I love them both. I was amphibious assault vehicle crewman in the corps. It had a 903 cubic inch Cummins turbo diesel. Absolute beast of engine but dident said as sweet as these.
Another problem with a radial engine is, when the oil is draining to the bottom cylinders, it is also fouling the spark plugs, whether or not there is actual hydraulic lock. This turned out to be a real problem in actual combat situations, and tank crews were said to be constantly searching for boxes of spark plugs. This situation is what ultimately led the Army Tank Corps to search for other, more suitable engines such as the Ford GAA, also discussed above. The radial air cooled engine was first proposed for the Sherman tank (and other vehicles) so as to eliminate any potential problems with water leaks, etc, with water cooled engines. Plus it was already developed and in production, so nothing further was needed except to start producing thousands of them.
The army started out wanting an air-cooled engine so as to be able to eliminate the radiator. The problem with all radial engines is that oil drains to the bottom cylinders after shut down. Note that all movies of WW2 planes shows the crew "walking the propellor' in reverse before start up, and that's t0 get the oil out of the cylinders. When the earl y Shermans shut down, the spark plugs were fouled and the engine would not run correctly. Shermans with this engine carried 100 spare spark plugs to replace the ones that were fouled. Also, the radials the army started with were 9-cylinder engines, for more power, but the Army Air Force wanted the more powerful engines too, and they made the case for a priority access to the engines. A 7-cylinder radial didn't have enough power for either Shermans or warplanes. That led the tank corps to go to Chrysler and ask them for an engine, and be quick about it. That led to the "multibank" 30-cylinder engine (5 flathead 6's bolted to a common cast iron crankcase, but that was unsatisfactory too. The army then went to Ford, and asked them to come up with something, which led to the GAA V-8.@@chickenfishhybrid44
@@chickenfishhybrid44 That was a compounding problem, but the plug fouling problem was a serious consideration as well, as indicated by the fact that all Sherman tank crews were told to carry 100 spare plugs at all times. In his book, "Death Traps" Belton Cooper mentions that he had to make several runs to tanks that were broken down, who'd used up their spare 100 spark plugs. Unfortunately, the sand blasting machines for spark plugs were only at his 3rd Armored Division's motor pool.
I love the R-975, I've read that the French when they wore out their A57's in the M4A4's they had would swap R-975's in since there were so many more of them made and parts everywhere.
In old films of ground crews you’ll see the crews turning the propellers on many fighters prob for the same reason. A handle shouldn’t be needed ‘cause the prop and reduction gearing gives all the leverage needed. Most or all USN carrier aircraft had radial engines.
That Ford engine is astonishing. But the Chrysler multibank is 5,400lb of whatever it is that you Americans have that produces a Saturn 5, a 747 or an SR71.
They had the engines setup so the timing could be manually modified to burn the plugs clean. Plus with liquid cooled engines the tolerances were closer so the seal on the pistons was much better leading to less oil drianing down into the cylinder head area.
The old classic movie Telly Savalas played a lot all of those tanks in movies. I remembered He ordered some soldiers said aww sir when He said go hurry up starting r976 and they said it suck because I has to cranky my ass then he said Shut up!! Let start and go u quitting quacking like damn whore 😂.
Do you want to learn a more simple method. Just turn the engine over backwards a couple of revolutions.. that will push anything left in the cylinders out of the exhaust valves. My grandpa told me that he worked for Ford on the Tri Motor aircraft in the early twenties. As well as Al Teague's Speed O Motive streamliner at Bonneville salt flats same process just push the car backwards for a couple of engine revolutions an he was ready to go to the line for a push start.
I love them both. I was amphibious assault vehicle crewman in the corps. It had a 903 cubic inch Cummins turbo diesel. Absolute beast of engine but dident said as sweet as these.
That's awesome!
Direct comparison is neat
Fantastic video, great look at starting up those old beasts!
Tanks, Pete!
Another problem with a radial engine is, when the oil is draining to the bottom cylinders, it is also fouling the spark plugs, whether or not there is actual hydraulic lock. This turned out to be a real problem in actual combat situations, and tank crews were said to be constantly searching for boxes of spark plugs. This situation is what ultimately led the Army Tank Corps to search for other, more suitable engines such as the Ford GAA, also discussed above. The radial air cooled engine was first proposed for the Sherman tank (and other vehicles) so as to eliminate any potential problems with water leaks, etc, with water cooled engines. Plus it was already developed and in production, so nothing further was needed except to start producing thousands of them.
