Zero Carb ?

[brady]

I remember the thread about the Zero(A6M2) carb issue, some sources state it would stall out like the Huricane MK I, and I recall that it was simply not corect that it would not do that, but I cant find a source to coloberate this, anyone know of one?

[Flyboy]

back in the old WB days the early model zero did had a neg G engune cut out' but it was removed in 1 of the version updates.

i would like to know the answer to this question too

[VO101_Isegrim]

Keep in mind that having a carburator does not automatically mean cutout under negative G forces, the Merlin`s early problems with this was more like a design error, that was fixed. Ie., the modern Soviet fighters during WW2 also had carbs, but were already designed to cope with negative Gs. Couldn`t tell how was it with the Zero`s development history..

[eddiek]

IIRC, the captured Zero tested did cut out under negative G's, but later on in the war some Japanese mechanics were captured and they showed their captors what was wrong with the carb.......the negative G cutout was a flaw in the way the plane had been repaired to flyable status and did not happen in Japanese use...........basically, the Americans didn't have the thing tuned right, IIRC.
I'll try and dig up the source of that info.  I remember it came back in WB's and was the cause of a lot of discussion back then.  Someone produced data that showed the early Zekes were not prone to negative G cutout and it was fixed.

[HoHun]

Hi Brady,

>but I cant find a source to coloberate this, anyone know of one?

Well, if you should find something more substantial than anecdotal evidence, I'd like to see it, too :-)

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)

[brady]

Ya, it would be cool to put a referance source behind this.

[United]

I heard stories from my grandfather (A waist gunner on a B-24 in the pacific from 1943-45*) in which he mentioned hearing the Zero's engine cut out when it went inverted and dove away from the bombers.  I don't know if it was truly a carburetor or if it was just him hearing things in the midst of combat.

This could be useful, I haven't read it but it may have something in it under the Zero section.  I'm not sure if you're willing to spend some money or not...
http://www.flightjournal.com/fj/store/viewissue.asp?issueid=BSFG

I also found in one of my searches on Google a website that explains a little, except there's a problem.  It's not a website anymore   .

Here is what the site description said,
"Dogfighting at a Disadvantage - Sturmovik .com
... the enemy has a higher turn rate and similar top speed (eg A6M2 Zero over ... Hurricane
fuel pump problem - the fuel pump would not work under negative G, so the ..."

The part in bold may explain about the negative G cut-out.  But since it's not a site, I can't help much.

Thats all I could find  hope it helps.


*Not sure exactly when he entered the service.  I saw a lot of training papers, most of which were early to mid 1943.  Not sure if it was the last one or not, but I know he participated in the Wake Island bombing, so it couldn't have been far off.

[cup]

Hey Brady,

I open this thread thinking that you were going on a diet...


Anyway, I finally sent u a UV turn, did u get it??

[brady]

LOL:), I just checked a bit ago and no, I will look again.....