Gas

[Connemmara]

I bought a gas strimmer some yonks ago and did not have the strength to pull the start string and so my neighbour took it - I was asking him - he said Conne they are too much trouble etc.

I myself, is asking the question why when making the gas strimmer, mower etc why is there not a PUSH button to start it. making it even for these puny people myself included.

[heathfield]

Wow, Clanad - the mind boggles! You flew Caterpillar D-8 dozers too? Egad! (And hadn't Caterpillar heard of decompression levers for easier starting?) ;-)

[Clanad]

If you can call pushing an ancient LeTourneau articulated Tournapull scraper with an 11 cube yard bucket at a top speed of 4 mph flying... then yes I did that too.

Interesting back story... a man came to me when I was a young flight instructor and wanted to learn to fly. He was probably one of the most adept students I've ever worked with... show him once and he had it. Found out he was a heavy equipment operator... all kinds. Struck a deal with him... he teaches me to operate the D-8H and I teach him to fly. Worked out well for both of us...

The decompression lever was only used to engage the pony motor and everything had to be done at exactly the right time and in sequence, since th epony motor wouldn't continue to turn the big Cat engine after releasing the decompression lever (left side of control panel as I recall) but it had to be released in order for the Cat to start... Amazing machines!

[tonyav]

Pony motor Clanad ?, does that mean the petrol engine used to start the big diesel engine was out of a Ford Mustang or a Pinto ?.

[Clanad]

A term used to describe a smaller gasoline (petrol) powered engine that's used to start a big diesel, Tony... One would start it up, usually by an electric starter, and then engage it with a lever to the diesel to get it to revolving... especially helpful in cold weather. They were around along time before the Mustang or Pinto.

Problem is an electric starter would have to be very large and use an inordinate amount of amperage to get the diesel to start...

(Apologies to Connemmara for the mini-hijack of the thread).

[Connemmara]

just on computer - it is fine Clanad to hijack the thread - cos I wouldn't be able to do anything anyway. good night Conne

[EDDIE51]

Connemmara if starting a petrol strimmer is hard then get an electric one , push button start on that.