Want to build a REAL engine?

I've been kicking this idea around with some mechanical engineers for
a couple of years.

Motorcycle in-line fours are state of the art high performance engines
unencumbered by smog controls. They get more than 100HP per liter
with some at 140 HP/liter. Of course, they rev like a dentist's
drill.

More importantly, the cylinder/head assembly just bolts to the
crankcase. Now, think of 7 or 9 of these in-line water cooled 4-cyl
blocks arranged radially around a common crankcase.

To make it work, you have to make the case, crank and new master/
articulating connecting rods. You'd also need a gear case to drive
the cam chains. Finally, you'd need some serious gear reduction
(~7:1) planetary gear set in the nose case. I'd also use an aircraft-
type fuel injection system instead of carbs.

If it worked, in the case of 9 cylinder blocks, you'd have a 36
cylinder, 500 pound, 30" diameter, 1000HP+ liquid cooled radial
reminiscent of a half scale Lycoming XR7755.

Now build a slick little carbon composite airplane around the monster
and take it to Reno. I'll bet the sound alone would wow the crowds.

bildan wrote:
I've been kicking this idea around with some mechanical engineers for
a couple of years.

Motorcycle in-line fours are state of the art high performance engines
unencumbered by smog controls. They get more than 100HP per liter
with some at 140 HP/liter. Of course, they rev like a dentist's
drill.

More importantly, the cylinder/head assembly just bolts to the
crankcase. Now, think of 7 or 9 of these in-line water cooled 4-cyl
blocks arranged radially around a common crankcase.

To make it work, you have to make the case, crank and new master/
articulating connecting rods. You'd also need a gear case to drive
the cam chains. Finally, you'd need some serious gear reduction
(~7:1) planetary gear set in the nose case. I'd also use an aircraft-
type fuel injection system instead of carbs.

If it worked, in the case of 9 cylinder blocks, you'd have a 36
cylinder, 500 pound, 30" diameter, 1000HP+ liquid cooled radial
reminiscent of a half scale Lycoming XR7755.

Now build a slick little carbon composite airplane around the monster
and take it to Reno. I'll bet the sound alone would wow the crowds.

Already been done.
http://www.bigbikeriders.com/48cyl.htm

--
John Kimmel


I think it will be quiet around here now. So long.

On Jan 17, 10:05*am, John Kimmel wrote:
bildan wrote:
I've been kicking this idea around with some mechanical engineers for
a couple of years.

Motorcycle in-line fours are state of the art high performance engines
unencumbered by smog controls. *They get more than 100HP per liter
with some at 140 HP/liter. *Of course, they rev like a dentist's
drill.

More importantly, the cylinder/head assembly just bolts to the
crankcase. *Now, think of 7 or 9 of these in-line water cooled 4-cyl
blocks arranged radially around a common crankcase.

To make it work, you have to make the case, crank and new master/
articulating connecting rods. *You'd also need a gear case to drive
the cam chains. *Finally, you'd need some serious gear reduction
(~7:1) *planetary gear set in the nose case. *I'd also use an aircraft-
type fuel injection system instead of carbs.

If it worked, in the case of 9 cylinder blocks, you'd have a 36
cylinder, 500 pound, 30" diameter, 1000HP+ liquid cooled radial
reminiscent of a half scale Lycoming XR7755.

Now build a slick little carbon composite airplane around the monster
and take it to Reno. *I'll bet the sound alone would wow the crowds.

Already been done.http://www.bigbikeriders.com/48cyl.htm

--
John Kimmel


I think it will be quiet around here now. *So long.

Actually, I think I made a mistake on the 30" diameter. I got that by
measuring the distance from the crank center to the top of the valve
covers of a Kawasaki. That's fine for a 4-cylinder but a radial is a
different matter.

To make room for 9 blocks and the intake/exhaust manifolds that go
between them, the engine diameter would have to be larger. Maybe 42"
- 48" diameter would work.

On Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:06:29 -0800 (PST), bildan
wrote:

On Jan 17, 10:05*am, John Kimmel wrote:
bildan wrote:
I've been kicking this idea around with some mechanical engineers for
a couple of years.

Motorcycle in-line fours are state of the art high performance engines
unencumbered by smog controls. *They get more than 100HP per liter
with some at 140 HP/liter. *Of course, they rev like a dentist's
drill.

More importantly, the cylinder/head assembly just bolts to the
crankcase. *Now, think of 7 or 9 of these in-line water cooled 4-cyl
blocks arranged radially around a common crankcase.

To make it work, you have to make the case, crank and new master/
articulating connecting rods. *You'd also need a gear case to drive
the cam chains. *Finally, you'd need some serious gear reduction
(~7:1) *planetary gear set in the nose case. *I'd also use an aircraft-
type fuel injection system instead of carbs.

If it worked, in the case of 9 cylinder blocks, you'd have a 36
cylinder, 500 pound, 30" diameter, 1000HP+ liquid cooled radial
reminiscent of a half scale Lycoming XR7755.

Now build a slick little carbon composite airplane around the monster
and take it to Reno. *I'll bet the sound alone would wow the crowds.

Already been done.http://www.bigbikeriders.com/48cyl.htm

--
John Kimmel


I think it will be quiet around here now. *So long.

Actually, I think I made a mistake on the 30" diameter. I got that by
measuring the distance from the crank center to the top of the valve
covers of a Kawasaki. That's fine for a 4-cylinder but a radial is a
different matter.

