Blakey Engine Service Visit - Part 1 of 2

[@gcrauwels941]

Jeff has loads of knowledge.

[@jamespechie8436]

Thanks for sharing your love of planes with me…. Mechanically and flights of different old planes being piloted ,started up ,etc…

[@remylopez4821]

Awesome I just found this video. It reminds me of the shop that I used to work for when I got out of the Air Force in 1984. It was called Stuart Davis located at in Long Beech Airport . I left there in 1985 to work for Mcdonnell Douglas one thing I did not see and I believe it was a Pratt an Whitney cylinders. You can heat them up and remove the heads from the barrels. We had a special heating oven for that purpose, even though it’s been the better part of 35 years the memories that video brought were priceless to me now that I’m in my 60s

[@Jim.Thunda]

I'll never complain about radial engine rebuild costs again. I never considered how much equipment is required to rebuild them. And that's not counting the parts that are getting hard to get. On top of this it's the expertise and dedication of a diminished number of engineers to make it all happen. I take my hat off and bow to these few that keep these aircraft safe in the air.

[@kevinquig5654]

The knowledge and information just flows from Mr. Blakey. True expertise.

[@hanziwatdan5373]

Love to watch this all .deep respect for the hands and knowledge.👍

[@kgs42]

Really fascinating. Thanks Jeff and Kermit.

[@johncalvert2232]

Heaven in a garage.

[@igorsatler7750]

So bigger collection of pullers I haven’t still saw. Thank you

[@chris_hisss]

Thanks so much you two!

[@markoldham5403]

Kermit, thank you so much. I am so lucky to be retired and have the time to watch the material you present here. To see the skills and methods of restoration in your shop and those like Jeff's is so educational and fun. Thanks again for sharing what all these people, including your staff, do.

[@2003Harleyguy]

I was in the LAST Master Machinist class in Cincinnati, OH in the mid 70's. I am the last of the breed, now everything is CNC programming of which I ended up owning a CNC machine shop. All that to say, now that I'm retired, it's just so sad to see real skill disappear & be lost forever. I do hope he is mentoring some new generation or the world will be the worse for its loss!

[@donaldestevez510]

I have a working experience and knowledge overhauling various types of automotive engines and I can assure you this guy is absolutely incredible ! I would go flying on an old airplane with one of his engines without a second thought !

[@arnhemseptember2009]

Amazing craftsman...

[@7123]

Forget going on holiday somewhere nice, I would much rather spend a week or two with Jeff. The knowledge he has is incredible, and you can hear he is generally happy when there is someone interested in what he is doing.

[@Omnihil777]

Wow, this knowledge and experience HAS to be conserved and given to younger people, so it doesn't die. Ever.

[@allencampbell4460]

Absolutely amazing!

[@pbyfr]

Thanks a lot for sharing. Please keep doing such video, it show very nicely the hidden side of aircraft/motor restoration. I knew that maintaining such motor was quite technical, but I'm still amazed by the number of tools needed.

[@johnnunn8688]

Simon Frampton, pfft what would he know?

[@terrysmith8714]

Fanatic video. Great job. Cheers.

[@BDOutdoorsCanada]

Wow,........just wow!

[@Rudi-Mhz]

A great Guy! He knows what he hast to do just seeing a Part of the engine! And useing the old Maschines to keep the old Parts of the rare Engines is awesome! Congratulation!

[@mycroft1905]

Brain-snapping insight into radial engine technology and the machine tools used in overhauls. Thanks very much and hats off to Jeff.

[@harpomarx7777]

That guy's a Maestro ... don't piss him off because you need him.

[@capnpete1154]

Fascinating.

[@nozmoking1]

I thought at first it was going to be difficult to get Jeff to talk - but once he got started he really took off. It's truly a joy to see someone who loves what they do as much as he does.

[@Wvanbramer]

Incredible inside info! Thank you!

[@IamZardoz]

Great video and again thanks for not dumbing it down. One thing Ive always wondered when I see videos like this is the folks with all this knowledge and expertise are obviously older and I hope they have apprenticeships for younger mechanics to learn these things before its too late.

[@bobbreit5244]

Very inspiring!

[@marlonstjohn]

His shop was clean and organized end to end. This never fails to impress me as it is sign of a master mechanic.

