Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah Engine

[hindenburg]

Just got it for a memorial for the local British Legion rkamm,together with bits for a second engine..still looking for a decent anchor and field gun to represent the army and navy though.Thats nice Wildside..just have to get the works move out of the way first then we can have a `meeting of Cheetah Anoraks` !!!...4 Pobjoys next then................

[rkamm]

does it have the carburetor and spacer on it? would you sell them if it does? Took the starter apart today. was sticky with goo. cleaned it all up ,lubed up the bearings, cleaned up the brushes and rotor. works great!!

[wildside]

Why do people with surplus plane and engine parts always want so much money for them? Ive just had a chap on that auction site with a starter tell me to get lost and not to politely because I offered him a sum that I thought was fair for it and its been relisted about 5 times. I know it is specialist but how many people want an ex raf starter motor I just cannot understand it. Any way thats my moan over. The cheetah is singing along all the induction pipes and push rod tubes are blasted primed and painted The next plan of attack is the cylinders they need honing then a light sand blast and either powder coated or a coat of heat proof paint. Then I will be back on with the crankcase. Does any one have a crank nut for a mark 9 surplus to requirements and the oil sheild that goes behind it??????

[jaypee]

Just noticed this at Willingham Auctions next sale , may be of interest

http://www.willinghamauctions.com/lots/view/5432/1402

[rkamm]

what auction a place are you talking about wildside? Wish that cylinder was in the USA I need it bad!!!

[TonyT]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/62445171@N00/4870614648/

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...k_-_380022.jpg

Lying all over the UK. And before you ask NO I am not suggesting anyone removes squat, just showing them

[rkamm]

Great pictures Tonyt. all I have local to me is a t-33 trainer crashed about 20 miles from home. ( its shown in the Weird NJ books. )

[wildside]

mmmm Bad problem has come to light today while gently blasting the carburettor mounting the side plates decided to turn to to daz So I need to manufacture two new ones out of solid aluminium. should be interesting due to the amount of holes to be drilled. The parts that are already restored are wrapped up in bubble wrap and cling film and put away in the airing cupboard until needed! My little helper has gone awol as well but im getting there slowly and its one big learning curve

[TonyT]

will he be back? Got a picture of the bit?

[wildside]

My helper gone farming for a while! I will put some pictures on later of the pile of daz and some of the restored parts

[wildside]

Here are the pictures as promised it shows the daz part of the manifold the other side of the manifold complete with hole my part finished fuel and oil tanks the fual unions off of the rear of said manifold and the cling film wrapped restored induction pipes and push rod tube.... lots more to do but its getting there not bad considering im working in a 10 by 8 shed

[TonyT]

Blimey I see what you mean....

Rkamm I have just been watching the new series of Cash Cowboys in the Uk and they go to Buffalo Airways to pick Joe the owner, and he has a pair of Anson props, but he was after 1000 Canadian for one, or 2200 for both.

[rkamm]

thanks for the tip. ill email them to see what else he has . maybe i can get a cylinder and carb! I finished the broken magneto last week. i had the bearing plate welded back together and free up the magnet part that spins. it actually worked when i was done putting it all back together.! now i have 2 good mags. I set the timing on it monday . pretty easy to do. and the mags are now bolted on. Ill post pics tomarrow. i got a little side tracked on this project because i pickup up a few more engines for the collection. sorry nothing British.

[rkamm]

Nice pictures Wildside. #5 picture of the y pipe thing looks really bad. can you save that? I thought the part that came apart with blasting was part of the carb. I better start looking for that also. looks like your moving right along.

[wildside]

The part that fell to bits is one of the side cases on the intake manifold between carb and engine. Ive repaired the other hole with chemical metal as it just melted more when I tried to mig weld it. The fuel pipe union (Y shaped part) is gradually coming to bits and will be fitted on the engine but not used as I only need one fuel line and this has four lines into it two from each tank and a fuel pressure take off hole it would be a pain to pipe in for just one tank. Have you Had any luck with cylinders yet and how many do you need? May have found 20\30 new ones but cannot promise yet.....

