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Radial engine motorcycles

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Gliderman8

Gliderman8

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Came across this YouTube video. Never knew that radials were used on cycles.

 
I can imagine the two lower heads hitiing a railroad track.
 
LarryK said:
I can imagine the two lower heads hitiing a railroad track.
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The ones with the engine on the frame appear to have enough ground clearance by the tire size. No problem with the radial engine placed in the front wheel.
 
prb51 said:
Unless you get a flat tire? How does that work?
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Can't tell you since I don't have one. It would be nice to have a split rim in the front to make changing the front tire easier.
 
Do any of those have some sort of transmission? I couldn't tell.
 
DrEntropy said:
Do any of those have some sort of transmission? I couldn't tell.
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I wondered the same thing. From what we can see in the video it appears to be a direct drive. Just my WAG
 
I'm no mechanic (no kidding!), but WW1 rotary (not radial) aircraft engines couldn't change speed. You controlled the engine by cutting ignition in and out.

In the video, were the guys on the rotary cycles changing speeds somehow?

TM
 
NutmegCT said:
I'm no mechanic (no kidding!), but WW1 rotary (not radial) aircraft engines couldn't change speed. You controlled the engine by cutting ignition in and out.

In the video, were the guys on the rotary cycles changing speeds somehow?

TM
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In most of the aircraft WW-1 roterys the crankshaft was bolted to the airframe and the prop was bolted to the crankcase, the crankcase spun not the crank, odd but it worked. Your right Tom, no variable throttles, some called them Blip throttles.
 
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As I recall reading there was some control of engine output by how many cylinders had their ignition on or off. So it might "idle" on only 2 or 3 cylinders and get full power from having all cylinders firing.
 
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