IT"S ALIVE!

[simonelite501]

It has taken a huge amount of effort and a considerable amount of time but the day has finally arrived...........it lives!
http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/Tramper/video...

Edited by simonelite501 on Saturday 2nd February 16:26

[simonelite501]

Well then, the engine is a 27 litre V12 Rolls Royce Meteor. Basically the same engine as the Merlin, except this is the Tank version, it produces around 750 - 850 bhp.
It is the motive power for this..........



and will enble it to do this............

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=D0NT15P_S8U&feat...

[simonelite501]

One engine was never going to be enough!
The competition is run in weight classes, my tractor will compete in the 2.5ton, 3.5ton and 3.5ton limited classes. Weights can be added or subtracted to bring the gross weight of the tractor up to or below the weight threshold of the class. The big multi engined tractors in the video are probably pulling in the 3.5 or 4.5 ton classes, the single engines are more than likely in the 2.5 ton.
In the UK we also have a 3.5ton Limited class, which has been designed to be a beginers/ low cost class, with rules restricting power outputs to 1000bhp.
This is my prefered class, and the one I will be british champion of this season (watch this space!) although I can play in any of the Modified classes, but am going to be rather underpowered, the big guys are running up to 9000bhp!

[simonelite501]

I'm no engine expert, but none of the others run anything but straight through exhausts which I would think is no better than no exhaust at all.
In the rule book, it states that exhausts have to be vertical (+/- 10 degrees)and rise above the exhaust port by a minimum of 305mm. I believe that the reason for vertical pipes is so that should anything be spat out of the pipe it will not head straight for the crowd, who are stood only 15 metres away.
I have exhausts, well, 3 inch diameter stainless steel tube 90 degree bends and straight pipe, waiting to be tig welded together.

Edited by simonelite501 on Sunday 3rd February 08:39

Edited by simonelite501 on Sunday 3rd February 08:58

[simonelite501]

A better quailty video was made today brace yourselves guys
http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/Tramper/video...

Edited by simonelite501 on Sunday 3rd February 22:31

[simonelite501]

C. Grimsley said:

I bet your neighbours love you, or did you give them a set of ear muffs. Sounds very nice all the same. Seems you have more room for a bigger engine???

Originally, the chassis was built to take 2/3 Rolls Royce Gnome Jet Turbine motors which pushed out around 1400bhp each, these were banned in 1997 due to a catastrophic failure of a turbine in Germany during which someone in the crowd got badly hurt. The ban has since been lifted, but this tractor was retired. The turbines were sold on before I bought the chassis.
Looking forward, I would like to see 2 Meteors (as in the picture of the blue/flamed tractor) supercharged, running on Methanol, or a single Rolls Royce Griffon or Allison V12, either way pushing out around 3500bhp.
But for now, I'm concentrating on walking before I run.

[simonelite501]

I believe Charlie's car uses a M120 meteor, which was the last model produced and uses an injection system rether than carbs, pretty good engines, I only know of one ina tractor though.

Monster26 said:

In one of these Jet engineed tractors how is drive tranfered to the wheels?

The Engines in John Bull were Rolls Royce Gnome 112 turboshaft taken from Westland Wessex helicopters basically rated at 1350 HP, they were a left and right hand engine in front and specially moded vertical exhaust engine for the top motor a mod often carried out to fit in boats.
As a drive shaft is required on a helicopter to drive the rotor, a power turbine is added to an otherwise jet engine, this is unconected to the main rotor and indeed can be stopped by a brake while the gas producer is at idle speed, this takes away the need for a clutch.

Edited by simonelite501 on Tuesday 5th February 09:50

Edited by simonelite501 on Tuesday 5th February 09:51