Shackleton WR963

[Xplumberlives]

The next engine run is in three weeks time. It depends on how well we do at getting the props hung and the engine deinhibited as to whether it will all four engines, or just three again.

Fingers, legs and eyes crossed!

[Richw_82]

28 Jul

Tailwheel terrors pt 1...

Saturday was hoped to be the day we swapped the tailwheel units around, one for the other. Unfortunately events conspired against us!

The Canberra leg supplied by our friend in Newquay is in great condition, but despite all major dimensions being the same, there are a couple of minor differences, mostly in the machining. The long period of inactivity it has had also meant the self centering mechanism had seized. This meant we had a strip and clean task to carry out; with the replacement being pushed back a week.

The differences in the leg are in three areas -

1. The shock absorber bogie has two arms off it attached to the 'knuckle' of the leg and these carry the mudguards on the Canberra. The Shackleton doesn't have these fitted.

2. The tube through the top of the leg running in the bearings attached to the aircraft is longer on the Shackleton. This is as the gear door actuators are secured on the end. The Canberra item will still fit, as the distance between bearings are the same, as is the tube diameter.

3. The Canberra item has the grease nipple and securing bolt for the lower bearing (where the crack starts on the Shackleton leg) offset from the fore and aft position. It seems a coincidence to me that these are in a different position and the Canberra does not suffer from cracks?

As you can see, none of these are show stopping issues. The most irritating one is the bearing tube length, as it requires replacing and the only correct item we have is on the aircraft. For the moment, we're going to put this leg on, and worry about the gear doors later. We don't need them to close just yet anyway!

The leg was stripped, putting up a bit of a fight as it did. Gentle persuasion and copious amounts of light oil paid off, and the shock absorber portion was split from the top casting. The self centering mechanism was cleaned and greased and the bearings and seals in it were in excellent condition. We reassembled the unit, and it now turns freely, with the self centering doing its job with a very brisk action and a satisfying 'click'.

The effort involved in this change and the lack of spares available has set us thinking of writing this up including the relevant part numbers and archiving it.

Other goings on around the aircraft..

More cockpit glazing has been going in. The large windows behind the sliding items have been attacked, with the engineers side first up. Anybody that has had a close up look at '963 will remember this was the window with the large burn/distortion in the center of it. The new window has been offered up, but there's a little bit of anti corrosion work to the window frame before it can be fitted properly. The guys doing this work have been really dilligent so far making sure all the frames, sealing strips and drains get the appropriate treatment.

The old sliding windows have been put to good use, with one of them and one new item going into VP293 "Zebedee" as part of the ongoing work there. Norman Thelwell came to visit today, and in between looking over the work on Zebedee was giving us a hand with the tailwheel. Hopefully we'll see a bit more of Norman before he heads home.

The generator has now been connected up behind No 2 engine, and the revised bracing bracket now fits great. It turns out that it was made using the item on No 3 as a pattern, and they are handed. Other electrical work going on was the testing of several new headsets, and a little work on the No 2 inverter as it has had a reluctance of late to remain on.

Pictures from today are already on our Facebook page and will be up on here later today. (Usual rules regarding Facebook apply. Click at your own risk. There's some real weirdo's out there, and I don't mean just us...)

Part 2 next Saturday!

Kind regards,

Rich

[Xplumberlives]

Blimey, nothing's easy is it?

Marvellous work and getting closer to your goal!

[Richw_82]

Evening..

Just noticed I never got to posting those photo's from last Saturday. So here they are.

Colin and Ron working on No 2 generator.



Derek removing the old side window. You can see the damage in the centre.



Canberra noseleg. Until Barry posted me a message onb the Flypast forum, I didn't know which aircraft it had came from, so its nice to have a little of its history.



Things getting technical; as evidenced by the selection of hammers and a couple of puzzled looks. To separate once everything was unbolted we ended up putting the bogie assembly in WR963's towbar, and using a scaffold pole to turn the top of the leg. It turns rather more easily with braking effort and a few thousand horsepower, I'll bet!



Of course, the weather makes things easier. We can still work in the rain but its so much more pleasant not to have to.



Last but not least, here's Norman and VP293 or "Zebedee". We've just had some removable steps made for VP293 making access into the front from the cockpit a lot easier.




And here's some bonus material, taken today after a mad dash to Carlisle and back:



I now know what Saturday's job is going to be!

Regards,

Rich

[Sploosher]

Thanks for the update and the pics Rich.....................

I was surprised to see that your ladies tailwheel is the Same as a Canberras nose wheel, or have I read that wrong.........

[Richw_82]

No, you're quite right. There's a slight detail difference but the leg is essentially the same on Canberra and Shackleton.

This Canberra leg we're using for our repair came from T22 WT525.

[Dan4th]

That photo of the props is::::::::::::::::::

BEE-YOO-TEE-FULL

And they hadn't told you they'd
done the other one???????

For the actual installation, I think
a VID might be in order!

