Sopwith Dolphin

Dan_San_Abbott · 16 May 2004, 02:10 PM

Gentlmen:
Those holes are for access to the four priming cups on the intake manifolds of all Hispano-Suiza engines. The priming cups were filled with gasoline and the cups were opened by turning the handles to the 90° position, with the ignition switch turned on, the prop was cranked and the engine started. These same holes will be found on the S.E.5/ S.E.5a. The engine could be started with the no1 cylinder at top dead center, the engine primed and started by using the booster magneto.
The water drain for the engine is the drain cocks on the bottom of the radiator(s).
Blue skies,
Dan-San

mossie · 16 May 2004, 02:18 PM

That would mean that the label on the drawing is incorrect.

That is what I like about this forum, much knowledge and willing to share it.

I stand corrected, thanks.

Dan_San_Abbott · 16 May 2004, 03:21 PM

Mossie;
Those priming cocks are lead directly into the intake manifolds. If they were water drain cocks ,you would have to turn the engine up-side down. I am curious as to who drew these drawings?
Blue skies,
Dan-San

R Pope · 16 May 2004, 05:42 PM

Dan-san---when an engine is started on the booster mag like you describe, it had better be a bit past TDC! Otherwise she may run backwards. Our '27 Ford Model T does that now and again.

JohnFitz · 17 May 2004, 04:27 AM

Thanks to all of you for responding. I found some great pictures of the Hispano at the French Memorial site and the restoration of the SPAD XIII C1. I would not have known that these were "priming cups" without your kind responses. Now I know why these holes appear on the Vickers F.B. 16D also. Thanks again.

CodyPaul · 18 May 2004, 12:04 AM

Shoot, too late with the answer again. Nevertheless, Dan San is correct.
I was going to include a picture with this to show the levers. Unfortunately, I can't get the message accepted with it. "You cannot upload this type of file"

Anyway, according to Instructions for the Care and Operation of Model A-I-E Hispano-Suiza Aeronautical Engines by the Wright Martin Aircraft Corporation, July 1918, page 100, Instructions for starting the engine "Prime the engine by injecting a small quantity of gasoline (in cold weather use half ether and half gasoline) through the four priming cocks on the intake manifolds."

What I find interesting is watching people swing the prop, like in the memorial flight video. According to the next paragraph in the book, "As soon as the engine is primed and with the ignition switch still "off" turn the propeller over compression on about three cylinders by the propeller. The man turning the engine over stands aside and the pilot turns the ignition switch "on" and then turns the starting magneto by hand. This should start the engine, providing everything is properly adjusted." Seems that swinging the prop is unneccesary.

JohnFitz · 18 May 2004, 04:24 AM

CodyPaul,

This is very interesting. Have you seen a picture of a four blade prop on a Hispano-Suiza being swung? I haven't. If you can e-mail the picture of the "levers" to me that would be great! My address is shade1911@comcast.net. Thanks for your input.

JohnFitz · 18 May 2004, 10:19 PM

CodyPaul,

Sorry about the e-mail address. I left out part of it. It's shadetree1911@comcast.net In case you are trying to send pictures. Thanks.

CodyPaul · 18 May 2004, 11:48 PM

No, just pictures of two bladded props being swung. The pictures are on the way. Not the best scans but you should be able to see them ok. I'm sending an artists drawing and some engineering drawings, all from the book.

Cigogne · 19 May 2004, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Uh, is that where they poured in the castor oil??

AAC Cadet Leader,

I didn't see if anyone answered your question, but, I don't think that the Hispano-Suiza vee-eight engine, or any stationary engine (Mercedes, BMW, BHP, Rolls-Royce, etc.) for that matter, used castor oil!

Castor Oil was used only in rotary engines like the Le Rhône, Clerget, Gnôme, Bentley, Oberursel, Siemens-Halske, etc.