Lister air starter

[veggie]

With my flywheel wobble under control, I finally got some time to finish my air starter.
Seems to work very well. Spins the flywheel about as fast as I would crank it by hand.
I took Jens advice and ran 1/2" hoses to the motor to reduce reduce friction losses.
The friction wheel is fromMcMaster-Carr as recommended by BruceM.

Thanks guys....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGo80p4cHEg

veggie

[veggie]

Jens,
Friction does not seem to be a problem.
The wheel is a soft compound. Durometer is similar to that of a car tire.
It seems to grip the flywheel quite well. I am using about 35-40 psi on the actuator cylinder.

My compressor is a small 3hp (20 gallon tank) unit and I can get two start cycles before the compressor calls for more air.
Motor is a Gast 4AM.

veggie

[XYZER]

I found the McMaster Carr wheels BruceM recomended worked great. The 12V Chevy starter will spin it through compression if you give it a run at it. Keep moisture away from the friction surface

[mike90045]

a small OD difference between hockey puck and friction wheel, could overcome first compression cycle

[veggie]

I am going to look at a REAL air starter this week - it has the pinion and all, fairly small package and the specs say 50 hp (!!!!) for this puppy It's operating principle is quite different from the air motors we have been using in that it uses a multiple turbine blade stack like you see in a jet engine. I can't comprehend how you can store enough compressed air to feed one of these guys but apparently it only uses a one inch supply line .....

50 HP !!... wow.
At 100 psi air, the gast 4AM makes about 1.4HP and uses 40cfm of air.
The 5hp, 8AM takes 175 cfm. @ 100 psi
If the relationship is linear (which it appears to be from the above 2 models), you will need over 1000 cfm to make 50HP !
Unless the motor you are considering takes 500 psi air pressure or something like that.

Did you keep all the gear from your previous air starter? Perhaps with a few tweaks, you could get it up an running again.

veggie

[vdubnut62]

Jens, have you ever heard one of the big air starters?
You couldn't have neighbors.  But by golly it'd spin yer Lister!
Ron