[@coolhand1964]

When I first left school back in the day I worked in a small machinist's shop and we had to spend the last 20 minutes of each day cleaning up every machine in the shop that was used. The owner's motto was 'let your workshop be the mark of your professionalism' i.e. if the place looks like crap, customers will think your work is as well.

[@RonI-qz2tz]

I used to work on Pratt & Whitney's and Wright's for a company in Washington state many years ago. Was the best job ever. Thanks for trip back in time.

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

I like how organized the shop is

[@zenoelea8239]

Excellent video. Engineering, radial engines, and impressive knowledge, I'm in heaven. Thanks Kermit :)

[@davidraybon1615]

As a retired machinist I was so impressed by this shop and the wealth of knowledge Jeff has. Great video! The tour of the V-12 shop was good too. I've run marvelous "bomb proof" machines from WWII that ended up scrapped because they were just too expensive to move and too basic.

[@josephjolly1936]

Thanks for the video.👍

[@steveholmes5207]

Keep em flying mr weeks greetings from steve in England to you and all who watch 🇺🇲🇬🇧🇺🇲🇬🇧

[@oldnick4707]

Greetings and CHEERS from Central Illinois!

[@steveholmes5207]

@@oldnick4707 right back at you from Steve across the pond

[@ILLEagle_1]

This is amazing, no one else has any content close to this. From a mechanics lover, THANK YOU

[@stevemadak6255]

I love machinists! Their knowledge, the way they impart their know how to you - so much great information. Ive known a couple good ones in my life and I learn so much from them. Great vid!

[@pwrplnt1975]

I'm mech. eng. and this stuff is so amazing to me. I can't even imagine where he got the tooling to perform the kind of work he does. The radial engines are so cool! Keep this stuff coming!

[@chichotta]

Walking and talking encyclopedia plus great amount of experience.

[@cbturner46]

Very very interesting. Thank you

[@alhodge4051]

very enjoyable.. thank you

[@tonyc223]

I am a recent retired GM tech , this shop is amazing .I would come out of retirement and work for room and board just to be around this stuff....and work with Jeff....

[@sargepent9815]

Same here

[@dlsmallenginerepair]

Thanks Again for another great video! The engineers & designers of those engines were amazing. I would love to spend a day working in that shop.

[@angelreading5098]

Kermit this has to be one of the most interesting videos ever on radial engine overhaul,just the thought of gathering all of that specialised tooling together is mind boggling alone,I learned a lot from this visit alone and the attention to detail and knowledge that Jeff has accrued over the years too,lets hope that his skills will be passed on for the future too so we can keep these engine masterpieces turning and providing power for the worlds warbirds for a long time to come,knowledge is everything and you two guys certainly have just that,thank you for caring about our aviation history and keeping these fine engines serviceable in your aeroplanes.

[@mwilhelmindetroit]

What an incredible shop! I've been inside a car engine or two, so those valves and cylinders and pullers looked like a sci-fi dislocation in space. Thanks, guys. Keep the faith!

[@akfarmboy49]

I'm a machinist and I always like seeing machines and custom made tooling. I find very interesting.

[@mshaque5458]

This is the cleanest machine shop I have ever seen. If his shop is this clean then his reconstruction has to be meticulous.

[@stevejones9044]

Its great that you are asking the detailed questions Kermit. Better than just walking room to room, ok here's where we do cylinders and here's where the hardware is....

[@hillbilly4christ638]

What an amazing shop and collection of engines!

[@bondisteve3617]

Gees Kermit! Thanks.

[@johndavey72]

Hi Kermit . I think many of the comments have already covered the concern of Jeff passing on his (irreplaceable )skills. However, it was his comments about the erroneous warranty claims that brought to light the (not deliberate) ignorance of the people who service these rare and very expensive engines. Easy to say but there is an obvious void that needs to be filled regarding this. Perhaps Kermit, there is an opening for you to have teaching classes in this genre. Obviously this would have to be financially accountable. It's just a thought. ....As a skilled classic car restorer/painter and crash repairer (on modern vehicles as well) l myself have always willingly passed on my skills but that is much easier to accomplish than the specialist teaching methods that would be required in your field. Very enjoyable video and look forward to part two.

[@MrJohn1966elliott]

Wow !!! I love it. learn about make for engines and special tools. Jeff is very nice.

[@Bugdriver49]

Incredibly informative video!! And its only a glance into the extremely complex world of overhauling those gorgeous round engines!!! Many thanks for this one, Kermit!!!!

