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I've been asked how this works so here's a few more shots. This is the 1919 vintage Huck's Starter used at Old Warden to start some of the larger engines instead of two or three men swinging those big props. (I'll try & get some shots of that too, next time I see it done but this will have to wait until next season now.) It's a very clever idea & like most of these things is actually very simple.

Nice to see some snaps of the Huck after you'd explained it to me at Hendon Doug
Err but why didn't you swipe the BFP for me? You know I need parts Ah well we'll just have to do our best next Friday

It's a very interesting piece of kit Doug, and used to really intrigue me when I was a wee bit shorter than I am now!

Indeed. It's a very interesting piece of kit. I love all this sort of thing.

I found those shots of it in operation. Not very good shots but you should get the general idea. http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=photos;action=display;num=1123530836;start=0

Wonderful information Doug

Thanks for posting them.

I wonder what that small box affair on top of the vehicles instruments panel is in shot #2?

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

I wonder what that small box affair on top of the vehicles instruments panel is in shot #2?

Thanks Doug. I spotted that too but only when I saw the photo. I have no idea what it is, perhaps Charlie knows. He's pretty clued up on this sort of thing.

It will probably be May 2006 before I see it again, providing I'm still around by then.

Aha, now I get it... thanx.
Like most very clever ideas, it's amazingly simple (but you just said that, didn't you?). At first glance, I thought: jeez, when the aircraft engine wakes up, if the starter shaft isn't lined up just right... lookout! And how in the world do they disengage the starter from the dog?
 But of course the mere shape of the dog causes the end of the starter shaft to be forced clear as the aircraft engine rpms exceed that of the starter.  You can see the little wear marks on it.
Brilliant- saves the weight of a starter and battery in the plane, and is safer than hand-propping. And I'll bet that Model T chassis comes in handy for carrying all sorts of stuff to and from the flight line.