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Throwing a piston

Discussion in 'Diesel & Electric Traction' started by thegrimeater, Feb 3, 2011.

  1. thegrimeater

    thegrimeater Member

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    Not sure if this has been posted before.

    http://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=165984&mid=1190655#M1190655

    Looks like nobody got hurt
     
    thegrimeater, Feb 3, 2011
    #1
  2. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    Looks like it threw the power pack a fair distance too!! Incidentally not the same GE power unit as fitted to the class 70s in the UK.
     
    Martin Perry, Feb 4, 2011
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  3. osprey

    osprey Resident of Nat Pres

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    That,s a corker.....................bet there was some soiled underwear!
     
    osprey, Feb 4, 2011
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  4. StoneRoad

    StoneRoad Member

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    I've heard that described as "putting a leg out of bed" (*)

    I'll bet that made a loud bang - hope no-one got hurt.....

    (* reference was by a ship's engineer, to an incident to a "coaster" crossing the North Sea in hurry, sometime in the early 60s - if I remember correctly - further details not available to protect sources!)
     
    StoneRoad, Feb 4, 2011
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  5. markb846

    markb846 New Member

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    I guess the drivers report was something like 'By the way there was a loud bang, and then the engine shut down.' Had that years ago when an HST power car blew the turbo blower into the clean air compartment.
     
    markb846, Feb 4, 2011
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  6. MarkinDurham

    MarkinDurham Well-Known Member

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    Yep - 'putting a leg out of bed' is the usual way of describing a failure like that - you REALLY don't want to be anywhere near when it happens, believe me...
     
    MarkinDurham, Feb 8, 2011
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  7. StoneRoad

    StoneRoad Member

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    No, you don't! My close encounter was some years ago now.....

    I was riding a 650 twin m/bike when one of the big ends failed..... at 60/65 overtaking a truck on the M6!

    There was a huge bang, and I yanked the clutch in and freewheeled over to the hard-shoulder. luckily no skidding......
    got relayed home, and the rebuild took a while, as the crankcase needed some specialised attention. I must see if I can find the pictures.....
    I still own the 'bike, and it is in operational condition.
     
    StoneRoad, Feb 8, 2011
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  8. Victor

    Victor Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Pedantic mode.........stand by........ "putting a leg out of bed" is usually reserved for when a con rod "ventilates" the block. :madgrin:
     
    Victor, Feb 9, 2011
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  9. StoneRoad

    StoneRoad Member

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    And that is exactly what had happened to my m/bike engine.......

    I think I've still got the offending con-rod somewhere, it makes a useful prop when talking about engine failures......

    StoneRoad
     
    StoneRoad, Feb 9, 2011
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  10. JKB

    JKB New Member

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    I went to a training course at GE's engine factory in Erie a few years ago and they use those pictures as part of the course. There was also a story about a farmer who ran across a power unit (i.e. head, liner[1], piston and rod assembly) like that while harvesting his field with a combine. He turned up, breathing fire, at the local Railway Depot with the bits in the back of his pick-up wanting to know whose they were so he could claim that cost of the repairs to the combine. The railway blokes pointed towards the portakabin where the GE engineer had his office :eek:)

    [1]The head and liner are (laser?) welded together, it's a very weird engine, an
    old Cooper-Bessemer design built by GE for their loco's but also sold for marine
    propulsion these days.

    JKB.
     
    JKB, Mar 18, 2011
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