[SEL] From a newsgroup: ...cranking

[peter ogborne]

Thanks Arnie for your reasoned reply,no hysterics!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Arnie Fero" <fero_ah at city-net.com>
To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2006 12:34 AM
Subject: Re: [SEL] From a newsgroup: ...cranking


> Hi Peter,
>
> Yep, when I put a foot on a flywheel spoke starting my Bessemer
> half-breed, it never fails to draw a crowd.  And I'm certain that a number
> are like NASCAR racing fans, they enjoy the sport, but are also watching
> to see the awful crashes.
>
> In addition to the potential "launching into space" there is also the
> potential for having your foot slip through the spokes with the resulting
> destruction of your body if the engine starts while you're in that
> position.
>
> However, as with hand cranks, one can sit and tremble in fear, or one can
> start the damn engine.  This is not a matter of Bad Engine Ju-Ju.  It's a
> matter of taking a hard look at what you're doing and how you're doing it.
> If you watch a bunch of different guys starting oilfield engines you will
> quicky identify the ones who are candidates to win Darwin Awards and the
> ones who know what the hell they're doing.
>
> I think the key is to respect the machine's ability to seriously hurt you
> if you do something stupid.  Then decide NOT to do something stupid.  At
> this point I am comfortable that I can start my Bessemer, giving the crowd
> a thrill, and still be able to climb down off the trailer and enjoy a cold
> beer.  8-))
>
> Definitely, appearances (relative to risk) can be deceiving.  Did you ever
> see the pics of Dave and I cutting the 14" x 14" oak skid timbers for Jim
> French's Tillinghast half-breed?  The classic pic shows me sitting on a
> timber wearing just shorts.  I'm holding a big C-clamp that's clamped to
> the nose of the bar of a big chain saw.  Dave is on the other end.  We're
> cutting a 45-deg angle on the end of the timber.  Great pic!  Maybe Dave
> or Dolly has it electronically and could share it with you.  It probably
> looks as scary as someone starting an engine with a hand crank.  8-))
>
> See ya,  Arnie
>
> On Fri, 27 Jan 2006, peter ogborne wrote:
>
>> Arnie.........What about those who stand on the flywheel spokes to bounce
>> start ? Could be an spectacular result !
>> I also like the method of starting by bouncing the flywheel with the foot 
>> in
>> some marine engines,done by rocking the flywheel from the rim . Not quite
>> the same potential for a accident as the standing on the spokes 
>> technique.
>> Bouncing still evokes gasps of wonder as it confuses the latter day ''Arm
>> chair Experts''.
>
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