It still would start. Only the started be ruined. Ask me how i know (My grandpa used to own a tractor don't remember the exact model, an argentinian knockoff "pampa", one day he call's me saying that if i could help him getting it started, this tractor been for years roting outside, he said that he got some blanks, those werent blank, he had the shells all outside the box. He loaded buckshot, he hit it with a mallet. and Bang. It started, it started making a grinding noice. We tought it was the pistón, we turn it off, a few days later he call's me saying that we literally shot the engine, that the started was fucked up. But the engine was fine.) (Sorry for the long wait. I never check the notifications, and thanks for the 500, likes never tought it would get that much atention)
In the 40s in the Greek village I am now, the transport was done by sea with novel (at the time) wooden boats with huge single cylinder petrol engines. Those would start with a shell likie this, but before that, the engine had to be warm. So the boat man would literally set the engine on fire (it sat on top of the boat, not inside). I don't know if he did this with petrol or wood, but it looked as if the boat was on fire. When the locals saw the smoke rising, they knew it was time to head to the boat, not to miss it. People, goats, cows, pigs, chicken, mayhem haha. It would go from Kardamyli to Kalamata city and back, in Peloponnese, Greece. My father in law was a little one back then and said it was amazing technology at the time, to have such a big boat move so fast without sails.
I have a farm tractor that starts that way. Rebuilt it from a rusted pile of CRAP. It started on the third shell. Didn't have but two starter shells. Used a regular 12 gauge shell. Cut the top off. And took out all the 7 1/2 shot. It worked! Yes, I took the wad out. And used flash paper to hold the powder in place.
The recoil you feel when shooting a gun is the same amount of force as the projectile applies to its target. So it's actually not a lot of force that a 12 gauge has, it's just that amount of force on such a small surface area that it stings really bad. A pin needle doesn't hurt because you apply a lot of force, it hurts because it focuses all the force you apply to a tiny point.
@@Stern98257 with a slug you'd feel more from the impact at close range, the round accelerates the full length of the barrel distributing the felt recoil time but you eat the rounds energy in a shorter distance, the round pulls more G stopping dead in you vs the G load from acceleration , people are not usually thicker then 25+ inch barrel so the G load has to be more stopping then setting off in theory .
The Harley name is a tag on the video. These engines were used in Harley Davidson race bikes in the 1930s -1940. Hopefully, that didn't HURT anyone's FEELINGs. (In response to all the negative comments from the random "know it alls"... lol.)
Several old airplanes used to start with giant shotgun shells (8 gauge I think?) So this isn’t a new idea. This would certainly have been easier than how I had to start my first bike. It was a Suzuki GN400 - a single piston 400, kick start with so much compression you couldn’t move the kicker without using the compression release it had, which looked like a small clutch handle further down on the handlebar. You squeezed that handle, slowly pushed the kicker down until it popped back out, meaning the cylinder compression was released, then you could do one kick to try and start it. If it didn’t start you had to do it all again, which happened a lot. Sometimes it’d take me 20 minutes to get it going. Sometimes some other kids would see me and take pity and take turns trying it. LOL. But it usually ended up nobody but me could do it. It was a PIA but I loved that bike!!
Probably go something like this. Oficer: Why so much shotgun ammo, Me: well sir this is a 1930s model, harly davidson with a cauffman blank starter Oficer: Holy shit thats cool. Carry on
Oh it did, there is a whole mechanical process to this and the engine actually starts in reverse and slows down to a stop almost to change direction forward. If you pay close attention to the engine and chain you can see that :)
@@yugen4771 it definitely didn't. It slowed to a halt. The only reason it moved in reverse, is because of the compressed air in the cylinder. It definitely doesn't "start in reverse". 😆
@@yugen4771 the reason it didn't start, is probably because the video was just to show the process. It is kinda cool, but expensive and therefore rather ridiculous. Imagine being on a trip, and you run out of blanks. I guess he'd have to pop start it, using the clutch & a hill! 😆
@@Resistculturaldecline I don't remember the name. He had a few tractors but that one was either green or gray i think. But he would light a piece of paper put it in the tractor turned something and made the shell go off. And it would fire. He loved that tractor
@@jcrew6657Green, diesel two stroke made in Gainsborough Lincolnshire England. My dad bought one new in 1947 today it is beautifully restored and running great. I did a 5 minute video of the start up a few months back. The world seemed to like it!
@@brysonbermes1264 Tf? WTF! thanks for elaborating. Did you know there's nothing wrong with riding a dirt bike too. Relax. I represent/support all forms.
Caveat: you do not use a normal 12ga with it’s fast burning powder. The powder charge used for starting is much slower burning magnum rifle powder to give it a more gentle and longer lasting pressure wave.
The war isn't over, not for me soldier ! - line by a blonde haired dude who played a Russian in a boxing movie to a French man who knows martial arts -
I’ve seen this method on an old tractor. I would hope there is a manual backup, like a starting handle, in case you don’t have blank shell. My first cars had starting handle backup, very useful if you had a dodgy battery.
That’s very cool! I remember learning about some planes in the world wars needing a blank shotgun shell to start it sometimes! Didn’t know motorcycles had em too
You sure it wasn’t just blanks? There have been many engines over the years designed this way, but they typically use shotgun blanks. In particular many airplanes from before WW2 used 8ga shotgun shells, big suckers, but blanks.
Its a very simple solution to the need for a lot of power in a shot period of time. Minimizes the need for batteries or a power source near equipment that is out in the field. Old battery technology was very heavy and power distribution less reliable. Can really simplify electrical design for a motor by eliminating an electric motor starter.
I always loved cartridge starters. It always seemed kinda dieselpunk to need what's effectively a shotgun shell without the shot to start an engine lol
Awesome setup, especially when you go out bar hopping, but wait a minute ah shit, I forgot the damn hammer to restart the engine. I'm not knocking on the man's setup but, it doesn't look like one shell is gonna give it enough to turn it over enough times to get it running, I only seen the intake valve open once on the turn over. He's gonna need at least two full turns on the pistons to get this rig banging! A kick start gives you two full revolutions on each cylinder and that's just enough on a well tuned engine. Hope the man gets it working right, it's a great conversation piece at a bar! Nice fabrication job, I would be a little nervous riding with all them chains going, don't let your pants flap around bro!
They used to start airplanes with starter cartridges as late as the Vietnam war. Cartridges were faster than conventional starting. The US Army launched target dones with blank howitzer ammo. The British navy used to launch 2-seat scout float planes off cruisers and battleships with blank 4.5-inch rounds. This is old technology, but it worked fine.
