Safety Message from the Victim

[redxfred]

Safety Warning!

I made a really dumb mistake and wish to share it with you guys so you don't get bit like I did.

While prepping my new WildHare 30% Extra 260, I tried testing my new DLE55 mounted on a big, heavy Black & Decker workmate... when it started, my manual test stand throttle rod immediately vibrated to the full power setting and that baby flipped the whole thing right over forward. I'm lucky it didn't take my arm off!

This engine with a 22 x 8 would probably get a workstand like this airborne if it had wings.

Never test one of these "Gassers" unless it's bolted to something at least as big as a '57 Chevy and always have a POSITIVE return spring to keep it at idle until you want to rev it up.

Nineteen stitches later, I am humbly yours...

RedXFred

[Cracky]

glad to hear that it wasn't worse....

[castlebravo]

Had virtually the same thing happen only the engine (DA-50) was mounted to an aircraft and the AC was in one of those huge AMA safety test stands. I had a problem with the ignition being too noisy and it consequently locked the throttle at full. Before I could hit my throttle kill it pulled the entire start stand over with the airplane in it. Luckilly the only damage was to the airplane itself with it being crushed by the start stand.........of course the night before a contest.
You would think that these stands weighing well over 150 pounds would be more than enough to be adequate, however the pivot point is right there so you only need about 30 pounds of force to get them to pivot.....and guess what a DA-50's thrust is at full throttle???? Lesson learned......all my gassers get started on the deck with tail traps engineered to hold back in excess of 150 pounds.


CB

[Al Lewis]

If it ain't cemented firmly in the ground don't test an engine on it. Glad to hear you're not hurt too badly.

[jamesrxx951]

glad to hear your alright. i kinda figured that along time ago when i had a saito 125 doing breakin on a heavy saw horse and it was dragging it along my driveway

[RTK]

A picture is worth a thousand words Glad nothing really serious happened

[TimDavie]

Reminds me of a time long ago in a galaxy far away when a test-stand mounted Enya 4-stroke detonated and threw a prop across the garage and lodged in the drywall.

[3D-Seth]

Fred,

Sorry to hear about what happened, hope you get healed up soon!

Where are you from? Heard of a similar case here close to me not too long ago.

Seth

[redxfred]

I'm embarrassed to say my state of origin, but the city was Boston. I enlisted in the Air Force right after High School, and never looked back. 20 years military had me living everywhere until retirement, then I worked in Chicagoland, Denver and now Western Virginia. Yes, United Airlines.

[TKG]

So maybe leave the throttle spring hooked up.

[rcign]

I'm on my second Black and Decker Workmate...first one lasted about 10 years...
I took the top off and bolted a 2x12 in its place, then another 2x8 to that, with aluminum angle for reinforcement...If you mount the engines so that the step part is under the engine it won't tip over with any small engine...I have run 100cc twins on it with no problem....

[redxfred]

Thanks,
Yes, I had mounted the engine on a 4' 2x8 for added weight, and the step area was in front. But I failed to provide any positive way to keep it from tipping forward. I shall chain the thing to a post set in concrete next time! I would not even trust stakes in the ground after this mishap... ground can soften up with rain.

Leaving the throttle spring on until time for servo hookup is a fine idea. I wish I had waited until set up of the throttle servo before removing the spring... I wish, I wish...

Thanks to you all for your concern. All I can hope for is that maybe my accident will prevent the next one.

[JoeAirPort]

I always tell poeple to leave that spring alone. So many good reasons to leave it as-is. That way there's no question which way is idle and which way is full throttle when you're setting it up. If the linkage comes loose the engine shuts off. Sorry that you were injured and glad it wasn't worse. And thanks for posting it.

[Hammbone]

I have no reason to run an engine on a test stand. I mount the engines on my planes and I go fly.
Running an engine on the ground is just a waste of fuel.

Jim

[Fritter]

	Quote: Originally Posted by RTK
	A picture is worth a thousand words Glad nothing really serious happened

Happened to me a year ago.

How about this? I have this picture over my work bench now. This is from being over eager and starting a 50cc plane by myself tied off to high on a boat trailer, the engine started and the tail started to come up, I leaned over to push the tail of the plane down and banga! About took my pinky off, talk about feeling stupid and on top of that it looked like someone had cleaned a deer in the garage afterward. Tip of the prop broke off, (which I thought was my finger flying across the garage) and the engine kept running. I was able to reach over and flip the choke on my radio on and kill the engine. Talk about feeling stupid.

Knock on wood but never again, I'm beyond anal now starting an engine in the garage. I have different motor mounts that bolt to my table that weighs about 400 lbs on casters (4x8 feet in diameter).