Radial engine prop walking

RonP

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Jan 6, 2019
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RvP
I thought on radial engines before starting you walk the prop through to remove oil from the lower cylinders. How do you do this if the engine(s) are too high to reach the props such as on a PBY? Is there an alternative method such as a bleed valve that is employed?
 
You pull the blades through to check to see if any of the lower cylinders have filled with oil. If they have, you have to remove plugs and drain & clean them, you have to STOP pulling through as soon as you feel more resistance than normal.

On big stuff like our B-29, the starter motors have a clutch in there that will cut out if it gets enough resistance that it could be a hydraulic lock. On some stuff (AN-2 for instance) you have to use a rope to throw around the blades and pull them through.
 
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