Originally Posted by
mox
<snip> The Meteor is a derated Rolls Royce Merlin, which could possibly be described as the main aircraft motor which won the Second World War. Was used in Mustang and Spitfire fighters and Wellington, Lancaster and Lincoln bombers and presumably other planes.
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I gather some Merlins were built in Australia too.
Re "Riverina Screamer", tractor pull tractor built and owned by Joe Cottam of Berrigan NSW: Motor was originally Meteor out of Centurion tank, for which I gather rated horsepower was 650. However early modifications for it included Merlin pistons and camshafts. As they are one of the aircraft motors that runs the opposite way to automotive ones, diff needed turning over to compensate. An apparent initial problem was no Merlin water pump available, which were effectively the same as Meteor ones but are run in the opposite direction. Solution: Direct shaft drive replaced with chain from electric motor. Also electric fans on radiator - one of two from Centurion tank. For tractor pull purposes, this is a good system. Once forward movement ceases and rear wheels are simply throwing dirt everywhere, no problem switching off motor running at full power without idling it down if water pump and fans keep going to dissipate heat.
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