Of course, WE'D like to see it, but
mostly for your own records.....

Danf.

[Xplumberlives]

4 engines, 8 Propellors, 24 blades ALL soon to be turning!

Can't wait!

[Sploosher]

4 engines, 8 Propellors, 24 blades ALL soon to be turning!

Can't wait!

I agree with you there XP.................

[MOD]

Brilliant pics and update Rich. BTW your photos look better on here than on those other (minor) forums.


ibw

[Richw_82]

Thanks guys.

Next update will be tomorrow night. Its hoped we can at least get the back propeller fitted on out of the set, anything more will be a bonus.

[Richw_82]

Just a quick photo from today. I'll write a bit more about it later.




Regards,

Rich

[Jigsaw]

Bloody brilliant I have just been reading your FB thread

[Xplumberlives]

Great stuff, that's SEVEN!

[Richw_82]

HI all,

I thought I'd post a little about Saturday's activities. As most of you will have seen, the end result was that we got the back propeller on the No 2 engine which was what we had hoped to achieve.

The props had been fetched on a transport stand and this was positioned very close to No 2 engine. We had all the lifting slings and other equipment, and had been offered the use of a forklift. I don't know what transpired; but the forklift never appeared on Saturday.

So, you have a team of people stood around the Shackleton, getting a bit restless. We decided to put the prop on anyway, using muscle power. Positioning two safety raisers either side of the engine, the rear prop was gently lifted off it stand, and up onto the shaft.

The rest of the day was taken fairly steadily making sure all the bearings, cones, shims and the like were in place, and fitting the spinner. Getting the prop nut tight involved a very long bar, a couple of guys holding the prop, and two of our more hefty members hanging off the bar..

We had hoped to fit the translation unit (a refurbished unit) and start looking at the front prop, but it appears we are still down a few parts... some nuts that secure the rack bolts. These transfer the pitch from the piston, to the blades of the front prop, then on to the rear prop; and we are also missing a bearing race. Minor items, but enough to hold us up. We are chasing them up, so progress won't be slowed by much.

Pictures of the day are already on our Facebook page, and I'll put them up here once I get to a computer that will let me (stupid machines...)

Next week we may be attacking the tailwheel change if the prop parts aren't on site, but there will be some more work going on with No 2 engine. It's time to get the spark plugs in it, the oil, and generally start getting ready to wake it.

Regards,

Rich

[Xplumberlives]

Thanks Rich, the great day gets steadily closer!

[Sploosher]

Looking good, cant wait until all 8 are on and then we can hear the sound of 8 Griffons roaring in unison....

[Xplumberlives]

Looking good, cant wait until all 8 are on and then we can hear the sound of 8 Griffons roaring in unison....

Blimey, where are the other four I've failed to see?

[MOD]

Hi Rich. Thanks for the updates.

Ian

[Richw_82]

Just a quick one (more later)..

WR963's new tailwheel leg was fitted today.

Regards,
Rich

[MOD]

Great news.


ibw

[Richw_82]

11 Aug

Work continues on the cockpit windows with just one more large side window to be replaced. The engineers window has been done, and the difference is staggering - I thought you could see out okay before, it appears I was mistaken!

Over on the engine side of things, No 2 engine has just had a new set of exhaust spark plugs fitted, and a belly full of fresh oil. Stalled by some missing pieces for the No 2 front propeller (though we are making progress on finding the parts), our team turned their attention to the other large job - the tailwheel leg change.

WR963 was carefully chocked and jacked, using a new jacking adapter we had specially made for the task.



Then, with a little bit of a fight we had the old cracked leg removed...



You know those little Segway things? They're for girls. This is the new leg with the wheels back on it ready to be fitted.



And here's the replacement fitted in its place.



Total time from start to finish - 2.5 hours, and done in situ where she stands on the field.. Top work by our team!

We are now at the point where we only have the No 2 front propeller to fit then we'll be ready to test the engine. When this is done we'll be posting up a very special date for your diary - the date for WR963's first taxy run in several years...

Regards,

Rich

[Xplumberlives]

Thanks Rich, great work on that tail wheel leg change, love the chunky segway!

That great day is fast approaching!

[Dan4th]

Congrats to you, Rich, and to the
entire team

It must feel very satisfying at the
end of the day when all you've been
working towards is getting so close....

I'll just bet the last thing on your
mind before dropping off to sleep
is 963

Hat Removed!

Danf.

[Richw_82]

Thanks chaps.

Visual progress like this is very satusfying as you can see the change happen. Weeks spent doing thins like lubricating bearings, filter cleaning, plugs and the like all take time and are vital, but don't show any outward signs for the effort. Without being done though, the aircraft wouldnt be capable of running, so they are still as important.

I'll just bet the last thing on your
mind before dropping off to sleep
is 963

Quite often! More so of late.

963 occupies quite a bit of my free time - working out what needs doing, where to get the parts, and whether we can get it via sponsorship/assistance from outside sources.

Regards,

Rich