Scratch Built Radials

[Mad MAC]

I am sure there was a thread about building radials with motorcycle cylinders (can't find it) but it was a bit short on actual working examples.

Here's two by a kiwi Russell Sutton (possibly slightly mad he spent 25 years in WA).
the 9 cylinder

Russell Sutton's nine-cylinder radial engine LIVES!

Russell Sutton has proven once again that patience can trump all adversity. If you recall, the man has spent nearly five years constructing a nine-cylinder radial engine from a smattering of Honda single-cylinder XR600 thumpers. The last time we saw this beast, it ran briefly befor

www.autoblog.com

the 14 cylinder (not finished yet)

Russell Sutton’s 14 Cylinder Yamaha XV Radial Engine Meets the Neighbors

thekneeslider.com

 

[Hot Wings]

I've often wondered how many radials have been build using overhead cams. Have there ever been any production versions?

It does open up some options. Should be easy enough to convert a lot of OHC chain/belt systems to shaft and gear.

 

[Riggerrob]

Back during the 1920s (?) a handful of radials were built with over-head cams. They had a series of complex cam-shafts running around the cylinder heads ... in a circle.

 

[poormansairforce]

I am sure there was a thread about building radials with motorcycle cylinders (can't find it) but it was a bit short on actual working examples.

Here's two by a kiwi Russell Sutton (possibly slightly mad he spent 25 years in WA).
the 9 cylinder

Russell Sutton's nine-cylinder radial engine LIVES!

Russell Sutton has proven once again that patience can trump all adversity. If you recall, the man has spent nearly five years constructing a nine-cylinder radial engine from a smattering of Honda single-cylinder XR600 thumpers. The last time we saw this beast, it ran briefly befor

www.autoblog.com

the 14 cylinder (not finished yet)

Russell Sutton’s 14 Cylinder Yamaha XV Radial Engine Meets the Neighbors

thekneeslider.com

That's something that I've been looking at in using some thumper cylinders to build a radial but I was trying to retain the chain drive overhead cam.

 

[Mad MAC]

There is a modest magazine article in "The Shed" magazine, not a lot more technical content in it but a few more pictures.

 

[billyvray]

The same fellow is working on a two-row radial from Yamaha motorcycle cylinders.

Russell Sutton’s 14 Cylinder Yamaha XV Radial Engine Meets the Neighbors

thekneeslider.com

 

[pfarber]

Looks cool, but not flyable. Airboat motor? Sure. But in the front of an AC? That gear system looks heavy and those jugs don't seem to have the same cooling area as a Lyco-saur.

 

[Bill-Higdon]

There is a modest magazine article in "The Shed" magazine, not a lot more technical content in it but a few more pictures.

Not as bad as a Bristol Sleeve valve engine

 

[Andy_RR]

I made a two stroke radial. Should try to make it work properly sometime.

 

[Geraldc]

And another one in New Zealand.

Innovator creates aircraft engine

There are shades of Bert Munroe in Allan Fillery – and it's not that some people thought the Invercargill genius was a bit mad.

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[Sockmonkey]

I made a two stroke radial. Should try to make it work properly sometime.

What method of induction and scavenging does it use?

 

[Andy_RR]

US1977657A

 

[pictsidhe]

Honda CG engine. I think clones go up to 250cc now. The cam followers have a pivot in the bottom of the bottom of the cylinder. Looks ripe for a cam ring conversion to me...

 

[Hot Wings]

I'm thinking that a bevel gear drive OHC might use more OTS parts. One gear on the crank drives all of the cams without any intermediary parts. The drive shafts can be any length needed. Just replace the stock cam belt/chain gear with a bevel/hypoid.

Bevel gear cam drive systems

Straight bevel gears are used to connect shafts whose axes intersect at some angle. Spiral bevel gears fulfil the same purpose but have a better load carrying capacity.

www.invetr.com

I'd not seen the Honda system before. Gives me an idea.........A dangerous distraction for me.

 

[pictsidhe]

The CG crank gear is press fit with 22mm ID. Could be used along with a chain drive?. If you could make a cam ring and new followers, the CG barrels would just drop on, possibly with a single cam. I'd probably look at CG100/125 heads on 250 barrels to bring peak torque down to radial revs.

 

[rotax618]

Side valve heads is the way to go, simpler and more compact, just as efficient at prop revs.

 

[Andy_RR]

No way! Sidevalve heads are a thermal efficiency disaster due to really poor surface/volume ratio and low knock resistance.

 

[Mad MAC]

And another one in New Zealand.

More of the Allan Fillery engine

The airframe its fitted to

Dedalius Model 1 Aircraft (Only One) of New Zealand

The last new type of sport aircraft to be registered in New Zealand in 2017 was the unique Dedalius Model 1: Allan Fillery of Wellsford h...

nzcivair.blogspot.com

 

[Niels]

No way! Sidevalve heads are a thermal efficiency disaster due to really poor surface/volume ratio and low knock resistance.

A small two stroke piston stroking longer/faster with a single exhaust sidevalve will not be much more detonating prone than Lycosaurs

 

[rotax618]

Could be something like this.