Starting and running a rare Oliver Tiger Mk II (1952)

This is a short running session with the rare Oliver Tiger Mk II diesel.
The engine was first introduced as a twin-shaft car engine, in 1951, and this aero version was made from late 1952 until early 1954, so there aren't very many around...
In 1952, this engine was in a class of its own, way above any other 2.5cc engine. So have a look, and admire the Oliver quality and performance...

[@MrJAMESBOND0070]

I actually rode over on my bicycle from Parkstone, Poole, U.K., to Ferndown about ten miles away to the Oliver's house "Four Acres" where they had a small machine shop at the bottom of the garden where the two of them were making both the 2.50 c.c. and the 1.50 c.c. for 1/2 A control-line team racing. I was about 14 years old at the time, and certainly could not afford the price of seven pounds at the time, being a school-boy at the time. I do remember spending about an hour talking to the two of them and getting much advice on the design and manufacture of those much loved engines.

[@Burnersforvanlife]

I can remember that sound, Woodbank park, Sunday mornings, early 60's, and of course in my shed!!

[@agunemnon]

Thank you Brian, this engine note was a big part of my childhood hearing it again I'm back on the flying field with dad showing me how to fly control line, or lying in the long grass marvelling at him and uncle Pete competing combat at the nationals. There's still one of his CL flying wings up the loft waiting for nylon and it's chance to prove itself in battle. Made my day!

[@briancox3691]

Thanks for your kind comments. I've been covering a vintage wing in nylon today. Just like the old combat wings. I've covered the entire wing in one piece of nylon, even with dihedral! Worked a treat! Regards, BC

[@agunemnon]

@@briancox3691 Happy flying Brian! Regards, Mark

[@philjackson-wx6ru]

Wonderful seeing and hearing that distinctive crackle. I have a Mk 2 Tiger made in 1953 SN ATB330 that hasn't run for 40 years years. I would like to get in touch with someone that would appreciate restoring it. It is rather gummed up and would need a thorough overhaul to get it running again. Phil Jackson Tynemouth

[@charlesbovalis6591]

AMAZING AGAIN - I remember that engine when I was a kid back in Greece .. Super Tigre also made a powerful 2.5cc diesel along with Webra's and the Taifun 2.5 (I had a Taifun) - you bring up excellent memories .. God Bless you ..

[@trekstortablet7711]

Wonderful,I could watch this all day. I have a replica mk 3 for flying and an unrun never seen fuel new mk 4 from the 70s I'm preserving. They are both fun to own even if only one is allowed to run at the moment. I live within a few miles of the old workshop,now a physical therapy center.

[@tetherracer1]

Lovely engine, super sounding and I can just smell the aroma!

[@briancox3691]

Thanks. I agree!

[@tetherracer1]

@@briancox3691 But I am hugely biased as I have a lovely MkII as well. Just wishing could I could find a mythical Oliver Tiger Mk1.

[@fiery1962]

Lovely thoroughbred. Thanks for showing it in action.

[@briancox3691]

+fiery1962 Thanks Derek, That's very kind. It really is a lovely old engine.

[@stephenparkes5932]

Oliver tiger . One of the engines ever designed,

[@spektrum33]

Ah memories ...just wonderful

[@briancox3691]

Thanks for your interest. Yes, it's a super old engine. I had a few doubts about my ability to whack a small TR prop but, in a non-stress situation, on the bench, there was no problem. Thanks again, BC

[@oldgeorge1939]

Interesting, thanks. But sounded to me you were running it overcompressed most of the time. George Copeman

[@charlesbovalis6591]

" .. and the wife thinks I am mowing the lawn .." oooooh you made me lough so much with that comment ... but the lawn seems already "cut" so you are safe to proceed with the engine :)

[@briancox3691]

Thanks Charles!

[@faucheurdemarguerites6639]

Nice engine !

[@briancox3691]

Merci, et puis Oui, c'est vrai !

[@cdh997]

Super moteur, attention aux doigts!

[@pirminkogleck4056]

imagine this on a 7x3

[@briancox3691]

Ridiculous. It would probably just break the engine. There is no application for which a 7x3 is a good propeller on an early 2.5 diesel. You're just damaging the engine to make noise.

[@pirminkogleck4056]

@@briancox3691 but modern teamrace diesels use 5x16 props for the 2,5 diesesl and i think a oliver tiger is not far away from the power

[@briancox3691]

@@pirminkogleck4056 Your reasoning isn't valid. This engine is nothing like a modern TR diesel. Consider how power is computed (torque x rpm). Modern TR engines are only powerful because they operated at very high rpm. Old engines won't tolerate such rpm. You'll just break the engine.

[@jwserge]

nothing good, there's no stable work

[@briancox3691]

+jwserge Sorry, I don't understand your comment (maybe Google English?). This is just a historically important rare old engine, running well. I didn't intend to do anything else...

[@jwserge]

+Brian Cox it works interuptedly, not smooth.

[@briancox3691]

+jwserge I don't agee. At the beginning, I only run the engine slowly, undercompressed and rich, to warm up the engine on a big propeller. But in the second half of the running, I change to smaller propellers, and took some rpm readings. Did you watch the video until the end? The rpm reading at the end is as good as the Aeromodeller engine test in 1952 (even a little better), so the running can't be very bad! Question: What are you comparing this engine with? In 1952, it was far better than anything else. As shown in the video, I'm only using Sport diesel fuel, not racing fuel. I thought the result was quite good. I don't think you watched the video until the end, and I don't think you understood the English subtitles on the screen... Finally, this is a very rare, very old engine, and I'm not going to risk damaging it!

[@jwserge]

+Brian Cox Brian, of course i thoroughly watched to the end. I don't see a fragment of stable work without interuptions of ignition or fading...

[@jwserge]

+Brian Cox Such a fragment should be at least 5 minute! Here i could NOT see even a half minute of stable work...