A ratchet strap pulled by a Ford F-150 helped start a 102.4-liter Mirrlees Blackstone JS8 after the engine’s intended compressed-air start and a forklift-assisted attempt failed. The filmed start was a striking milestone, not proof that the vintage diesel was fully restored or ready for service.
What kind of engine needed a pickup to start?
The engine is a Mirrlees Blackstone JS8: a 102.4-liter, straight-eight turbodiesel. The Drive reports that it was delivered to the U.K. Air Ministry in 1953. It also records 720 indicated accumulated operating hours; that figure is the engine’s reported indication, not an independently verified total. The Drive’s report identifies the engine and documents the starting attempt.
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Restoration YouTuber Mr Hewes surmised that the engine may have powered a generator set at an RAF base, citing its size and delivery history. That is a theory about its past, not confirmed service history: the report does not identify a specific installation or establish that it was used by the RAF as a generator engine.
Why was starting it difficult?
The engine had sat unused for a long time. Before trying to start it, the team addressed stuck valves and injectors, a nonfunctioning oiling system, and water in the oil passageways. The report says the water had to be manually pumped and vacuumed out. Although the engine could turn freely after this work, getting it to start was still difficult.
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How did they start a 102.4-liter engine?
The team first tried the method the engine was supposed to use: compressed air. The available supply was not sufficient. A subsequent attempt to turn the flywheel with help from a forklift also failed. For the reported successful attempt, Hewes tied a ratchet strap around the flywheel and pulled it with a Ford F-150. The engine started and produced smoke during the filmed sequence.
| Attempt | What happened, according to The Drive |
|---|---|
| Compressed air | The intended starting method; the available supply was insufficient. |
| Forklift-assisted flywheel turning | Unsuccessful. |
| Ratchet strap pulled by a Ford F-150 | The reported successful attempt; the engine started and produced smoke. |
This is an account of an unusual filmed event, not a general starting procedure. The report does not give the strap’s specifications or establish that the setup is safe to reproduce.
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Does the start mean the engine was fully restored?
No. The report establishes that the engine started during the video after preparation and unsuccessful attempts. It does not establish how long it continued running, whether it produced generator output, what mechanical issues remained, how reliable it was, or whether it returned to service. A first start shows that the engine could run at that moment; it does not, by itself, demonstrate a completed restoration.
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