Originally Posted by
Geriaviator
Best pulled through by hand first as starter with trolleyacc might cause damage. A job dreaded by the lads in Khormaksar (Aden) in 1950, it was some job pulling three full rotations of each of the mighty Centaurus in a Brigand. I suppose the Hercules in BOAC's HP Hermes were just as enervating, and I wonder how they pulled over prop blades on the Sunderland?
On the starter, as they do on a lot of large radials. There is a shear pin in a direct drive starter that will let go if a hydraulic lock is encountered. If you have an inertia starter, with a flywheel in it, it is best to pull the prop through by hand first.