Simplifying Complicated Engines...Questions

[BronxFigs]

Just bought drawings for a 100cc, 90 degree, V-6 Glow-Plug engine. The engine-build will be complicated, and a little daunting for a first-timer. I will not attempt to build the engine now, but I'll wait until I acquire more machining skills.

Some generalized questions:
Could I just build a single cylinder, or, a V-2 from the V-6 plans?

Assuming that I make the necessary changes, are there hidden dangers in doing this? The V-6 engine seems to be just three, V-2 engines in a row, with each twin, having a separate carb.

Is it common for you experienced engine builders to take a viable, but complicated, multi-cylinder, engine design, and then just make a single-cylinder engine? What's the difference between an 8 cylinder radial, reduced to one cylinder, with a new crank set-up, different carb, etc? I see this done with the "Morton" engines, with in-line, two strokes, etc.

I know the questions are very generalized, and cannot be answered with a yes or, no.

Just speculating, in print form.


Frank

 

[///]

The V-6 engine seems to be just three, V-2 engines in a row,

Or two 3-cyl engines
Don't laugh, 3 pot engines are out there. Daihatsu had a 1L 3cyl twincam turbo that made the Charade GTti a rally weapon in it's class.
They sound awesome too...
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkSuM1RAd4Y[/ame]

but I digress...

I cant speak from experience but had read in SIC magazine about a few people that made 'simple' single cylinder equivalents of a much more complex engine as a proof of concept and to iron out bugs before investing much time on the 8/10/12/16 cyl behemoth, so it can be done.

 

[BronxFigs]

/ / /

Thanks for the quick answer. I wondered why it can't be done, but it can, with obvious changes to some parts.

Frank

 

[Jasonb]

I should think it would be quite easy with your V-6 design to make versions with less cylinders, you could always make a V-twin then if it works just make 4 more of everything plus a crank & case and use the existing two cylinder/head sets.

I have copies of some of Malcom Strides unpublished prototype engines which include V-6, straight 4 & 6 derivatives all of which were to use his 7.5cc cylinder/piston/rod from the published Bobcat and Jaguar designs, some using the same pushrod design others with belt driven overhead cams.

I have been toying with the idea of doing an opposed twin using many of the same parts, having them all in CAD makes it easy to play around with layouts.

J

 

[MCRIPPPer]

the only thing i can think of that would possibly need to be added is a heavy flywheel, because you dont have the other cylinders providing power all the time.

 

[Septic]

A V6 is just 6 single cylinders running on one crankshaft, so providing you get the carb right and the flywheel mass substantial enough to keep it going you have every chance of success.