[@brokerhc]

All this knowledge and experience in just one man. Very interesting video Mr. Weeks.

[@RemoVegas]

That was AWESOME..!

[@SheriffofYouTube]

wow what a specialized shop. great tour

[@rebeldevil5710]

What I wouldn't give to work in that shop. So awesome!

[@cramersclassics]

Kermit is a National Treasure! Thanks for sharing your passion, insight, connections and skills with us all.

[@bammab977]

Wow. Junior Burchinald and his Flying Tigers Air museum in Paris TX. Stopped there many times going to visit grandparents in east Texas. Short little strip about 6 inches wide and 4 feet long😁. What a blast to stop for gas and have one of those beasts roaring over so low you can see the rivets. I remember seeing a B-17 Loose a engine after takeoff one time. I wonder if this was it?

[@EvilMerlin]

Being able to have FoF open just for myself (as a wonderful gift from the wife) was awesome. It was a year ago, but I still remember everything. Someday I'll have a warbird. Over 10k hours as a PIC but still don't own my own.

[@rleeAZ]

Hope that Jeff is mentoring some sharp young machinist/mechanics so all that knowledge doesn't leave the planet when he does.

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

That's exactly what I came here to say!! Hopefully he has multiple apprentices, there can't be too many left on the planet that know radials.

[@wayned1807]

Only if he makes enough money to pay someone to learn. Sounded like he only has enough work to keep him busy. Manual machining is a dying trade and no one wants to learn a trade with no future. I've done machining for close to 50 years and moved to computer operated machines (CNC) years ago to stay in business. I still have the manual machines around but they sit idle most of time.

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

@@wayned1807 alot of engine rebuilding of all types is still done manually.. But yeah I'm sure the demand is going down

[@archer-0251]

I thought the same..

[@cf6282]

I was wondering the same thing. This knowledge is priceless.

[@wdhewson]

He knows his stuff. Bull's eye on everything.

[@haroldmclean3755]

Super Super Cool 👍

[@Cropmaster260]

I assume Jeff has staff. So hopefully some young people are inheriting as much if his knowledge as possible. They will surely have a job for life.... and as their skills become even more rare the price they can charge will go up to reflect this. Parents encourage your kids to seriously consider the trades, its a great career option and will only get better looking forward into the future. Thank you Jeff for taking time to share your work....

[@AdamsTubing]

absolutely fascinating! i miss watching all the cropdusters

[@caseypayne1956]

Those rod/main journals can be repaired. They can be welded up, straightened and ground back to OEM specs. They can be flame-sprayed.

[@xxxxxx-rm2pn]

Wonderful video

[@willythewave]

I absolutely love these engine shop visits. Kermit you`re pretty knowledgeable on the mechanical things yourself, you asked some excellent questions.

[@P51]

love these videos SO much...thanks mr. weeks

[@mikemcpherson5550]

Fascinating Kermit..fascinating. These short subjects are winners.

[@compt3ck]

Awesome video Kermit! Its great to see the details of these big radial monsters. I would love more mechanical videos like this.

[@dannysimon2320]

As a mechanic I found it very informative and interesting you ask a lot of questions that I would have about things that you have to have primary knowledge of to be able to ask secondary questions very well done

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

Time travel. This video takes me back to 1964, when Charlie Gober taught engines and propellers to us A&P wannabes at Spartan School of Aeronautics. Knowledgeable, quiet, self-assured, Charlie was a master instructor, a fount of knowledge, and an inspiration to learn more than we thought we could retain, and then refine that knowledge through years of employment in aviation. Sure enough, by mid-1965 I was working for an airline which operated DC-3s (R-1830 engines) and Convair 240s (R-2800 engines). Long before I could become really proficient on those beautiful old engines, they were gone, and turboprops and jets became my focus and responsibility. Charlie was not the only great instructor at Spartan, but I think of him first whenever I hear "round" motors overhead as some treasured relic of WW II transits Addison Airport. Here is a great video of radial engine technology at the onset of the war. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXPJd6OZmd6Xa7M

[@bobgilbert7362]

Fascinating, and intimidating, video.

