RR GEM Heli Engine… First Fireup!! 🔥🔥🔥

First fireup of my Rolls Royce Gem Helicopter Engine at Home, Jan 2023

[@leokimvideo]

I love your neighbours, not a complaint

[@64Pete]

Cannot understand... why the big goofy smiles Scott? Great stuff brother! ✌🇦🇺

[@ScottsCrazyBuilds]

😅😅😅 Thankyou, it was a delightful Sunday morning!!!

[@FirstLast-tx3yj]

Okay great... it runs Now strap it to the gsxr😂😂 Amazing to see the new engine, keep up the good content coming

[@ScottsCrazyBuilds]

Hahaha no chance of that!! Fair play to the guys building a streamlined motorcycle with one of these though!!

[@FirstLast-tx3yj]

@@ScottsCrazyBuilds your first video had a turbo charger and external combustor Do you have the blueprint or build plans of the combustor with holes sizes and dimensions??

[@ScottsCrazyBuilds]

@@FirstLast-tx3yj that was for my jetbike engine built around 67mm inducer holset hx55. The details are here jetandturbineowners.proboards.com/thread/1014/holset-hx50-supermoto-jetbike

[@FirstLast-tx3yj]

@@ScottsCrazyBuilds well the last thing I expected to see was a perforated sheet rolled into a tube Yet now I have seen it, it is the best thing I could have ever wished for!! So that is the one that stayed or did you change it later? Would you have expected more thrust from a traditional tube or its not worth the extre effort? Because trust me, i just want to roll a perforated tube and call it a day!

[@ScottsCrazyBuilds]

@@FirstLast-tx3yj unfortunately the perforated tube was something I did before I learned what was actually needed! Check out page 3, and page 22 for the revised combustor designs.

[@DScottDuncan]

Great looking project you have started! I love the sounds. Looking forward to more of your project, complete with detailed videos! Please check out my turbojet engine project here on JATO and my KZbin channel, Darren Duncan. You will see a similar setup as I am first trying to get the thing to start... eventually succeeding, to my neighbors' surprise. I eventually tore it down and restored it to a nice 'gem' of a running machine, using a low-hour parts engine and a bit of cash for bearings, bits and batteries. Cheers! DD

[@ScottsCrazyBuilds]

Hi Darren, you’ve done a fantastic job of restoring your engine! Great work and serious effort. I sincerely hope I never have to take this one apart as it seems incredibly complex with three shafts running inside each other and many special tools needed, I am sure you have been through the same! What are your plans for your engine now? Cheers Scott

[@DScottDuncan]

It will be an ongoing project, as a current hobby and a future retirement program for me. The electrical system needs a modification to separate the accessories from the starter source to improve/speed up starts, reducing the torching stresses on the hot section. The fuel boost pump is not large enough to supply what is needed for full power so that will be a great move forward! (Currently, as we get to about the 50% RPM setting, the fuel inlet pressure has dropped to nearly zero!) The engine 'test stand' will lash down in a pickup truck bed just fine and the control console cabling will reach into the cabin, so we can have some Redneck fun! This old technology engine is very simple and economical, originally designed to power unmanned aircraft such as target drones and cruise missiles in the 1950s. It's simplicity made it a great 'beginner's' engine and very few special tools were required. Your engine is a nuclear reactor compared to mine and I would not attempt rebuilding something like that. I am considering buying a small business jet engine to play with in my retirement years if I can, financially, but it would be like your engine, running already! Ultimately, I think I will attempt to donate the J44 to a museum somewhere... so it can live on after me. I haven't posted anything for a few years so it is time to get it out and do something, of which I will share on KZbin and JATO. Thanks for your interest and stay in touch! DD