[SEL] A real buzz OT

[Jim and Diane]

I Have seen one several match start engines both of which were 
Fairbanks-Morse.  A father son team had one at the Carson Valley show 
several years ago and were starting it every hour or so.  Here is how it 
worked.  The flywheel was stopped slightly over TDC on the power stroke and 
held there.  The other guy worked a hand pump on the side of the engine that 
drew the air over a shallow pan of gas and then into the cylinder through a 
check valve.  When the pump was getting really hard to pump and the flywheel 
holder was beginning to strain.  The match holder was pushed in with a whack 
and the engine went chuff and began to run.  This engine was about 10 HP or 
so and was a early engine although I can't remember the date.

The entire match assemble unscrewed from the side of the head and was 
cleaned before start up.  Most of the match is cut off leaving a very short 
piece that goes in the match holder which looked like a piece of slotted 
tube.

I talked with one of them and he said they also had trouble getting matches 
as he didn't think they were still being made.

I saw another FM match start at the Vista show which was being started the 
hard way by pulling the flywheel through.  The match start was missing and 
he had made a shotgun adapter that held a blank 410 shotgun shell.  I assume 
that the blast from the shotgun shell is enough to push it through a 
complete cycle.  Maybe next time it will be done this way and I can see how 
it works.

Are we back ON TOPIC now?

Jim

Jim and Diane Kirkes
Hemet, CA
jd.kirkes at verizon.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <bill at antique-engines.com>
To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 5:04 AM
Subject: Re: [SEL] A real buzz OT


Is there a web site that shows the mechanics on how that starting
mechanism works? Like is there a chamber this works in aside from the
combustion chamber/cylinder? Or does someone have a scan of a manual
showing a "cut-away"?

I've been attempting to educate a bunch of auto collectors in a forum on
the history of their engines and there's been some discussion of various
ignition and starting systems.


Bill


>
> You got plenty of response there Ed.
>
> Cam and Edwina Grundy
>     Kariong
>       Gosford 2250
>         Australia
>
> Subject: RE: [SEL] A real buzz
>
>
>>I can see where you made your mistake Edd... You were looking for the
>>engine
>> list but got the 'we don't really know about engines as interesting as a
>> match-start Fairbanks so we will attack your country and generally talk>
>> cr*p' list.
>> Good to hear you got the match start working, I look forward to seeing
>> it
>> in
>> action. I may even take some pictures for the uninitiated ;)
>>
>> Patrick M Livingstone
>> Leichhardt NSW
>> http://www.oldengine.org/members/pml/Index.html
>> http://www.users.bigpond.com/pml/
>> -----Original Message-----
>>
>> In this country being the driest continent on earth it was decided many
>> years ago to stop the use of these matches and use only safety
>> matches.It
>> was due to the high instance of fires in our bush(forests)which has
>> resulted
>> in huge loss of life over the years from the easy way these matches
>> ignite.Buy the way how did my excitement about being able to start my
>> engine
>> by one of its available methods end up in an of topic ramble and attack
>> on
>> my countries ways.I thought that maybe some of you that had started your
>> engines by this method may have commented on your experience.I suppose
>> after
>> being on this list for 7 years I should have known better.
>> EDD PAYNE
>> PO BOX 364 GULGONG
>> New South Wales  AUSTRALIA 2852
>> 0263742387
>> edsingns at winsoft.net.au
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
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