"Do not park in gear"

[dittle]

Just a side note and funny story. Some of my old unit went to Germany to help train some units in Armor and were issued M60a3 tanks as OPFOR. On manuvers one of the tanks tried to climb a nasty grade. It stalled and rolled backwards. The guys in the tank found out real quick that the intake spews into the crew compartment.

I also heard of M60s popping on thier own and crawling across the motor pool bumping and starting other friends along the way. Hillarity ensues.

Not a case of piston engined tanks doing this, but we had M1s firing up on occasion in our motor pool in the Cav. They are autos so they don't take a jog, just run till someone notices.

An M60A3 is an automatic as well. It won't bump start unless someone leaves it in gear. Yes, there is a TM procedure on how to pull start an M60.

 

[fuzzytoaster]

Just a side note and funny story. Some of my old unit went to Germany to help train some units in Armor and were issued M60a3 tanks as OPFOR. On manuvers one of the tanks tried to climb a nasty grade. It stalled and rolled backwards. The guys in the tank found out real quick that the intake spews into the crew compartment.

I also heard of M60s popping on thier own and crawling across the motor pool bumping and starting other friends along the way. Hillarity ensues.

Not a case of piston engined tanks doing this, but we had M1s firing up on occasion in our motor pool in the Cav. They are autos so they don't take a jog, just run till someone notices.

What an image that paints. Wish there were pictures..or videos..

 

[mudguppy]

In my 48 years of working on cars, I've seen carbureted gasoline engines run backwards several times.
They usually run poorly, and with very little power, but they do run.
I think if the timing is off, an engine can "kick back" on starting & run backwards.
I also remember push starting an old Dodge Power Wagon. The driver put it in reverse & the engine ran backwards. Twice!

what exactly is the fuel source when a carb'd engine is running backwards?

 

[DanMartin]

what exactly is the fuel source when a carb'd engine is running backwards?

Fuel must have collected in the muffler bearings....