File:B6N2 mec turning prop.jpg

Nakajima B6N2 before starting the engine. The mechanic is manually turning the prop, to prevent hydraulic lock. A hydraulic lock occurs in a cylinder when it gets full of oil and the connecting rod attempts to displace it. Liquids are not compressible, so it will bend, or possibly break the connecting rod. This used to be a real problem in radial engines with a bottom cylinder, the oil would run down into the lower cylinder. This is why you see radials being "pulled through" by hand before starting the engine.

www.ijnafpics.com archive copy at the Wayback Machine

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