[@rolandalfonso6954]

This. Was. Wonderful. Start to finish... ( When I was an automotive machinist (I know, please don't laugh) my shop had a crankshaft welder. If it was worn, we would weld it up over size and then grind it back to standard...I love Big Round Engines! But the machining principals are the same...new seat in an aluminum head? Put the replacement seat in dry ice…that interference fit will work... I luv this stuff... all for fun. I should have got my A&P....)

[@rcdogmanduh4440]

That was fun! Thanks

[@Vincent-Vega24]

Another amazing, informative video!!!! And thanks to that man for opening up his world to us!!!!!!

[@benjamingraves6390]

Great insight into the rarity and difficulty of maintaining these engines!

[@craigb7967]

It’s amazing how many parts are used in an aircraft engine. The tolerances are a minefield when machining these parts. Unbelievable knowledge and skill

[@shaunroberts9361]

Kermit . This was outstanding. Wow.

[@Swearing0000]

Radial engines are a marvel of engineering

[@nethanelmasters5170]

Another great video. So educational neat to see how they work.

[@zolatanaffa87]

how many skills must have MR Blake! awesome!

[@i.r.wayright1457]

That Lycoming was built three blocks from where I grew up. On summer nights I could hear them running in test cells. Naturally I became an aircraft mechanic. They quit building radials before I was born however, so what I heard were 4, 6 and 8 cylinder opposed engines. The power plant instructor I had at the local tech school told us about Lycoming running the XR7755 in the test cell. They watched what they thought were pieces of paper flying around inside the cell but when they shut down they found it was hunks of concrete that dislodged near the mounting points on the floor.

[@Downstairsish]

When I started work in 1979 as an apprentice engineer for a specialist jig boring company most of the boring machines were second world war or just after vintage, (Moore & Wright, Newall). The machines may have been old but the tolerance's we worked to were amazing as we did lots of work for the ministry, military aircraft and weapons parts...So it always makes me shudder when I hear that these wonderful machine tools end up on the scrap pile...What a fantastic place and a true engineer, made my day and brought back many memories. They made a tool for every job in those days..Cant wait for part two THANK YOUDave from the UK

[@johnwhauserman]

Very interesting thank you very much. I am a tool maker and I really like saving old stuff. I used to do a lot of repro pats for Luger P-08's and Mauser's for Mentor Arms in Cleveland, OHIO.

[@sblack48]

Superb video. Absolutely fascinating. I wish he had answered the question about whether the scored crank journal or crank babbit could be saved but you guys got sidetracked. But I really enjoyed it. Awesome. Thank you!!!

[@WellsLarry]

That was so cool.

[@Things_Green]

Fascinating, thanks Kermit. Great to hear such a knowledgeable mechanic able to explain his passion so clearly.

[@6bolt_Z]

Awesome video! I could listen to Jeff talk for hours. I would love to work under the guidance of someone like Jeff and learn to rebuild these old engines.

[@KSA-uu8js]

Still the best channel on youtube Kermit

[@yucannthahvitt]

One of the best Kermie Cam videos. This shop tour was priceless. More like this please.

[@fw1421]

This is just North of where I live. I had no idea there was a radial engine overhaul facility in Roanoke. I worked at American Airlines Alliance Maintenance Base for 17 years until AA sent our work to China,and never heard a peep about this gentleman’s shop. Pretty cool!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@abedekok322]

It's always delightful seeing these types of niche machine shops tucked away in some corner of the country.

[@Joe-qj7oh]

Thank you Kermit, these workshops are rare, and it's great to get a first hand look.

[@eamo106]

I follow a few History sites, some people I tag as Time Lords (BBC Dr Who) , who know so much, that they had to be there in the day , you and Jeff are in that category. A WWII enthusiast and Degreed Engineer and this video went over my head in details. College and University is overrated. I set up a program that trained 2200 Oilfield Techs in mech, electrical and electronic disciplines to get better maintenance and so service quality,,,,spent 3 years setting it up, probably the best thing I did in 30 years with that company.

[@volvoguy76]

Thanks Kermit! Just amazing for R-1820 geeks to see the insides.... outside!

[@dank3998]

Love when you do these type video's interesting to see how these things work and the people who do them. One thing I have noticed on all older type things like planes or car or whatever is the lack of new blood coming in to learn older trades.

[@frankdillon6127]

i hope Jeff is looking tward the future and passing his experance on to the younger guys. seem to be a dieing trade.

[@TheRaptorXX]

An education, as ever! Thanks.