To make room for 9 blocks and the intake/exhaust manifolds that go
between them, the engine diameter would have to be larger. Maybe 42"
- 48" diameter would work.

try these....
http://www.mile16.com/Radial.html

On Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:06:02 GMT, Stealth Pilot
wrote:

http://www.bigbikeriders.com/48cyl.htm

Not quite, the engine and gear box weigh over a ton, or at least 4X of
the target weight. W&B would be a bear.

Roger (K8RI) wrote:
On Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:06:02 GMT, Stealth Pilot
wrote:

http://www.bigbikeriders.com/48cyl.htm

Not quite, the engine and gear box weigh over a ton, or at least 4X of
the target weight. W&B would be a bear.





It would fit nicely in a full scale F8F.
But it'd be a bit underpowered...

John Kimmel wrote:
bildan wrote:
I've been kicking this idea around with some mechanical engineers for
a couple of years.

Motorcycle in-line fours are state of the art high performance engines
unencumbered by smog controls. They get more than 100HP per liter
with some at 140 HP/liter. Of course, they rev like a dentist's
drill.

More importantly, the cylinder/head assembly just bolts to the
crankcase. Now, think of 7 or 9 of these in-line water cooled 4-cyl
blocks arranged radially around a common crankcase.

To make it work, you have to make the case, crank and new master/
articulating connecting rods. You'd also need a gear case to drive
the cam chains. Finally, you'd need some serious gear reduction
(~7:1) planetary gear set in the nose case. I'd also use an aircraft-
type fuel injection system instead of carbs.

If it worked, in the case of 9 cylinder blocks, you'd have a 36
cylinder, 500 pound, 30" diameter, 1000HP+ liquid cooled radial
reminiscent of a half scale Lycoming XR7755.

Now build a slick little carbon composite airplane around the monster
and take it to Reno. I'll bet the sound alone would wow the crowds.

Already been done.
http://www.bigbikeriders.com/48cyl.htm


I bet that is great at straight lines, but how big is the turn radius?

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

"John Kimmel" wrote in message
...
bildan wrote:
I've been kicking this idea around with some mechanical engineers for
a couple of years.

Motorcycle in-line fours are state of the art high performance engines
unencumbered by smog controls. They get more than 100HP per liter
with some at 140 HP/liter. Of course, they rev like a dentist's
drill.

More importantly, the cylinder/head assembly just bolts to the
crankcase. Now, think of 7 or 9 of these in-line water cooled 4-cyl
blocks arranged radially around a common crankcase.

To make it work, you have to make the case, crank and new master/
articulating connecting rods. You'd also need a gear case to drive
the cam chains. Finally, you'd need some serious gear reduction
(~7:1) planetary gear set in the nose case. I'd also use an aircraft-
type fuel injection system instead of carbs.

If it worked, in the case of 9 cylinder blocks, you'd have a 36
cylinder, 500 pound, 30" diameter, 1000HP+ liquid cooled radial
reminiscent of a half scale Lycoming XR7755.

Now build a slick little carbon composite airplane around the monster
and take it to Reno. I'll bet the sound alone would wow the crowds.

Already been done.
http://www.bigbikeriders.com/48cyl.htm

--
John Kimmel


I think it will be quiet around here now. So long.

The big bike reminds me of the task of putting windshield wipers on a
duck's ass. It represents a technical challenge, but the outcome is of
questionable value. Too much spare time?

On Jan 17, 5:30*pm, "Stuart Fields" wrote:
"John Kimmel" wrote in message

...



bildan wrote:
I've been kicking this idea around with some mechanical engineers for
a couple of years.

Motorcycle in-line fours are state of the art high performance engines
unencumbered by smog controls. *They get more than 100HP per liter
with some at 140 HP/liter. *Of course, they rev like a dentist's
drill.

More importantly, the cylinder/head assembly just bolts to the
crankcase. *Now, think of 7 or 9 of these in-line water cooled 4-cyl
blocks arranged radially around a common crankcase.

To make it work, you have to make the case, crank and new master/
articulating connecting rods. *You'd also need a gear case to drive
the cam chains. *Finally, you'd need some serious gear reduction
(~7:1) *planetary gear set in the nose case. *I'd also use an aircraft-
type fuel injection system instead of carbs.

If it worked, in the case of 9 cylinder blocks, you'd have a 36
cylinder, 500 pound, 30" diameter, 1000HP+ liquid cooled radial
reminiscent of a half scale Lycoming XR7755.

Now build a slick little carbon composite airplane around the monster
and take it to Reno. *I'll bet the sound alone would wow the crowds.

Already been done.
http://www.bigbikeriders.com/48cyl.htm

--
John Kimmel


I think it will be quiet around here now. *So long.

* * The big bike reminds me of the task of putting windshield wipers on a
duck's ass. *It represents a technical challenge, but the outcome is of
questionable value. *Too much spare time?

OK, the bike's prove you can take motorcycle 4 cyl blocks and create a
monsterously powerful multi-bank engine with them. The Hyabusa V8 is
particularly neat. The 48 clinder seems to be 2- stroke cylinders
which is weird.

For aviation, a big, round, mean, screaming, 1000HP radial would take
the show.

"bildan" wrote in message
...

OK, the bike's prove you can take motorcycle 4 cyl blocks and create a
monsterously powerful multi-bank engine with them. The Hyabusa V8 is
particularly neat. The 48 clinder seems to be 2- stroke cylinders
which is weird.

For aviation, a big, round, mean, screaming, 1000HP radial would take
the show.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

But it doesn't tell you if these hybrids are reliable.

There are a lot more issues with building a custom engine than just making
all the pieces fit together. None of these examples have been tested for
long periods of time at 75% power, and if they won't withstand such, they
serve little purpose other than exhibition.