Couldn’t have been a problem seeing as they used it throughout . 🤷♂️
I thought the driving factor for using the radial was essentially availability..
The army started out wanting an air-cooled engine so as to be able to eliminate the radiator. The problem with all radial engines is that oil drains to the bottom cylinders after shut down. Note that all movies of WW2 planes shows the crew "walking the propellor' in reverse before start up, and that's t0 get the oil out of the cylinders. When the earl y Shermans shut down, the spark plugs were fouled and the engine would not run correctly. Shermans with this engine carried 100 spare spark plugs to replace the ones that were fouled. Also, the radials the army started with were 9-cylinder engines, for more power, but the Army Air Force wanted the more powerful engines too, and they made the case for a priority access to the engines. A 7-cylinder radial didn't have enough power for either Shermans or warplanes. That led the tank corps to go to Chrysler and ask them for an engine, and be quick about it. That led to the "multibank" 30-cylinder engine (5 flathead 6's bolted to a common cast iron crankcase, but that was unsatisfactory too. The army then went to Ford, and asked them to come up with something, which led to the GAA V-8.@@chickenfishhybrid44
@@chickenfishhybrid44 That was a compounding problem, but the plug fouling problem was a serious consideration as well, as indicated by the fact that all Sherman tank crews were told to carry 100 spare plugs at all times. In his book, "Death Traps" Belton Cooper mentions that he had to make several runs to tanks that were broken down, who'd used up their spare 100 spark plugs. Unfortunately, the sand blasting machines for spark plugs were only at his 3rd Armored Division's motor pool.
I love the R-975, I've read that the French when they wore out their A57's in the M4A4's they had would swap R-975's in since there were so many more of them made and parts everywhere.
2:50 love the radial sound 🥰 There is nothing better sounding than a radial engine.
What an awesome video !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Was hoping to hear the Ford on start up??
What about the other 2 engines used: The Chrysler 30-cyl "Multibank", and the Detroit Diesel "Twin Six"?
As the R975 is a 4 stroke engine, 2 complete rotations is only one compression stroke per cylinder.
Sign me up sarge I just wish I would have gotten a chance to actually see these before I move across the country
Awesome video, thanks!
Nossir, thank you!
In old films of ground crews you’ll see the crews turning the propellers on many fighters prob for the same reason. A handle shouldn’t be needed ‘cause the prop and reduction gearing gives all the leverage needed. Most or all USN carrier aircraft had radial engines.
great video, also great that you worked on Gates of Hell: Liberation, cant wait to play it. Greetings from Polnad
Many thanks! They were great to work with!
How the hell do you even access the lower spark plugs on a radial engine inside a damn tank hull?
There is a back door!
@@WW2Armor Through that little door!? Is this thing supposed to be maintained by octopuses or tiny magic elves or something?
Great video 👌👍
Thank you!!
That Ford engine is astonishing. But the Chrysler multibank is 5,400lb of whatever it is that you Americans have that produces a Saturn 5, a 747 or an SR71.
anyone want to buy a Continental R-975 engine? It has been sitting outdoors for years, but great display or for rebuild or parts.
Hi! Always willing to listen! Email us at info@ww2armor.org! Thanks!
Yes
Several German aircraft used inverted V-12s, wonder how many plugs they had to pull to prevent hydrolock
They had the engines setup so the timing could be manually modified to burn the plugs clean. Plus with liquid cooled engines the tolerances were closer so the seal on the pistons was much better leading to less oil drianing down into the cylinder head area.
The Ford GAA is a far superior engine. No Hydro lock. And a lot more horse power and torque
The old classic movie Telly Savalas played a lot all of those tanks in movies. I remembered He ordered some soldiers said aww sir when He said go hurry up starting r976 and they said it suck because I has to cranky my ass then he said Shut up!! Let start and go u quitting quacking like damn whore 😂.
Do you want to learn a more simple method. Just turn the engine over backwards a couple of revolutions.. that will push anything left in the cylinders out of the exhaust valves. My grandpa told me that he worked for Ford on the Tri Motor aircraft in the early twenties. As well as Al Teague's Speed O Motive streamliner at Bonneville salt flats same process just push the car backwards for a couple of engine revolutions an he was ready to go to the line for a push start.
welded tub vs. cast tub shermans
Hey can't wait to see yall in Ohio for D Day
Me and my dad love hauling your tanks for yall
Likewise!!
Wonder how many tank guys had to deal with locked up radials under combat conditions after getting jumped by the enemy.
If the engine hadn't sat like overnight, probably not many