Elektra II Runs Unbelievably Well!!

Mark 42 · Post by **Mark 42** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:45 pm

I don't plan to be close to it when it fails, so I sorta like the dramatic kaboom.

Of course it could end up like the retriver dog who brought back the
lit stick of dynamite.

Jim Berquist · Post by **Jim Berquist** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:26 pm

One forth of July, I lit a 12 shot roman candle in the front of the house. My damn dog grabbed it up and started running across the Dry desert with this thing blasting away. It took four of us to put the fires out...

There you go! Another ignition source..Roman Candles......Ha

Jim

Mark 42 · Post by **Mark 42** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:33 pm

I'd be willing to bet most of the users on this forum have some sort
of similar experience.

It the sorts of things that attract people to a forum like this...
not just thinking outside the box, but operating there too.

Post by **Mike Everman** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:47 am

ha ha...
You know, Mark, you reminded me of an experiment to try! Cut out the middleman and just use a can of hairspray for fuel. Really. there's lots of good stuff in there!

pezman · Post by **pezman** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 11:03 am

I have noticed that a lot of shaving cream containers now have a rubber plug in the base. These plugs are surprisingly easy to remove, and they would offer an easy way to refill the beastie.

Also, at Home Depot, you can now buy propane in relatively thin-walled disposable containers that look like glorified hair-spray cans on steroids.

I still say the thing looks like a demented flaming rabbit in profile, damn you all.

Mark 42 · Post by **Mark 42** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:35 pm

I considered hairspray as propellant for when I need lightweight
instead of burn duration, but how to attach might be an issue.

Is the can has a stem which fits into the nozzle rather than the
nozzle having a stem that goes into the valve on the can I might
be able to rig a tube and an actuator mechanism to hook it up
to a servo pushrod.

I'll have to look for those propane cans at Home Depot.
I've seen something similar (Butane?) in the camping section at
walmart.

Might even be able to use the butane lighter refill cylinders at the drug store.

Jim Berquist · Post by **Jim Berquist** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:40 pm

Here you go! I have one of these.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/ ... allpartial

Jim

Mark 42 · Post by **Mark 42** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:49 pm

I've been thinking of using an old fire extinguisher for the same purpose.

But for under $13, I think I'll add one to my next order
(Maybe Harbor Freight).

Though I have got a couple of expired fire extinguishers, so if
the fittings are cheap enough, it might be worthwhile to use one.

Jim Berquist · Post by **Jim Berquist** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:18 pm

Harbor it is!

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... umber=1102

Jim

adam · Post by **adam** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 11:36 pm

hey mark i just now found this thread or topic, i am still new to the forum and find out new things every time i get on it. i like the roller skate setup you should make two of these and turn them into supper roller skates or somthin and just hold a little propane tank to fuel it and the rest of the control is in the power of your feet if you can hang on.

Mark 42 · Post by **Mark 42** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 5:43 pm

Roller skates would work.

I met my wife on roller skates (I used to skate about 5 nights a week)

Anyway...
Last night after work I did some thrust measurements - 1.9 Pounds...
I will have to add fenders like on a tractor to protect the front
wheels from the heat (They melted on the inboard edges)

Here's videos of three thrust measurement test runs:
(the third one is the most complete video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QRvODUQbYo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQdW44BNBWM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljQuQfa98gU

Engine weighs about 2 pounds w/o mounting brackets, fuel tank & wheels

Post by **Mike Everman** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 7:37 pm

1.9 lb is darn good! That's usable thrust. Nice!

Jim Berquist · Post by **Jim Berquist** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:07 pm

??Did you kill the spark while it was runing?? 1.9 not so bad! I think it can do better.

Jim

Mark 42 · Post by **Mark 42** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:07 pm

Yes, I did. I'll have to look again at the videos to see if the wire was removed
in any of them.

I have a few pictures, but will need to crop them and upload them.
I'm pretty sure there are some of it running w/o the plig wires.

I tried to start it with a propane torch first, but couldn't get it to
start. I got a couple of short howls, and blowwing into the intake
seemed to just blow it out.

But once I fired up the spark plug, it was easy to start.
I think the plug location helps.

I'd get on the pics, but I'm feeling a bit under the weather (and the weather
toady sucks!), so sitting at the PC is tiring (It feels good to just
collapse on the couch where I can slump into a slug).

I'll see if I can work up some energy. I'm glad I did the measurements last
night, because I lack energy & motivation today.

I'll post the pictures when I get them done. Nothing spectacular anyway.

Mark 42 · Post by **Mark 42** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:21 pm

Here are a few pics of the thrust test setup.

Scale reads 1.8 which corrects to 1.9 pounds with
correction for error (used a known weight to calibrate)

The test setup from just outside the garage door

Engine warmed up & running without ignition spark. The exhaust
must run pretty clean because not even a flame is visible.

A shortened panorama of the test setup:

www.pulse-jets.com

Elektra II Runs Unbelievably Well!!

Kaboom

Hare-spray-- the movie