[rkamm]

WOW ! I need 1 cylinder and 2 xtra rocker covers. let me know if you find that stash.

[TonyT]

Wildside is it just an ally plate? How thick is it, might be able to get you a lump.

[Miclittle]

Why do people with surplus plane and engine parts always want so much money for them? Ive just had a chap on that auction site with a starter tell me to get lost and not to politely because I offered him a sum that I thought was fair for it and its been relisted about 5 times. I know it is specialist but how many people want an ex raf starter motor I just cannot understand it. Any way thats my moan over. The cheetah is singing along all the induction pipes and push rod tubes are blasted primed and painted The next plan of attack is the cylinders they need honing then a light sand blast and either powder coated or a coat of heat proof paint. Then I will be back on with the crankcase. Does any one have a crank nut for a mark 9 surplus to requirements and the oil sheild that goes behind it??????

The starters were actually quite rare on the Cheetah engines as they were all hand started as far as I know, they only appeared in greater numbers on the Airspeed Consuls being civil aircraft.
I must have about 15 of the non motorized ones and only 3 motorized units,
but it looks like they can be converted if you can find the electric motor.
I managed to pick up two more engines, one badly seized MK9 which looks like those Peak District examples and a partially
seized MK10 which was very complete , so that seems the way to go to get parts at my end of the world.
My carb adaptors have corrosion on the sides on some of them but the manifold always seems to escape unscathed, a couple of thick alloy plates will do the trick for your one Wildside.

[wildside]

Hi tony the side plate is around 6mm thick I will get exact dimensions later for you. Mr mclittle what would you be doing with the badly seized mk9? parts????????? as you have some parts there that I havent managed to find for mine yet no matter how hard I look and pester people.

[pagen01]

I've only just read through this thread for some reason, the detail makes very interesting reading and great to see this enthusiasm for restoring old engines in sheds.
Hope to tackle something like this one day.

[Miclittle]

Hi tony the side plate is around 6mm thick I will get exact dimensions later for you. Mr mclittle what would you be doing with the badly seized mk9? parts????????? as you have some parts there that I havent managed to find for mine yet no matter how hard I look and pester people.

I'm going to use it as a trade item later on, However I need all the Valve Gear/Push Rods and any part that is compatible with the MK10, and swap the non airworthy parts on to it. Came very bare with no parts or ancillaries
What did you still need in addition to the starter/front nut?

[wildside]

The front nut would be wonderful

[rkamm]

Hello Miclittle, nice collection of stuff. want to sell me some stuff? I need a carb and manifold, 1 cylinder assemble and 2 rocker covers. let me know if you want to sell and how much. there is nothing here in the USA. my parts lead i had didnt happen for the big stuff. cheers Robert.I have nothing cheetah to trade sorry.

[hindenburg]

Managed to get all the spares back to my place this weekend Wildside(would love to show you),hopefully getting the engine back when I get a tractor to lift it in the garden with its bucket.Managed to get a gyro for the autopilot for my Stirling too...sadly not been able to upload any photos to my thread (or any other)for days............

[TonyT]

Seen this?

http://rainbowaviation.co.uk/parts.html

[rkamm]

Looks like a really nice engine. ive never seen the spark plug wires routed that way. I think the russian v-12s may be a great deal for somebody. If i was local i would definitly check them out. my next projet im starting on are a pair of ranger v770s i just picked up.

[Miclittle]

Hi Rkamm,

There are carbs and manafolds out there, the best source is evil bay especially the Aussie website. How did you obtain your Cheetah in the first place, perhaps there is more parts from that source? Your doing a great job of restoring it.

[rkamm]

Cool, Ill keep looking. I found mine on barnstormers. it was is out west.Chicago area. he has nothing else for it. . I need parts for a few projects. (kinner and ranger) . its all part of the fun in doing these restorations. I try to keep all of my engines in ready to run condition. nothing is just for looks. who doesnt like a smokey radial starting.you seem to have a huge collection. what do you have?

[Miclittle]

Hi Rkamm,

Just stuck with the Cheetah's for the Oxford.

[Bruce]

Anyone need a couple of valve covers? Drop me a PM