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Post by oswald on Mar 23, 2015 23:35:12 GMT 9
I never saw it happen before, but some of our other crew dogs may have used or remember saw the use of walnut shells to clean the compressor blades while the engine was run.
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Post by Jim on Mar 24, 2015 2:08:57 GMT 9
I never saw it happen before, but some of our other crew dogs may have used or remember saw the use of walnut shells to clean the compressor blades while the engine was run. This was not an uncommon practice and I had an occasion to do it twice, both times at Wheelus Field following sandstorms (ghibleys ?)...... Who thought of it I have no idea, but some time about 1959, somebody patented the process and it became expensive. The walnut shell particles were used primarily to clean hyd. cylinders and other machined parts after "hard face chrome plating" as it was not abrasive like sand blasting. The biggest difference that I noticed was the significant drop in egt on a precision gage as the process went on.... Approximately 100 degrees from start to finish.... Pilots also said that airborne performance showed improvement after treatment.......
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Mar 24, 2015 5:00:49 GMT 9
I never saw it happen before, but some of our other crew dogs may have used or remember saw the use of walnut shells to clean the compressor blades while the engine was run. I remember the ground up walnut shells being used in the late 50s on J-47s, and other engines.
Before that, they were used to clean pistons and valves on recips.
Did a great job of blasting off the carbon buildup.
It was done in the Engine Shop, when the engine was disassembled.
Some garages used them to clean interior engine surfaces, as well as pistons and valves.
Didn't do it on the Flight Line that I remember, but during pad runs or in-shop runs.
Don't know if it is still done, or when it was first done.
At the SCAB it helped get rid of the bugs the engines ate on the ground, takeoff and landing.
Along the banks of the Missouri River, it was bug heaven in all but Winter.
We actually had to use more than spit and a red rag to clean them off the windscreen.
Jim Too.
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Mar 24, 2015 5:55:28 GMT 9
That was common on C-130's. Was done often at McChord.
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Post by oswald on Mar 24, 2015 7:21:24 GMT 9
There was a tire shop in town that used to sell snow tires with walnut shells impregnated in the treads. After they banned studded snow tires I bought a set and they were almost as good for traction but didn't stop on a dime like the studded tires did.
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