered why you see videos of guys turning the props on B-29's before firing them up? its a very bad situation known as a hydrolock.really bad things happen to an engine with one or more cylinders full of any kind of liquid.Oil,Gas ,anti freeze.remember liquids dont compress and things in the engine(Valves,Heads) tend to self destruct when spun with liquids in the cylinders. i've resurrected(not repaired) 1950's vintage ferrari ,V-12 engines that suffered this fate .a million dollarar ferrari with bent valves aint cheap to fix,trust me. and an R-3350 aint either

Well I understand the "intent". I just don't understand what difference it makes whether the ignition is on or off.

and I agree with you my friend,since I was a kid,I wondered about the"cleaning out the cylinders thing" Reality or hollywood? dont know but makes you kinda anxious as the shells get used "all right Mr. Doorfman,start pulling"

[agent86]

Ok guys,sorrys for my ranting,but I was feeling kinda sad tonight and needed some cheering up.it doesnt get better than this scene,always makes me smile.sorry.