too many cylinders, boredom Options

[r3dplanet]

Some crazy how I have a collection of 2x 4 sets of 94mm cylinders from two liter engines that I had intended to bore to 96mm. It has been too long for me to remember why but the machinist rejected them for use. I want to say because they had been bored too many times already.

Can someone ease my conscience and say, "Marcus, just recycle them and move on with your life." Or do bored out 94mm cylinders have any other uses over their life cycle in bigger bore applications?

I just want to verify that I'm not wasting a resource.

Thanks.

[2mAn]

make something cool with them, like cupholders or something

[r3dplanet]

If you're thinking of creating an 8-cylinder radial I'm totally with you. But I already have too much on my metaphoric plate.

[914work]

Not following....
have they been bore'd out to 96's already?
If not dont understand the comment from your guy?

[r3dplanet]

Yeah. The last set of cracked 92mm cylinders I had were converted into planters for marigolds.

make something cool with them, like cupholders or something

[r3dplanet]

Yes. To verify they were previously bored to 96mm, and then overbored once or twice after that.

Not following....
have they already been bore'd out to 96's already?

[r_towle]

Cup holders or recycled steel now.

[914_teener]

Marcus recycle them and move on with your life.

[r3dplanet]

Super. Thanks, everyone.

I'm gradually moving on with my life.

[Dave_Darling]

If you're thinking of creating an 8-cylinder radial I'm totally with you.

Radials don't work so well with even numbers of cylinders. I forget why, but every row of practically every radial you can find has an odd number of cylinders. Most have 7 or 9.

--DD

[r3dplanet]

It's funny about that. As I was typing the words "8-cylinder radial" I knew in the back of my mind that the only vw-based radial I've ever seen used seven cylinders. But I think it's fabulous that you also knew this.

If you're thinking of creating an 8-cylinder radial I'm totally with you.

Radials don't work so well with even numbers of cylinders. I forget why, but every row of practically every radial you can find has an odd number of cylinders. Most have 7 or 9.

--DD

[thieuster]

If you're thinking of creating an 8-cylinder radial I'm totally with you.

Radials don't work so well with even numbers of cylinders. I forget why, but every row of practically every radial you can find has an odd number of cylinders. Most have 7 or 9.

--DD

Like you, I forgot. Had to look it up:
Ageless Engines

Menno

[Chris H.]

This isn't practical (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) ? That exposed trimmed AIRPLANE blade at the back is maybe not a good idea (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) . Did he not see Raiders of the Lost Ark?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_CnvRufT7c



Here's one specifically made out of VW parts. Don't think it's quite a DIY job (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) .


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyRJeZ6s8uM

[mbseto]

Rotary engines are more interesting. Meaning a TRUE rotary, not that Wankel impostor.

[Dave_Darling]

Interesting, yes. But as engines, they kinda suck. Especially the earliest ones that only had one valve. (Gnome "Monosoupape" == "One-Valve".) Valve timing was horrible, mixture control ditto, total-loss oil system that threw castor bean oil in the face of the pilot, zero throttle control...

The only reason they were so popular at the time is because the whole engine acted as a flywheel. So you didn't need a large (heavy!) bolted-on flywheel to keep the engine running somewhat smoothly. Weight saving is absolutely critical in aircraft, especially the early ones.

--DD

[DBCooper]

Here's one specifically made out of VW parts. Don't think it's quite a DIY job (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) .


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyRJeZ6s8uM

That is SO cool!!

[Elliot Cannon]

1500 hours in radial powered airplanes. Here's a pic of "Ole Thunder". Just getting the damn things started was fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (Sorry for the thread creep).

[eyesright]

If you're thinking of creating an 8-cylinder radial I'm totally with you.

Radials don't work so well with even numbers of cylinders. I forget why, but every row of practically every radial you can find has an odd number of cylinders. Most have 7 or 9.

--DD

A two stroke radial can have and even or odd number of cylinders. But a four stroke radial has an odd number of cylinders as the ignition pulse happens on every other TDC stroke. So the cylinders on a 7 cylinder engine fire in this order _ #1, #3, #5, #7, #2, #4, #6, #1, #3, ...etc.

Clear as mud now?

[r3dplanet]

I've seen that Mike Nieman video many, many times. I love that it's a completely impractical, genius-grade Rube Goldberg mounted to a Beetle. Sure a little shrouding might help the safety factor a touch but it doesn't detract from its glory. This guy probably had the same problem I did, "Huh, what do I do with this extra horde of engine parts parked in my living room?" and then proceeded to go nuts with it. That's just so uplifting and brilliant and a much more clever implementation than marigold planters. Who cares that it isn't practical? Its impracticality is what makes it great.

I went digging through my newest set of AA cylinders last night and found the machinist notes about the previous 2x sets of cylinders mentioned in post #1. The reason I couldn't remember why they were no good is because there was no explanation. In total, this is what the invoice reads:

"QTY 2 | Check 2 old set barrels. No good. | $75 | $150"
"QTY 1 | Check new set barrels. OK | $75"

So I spent $150 to receive a contrite "no good" description. At $75 per word, this machinist is a very expensive writer. He couldn't even elongate "OK" to "okay." By contrast the invoices I write for my customers contain all manner of unasked-for detail. Partially so the customer has a record, partially so that if I have to review the work I quickly remember what the details were. The written word is an excellent tool and I'm not the first one to notice this.

I thought that "OK" was unsatisfactory so I spent some time last night with my telescoping gauges and micrometer to measure the new AA cylinders. They're okay. By which I mean there's a spread of 6 ten-thousandths bore variance across all four.

[914_teener]

Marcus....you aren.t moving on.