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By: - 7th June 2018 at 16:26 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Hercules
Yes, it is a Bristol Hercules.
It has the forward-facing exhaust outlets to feed into a collector ring. Also, the early-type ignition harness, and the black finish gives it away as most likely a war time Mark, probably XVI or XVIII (16 or 18). Likely fitted to Stirling or Beaufighter.
Can't really be any more precise than that without sight of a data plate.
Anon.
By: - 7th June 2018 at 16:48 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thank you Anon
only can find these numbers..................
By: - 8th June 2018 at 01:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The numbers starting with 'FB' or 'SFB' are standard Bristol part numbers.
The numbers starting with 'SS' (somewhat ironic for a British engine manufactured during the Second World War!) are more interesting; basically, as far as I can work out, Bristol gave each engine a serial number and I've seen evidence that that serial number started with 'SS' (and 'SS22554' would be appropriate for one of the 57,400 Bristol Hercules engines built).
Notice that the 'FB' part numbers are struck as a single number (straight line and regular spacing) but that the 'SS22554' number is not; the first part 'SS2255' seems to be struck as a single number but the '4' is not on the same line and has different spacing...
...like there was going to be a sequence of these numbers and it was convenient to strike the common digits ten times and add the last '0' to '9' separately before changing another of the the punch digits in the punch tool.
Notice also that the 'SS22554' number appears on two different parts and that the '4' is spaced differently on each.
However, this may not be the 'engine number' as I've also seen 'SS' numbers on smaller sub-assemblies and I don't think even Bristol (who had perfect interchangeability of parts long before any other aero-engine manufacturer) would mark everything with the engine number...
...probably most interchangeable sub-assemblies had (non-unique) 'SS' numbers and only the very top assembly (the engine) had a unique 'SS' number? Anybody?
The RAF, of course, identified the engine by a different 'serial number' that they issued themselves...
...and if anybody has that cross-reference list (if it still exists anywhere) I'd pay GOOD MONEY for a copy!!!
I don't recognise the other numbers; probably batch numbers for materials and machining so that faulty batches can be traced and recalled if problems engines show a pattern?
By: - 8th June 2018 at 13:30 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
some of the 'missing parts'
again this may help confirm its date ?
By: - 8th June 2018 at 14:43 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Those sleeve valves look in nice condition!
By: - 8th June 2018 at 14:54 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Ooohhh looovely!!!
You should mark this NSFW if you're going to put engine porn on the forum at this time of day!!!
By: - 8th June 2018 at 14:59 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The junkheads have got the separate lower section (are cast in two parts rather than one) so it isn't a very early Hercules; other than that I couldn't really say.
Has that cylinder been sectioned for instructional use? Or has it been cut open to get the seized sleeve out intact?
By: - 8th June 2018 at 16:21 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
i'm sure only the one cylinder has been 'sectioned' as it has come out of a Museum.
last photo any way..............i don't know about engine porn............unless we were talking Merlin's ................
By: - 8th June 2018 at 16:34 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Merlins? Common as muck! :)
I stand corrected on the cylinders.
Notice how the bottom section of the junkhead (where the spark plugs go through) has dropped down into the sleeve slightly; there should only be two ring-grooves on it, and not that gap above them. That bit of the junkhead is only a press-fit into the upper section; it has to stay in place with the sleeve-valve and piston moving up and down at all temperatures and power setting of the engine...
...that's some class engineering right there!
Posts: 590
By: thedawnpatrol - 7th June 2018 at 15:46 - Edited 2nd October 2019 at 11:40
can someone please identify this Engine, what model of Hercules is it ? and what year would it date from ?