Hello people, I’ve been thinking about building my own engine something along the lines of a 2 cylinder version of the Henderson 4 bike motor, I have access to a fairly capable, though old school machine shop, I’ve done some small stuff before like making aluminum heads for Briggs motors, but nothing like this, I’ve rebuilt a fair amount of old motors before, but I’ve never really studied the design principles, that’s why I’m looking for some books on the topic, any suggestions would be appreciated, pic related seems nice but it’s also 80 dollars, general resources and suggestions would also be appreciated. I’m not looking for very complex stuff, just kinda basic older shit, again I don’t have any really modern or specialty equipment, and I’m also not a super machinist, it will probably a quite a while before I get around to actually building anything, but I’d like to start designing something, I might also try to learn 3d design software, but that’s for another time. Thanks
Why not practice by building an existing design? The early motorcycle community has people who reproduce old engines for themselves. The AMCA folks should be able to help you find those who cast and machine replica board trackers etc.
Start with a proven design and you can concentrate on construction learning jigs, patterns and fixtures. Then you will know enough to use a clean sheet design.
All those designs were done on manual machine tools so you can get good without more than a knee mill and lathe. If you want to use your skills more wisely than doing a complete engine, consider making interesting vintage parts that are hard or impractical to find. You have plenty of years ahead of you to improve your personal shop and gain experience. Vintage motorcycle meets are where you need to go to meet the men into this because they're usually too busy to care about an online presence. Visit the Barber Museum (largest in the world) for the Vintage Festival then walk around the swap meet and race track pit area. It's a neat community but it does not post on PrepHole in quantity though some Anons visit those events and at least one races AHRMA.
First off, thanks anon, ususally when I start a thread it’s a question that isn’t meant to piss people off and can’t just be googled, so I usually get no reply’s, at least no useful ones, and that’s most likely what I will do. of course I’m not gonna jump straight into a complicated 2 cylinder that was more like an end goal, I will most likely make 1 or 2 simpler and easier single cylinder engines first to hone my skills, sadly I’m not located on the east coast where a vast majority of the pre-30s bikes are so I can’t really go to any events or talk to people, that’s why I’m relegated to the internet, but contrary to boomer beliefs I can’t find everything by punching some buttons, hence why I’m trying to find some nice books on the subject. Thanks for the help.
I am a boomer and yes you CAN find everything via internet by choosing to get good. Understanding relevant keywords, downloading books then reading them etc is ample.
I grew up before the internet and finding info then was fricking horrible though I chose to be good at that too. Get immersed in your subjects then you will learn HOW to learn including relevant keywords. Be aware that what you want requires literally thousands of hours of effective study. All my hobbies are DIY from wrenching to welding to machine shop and welding and to do what you want you'll need to live as I live.
Most people are just not that hardcore but its fun and seriously empowering. For example I live where I could buy lots over five acres zoned agriculturally so I have much more freedom than otherwise.
Casting is a major time sink while billet is far more controllable. Don't be afraid to CNC since castings all require finish machining. Complete billet car and bike engines are old news. You can buy basic CNC open knee mills to do both semi-manual and CNC machining.
Use bike parts for bike motors. They're made for the revs while fossil tractor parts have a different use case. Study roller bearing bottom ends like Harley used which revolutionized motorcycling.
Tools before toys gets you many more toys.
Build a capable home machine shop isolated from weather (great case for shipping containers, self and bro built ours in 40' High Cubes which are easy to level and of course amply strong. I use a dehumidifier which doesn't use much electricity.
The trend towards billet engine parts is logical because large billet is affordable today. Consider the billet sizes used for large car wheels.
https://www.vanceandhines.com/billet-4-cylinder-engine-cases/
The certainty of a high sand casting reject rate plus the necessity to finish machine anyway make fully machined systems compelling:
https://www.vanceandhines.com/billet-4-cylinder-engine-cases/
https://hightechpowersports.shop/products/g2-billet-aluminum-engine-case-vtwin
Check out the drag racing world for info specific to your goals. The wide variety of systems and processes you examine or learn will make you versatile and ever more employable.
Walking before you run can include making components for other engines. Cylinder heads with CNC porting are an example and the market always has room for quality. Old firms who pioneered custom HD parts fade as their owners age out.
A billet Vincent-clone engine with a Harley transmission and right side final drive would be fast and interest specialty collectors.
If you can manage to visit the Barber Vintage Festival on vacation (largest bike museum in the world and the event is epic, allow more than one day just for the museum) I recommend it for every biker's bucket list.
>so many other worthwhile projects
>doing something that you can just buy from chyna for less than $2k and just enjoy (while you do the other worthwhile projects)
ngmi
Have you ever considered, hear me out now, that it’s the project that he likes doing? Not just throwing money away like a consoomer? moron
Learn to like doing something worthwhile.
I can't stand you worthless homosexuals. stop going into threads just to spread your negative bullshit. If he wants to make engines great, no problem with that. go post in the power tool thread like the moronic homosexual you are.
I'm making a better engine. OP just wants to make models of outdated engines.
Oh, let me clear something up, I’m not building models of old engines, I’m build full sized ones, I intend to use these to power bikes
Anyways I’ve done a little bit of designing and multiple things have become very clear.
1: I am definitely going to need a bigger much better foundry for casting, thankfully I’ve been thinking about building an oil fired foundry for longer than I’ve been thinking about engine building so it’s no problem I’ve already designed one.
2: speaking of casting its clear that learning 3d modeling software will make my life massively easier, that way I can just print the complex pieces I need to cast and make molds off of it.
3: I’m going to need to repurpose a lot of other parts, I’ve got a lot of farmall cub engine parts, which are perfectly sized for a bike motor, I’m essentially just making a block, cylinder, and head and then modifying parts to fit them, that seems to be the best route to take.
The first internal combustion engine was a 2-stroke piston type, that's slow, heavy, 150 year old tech. A Brayton engine could make a much more efficient foundry than any to date. Also, pistons require machining, unless you plan to rebuild your engine every week. You might be able to get away with casting a rotary engine like picrel with a flexible housing to seal it.
you know anon, I typed up probably a paragraph explaining why this is a dumb idea but, at the end of the day it probably
isn't, I like building stuff, I like old engines, and even if this is a much better, easier, more efficient design, I really don't care, because I like building old shit, it brings me enjoyment, if trying to change my mind brings you enjoyment, then keep on going buddy, but I'm just letting you know that whatever you say isn't going to make me rethink what I love doing.
Yeah I’ve built a couple of those chink motors before, but the problem is that no matter how different the bike is you still have the same thing everyone else has
Plus they don’t fit that pre-depression motorbike style that I like.
I love the implications of this reply
>machining is not worthwhile to learn
>welding is not worthwhile to learn
>repurposing is not worthwhile to learn
>mechanical design is not worthwhile to learn
Absolute Reddit tier Black person homosexual
I will definitely look into those, I’ve actually seen the book internal fire before being advertised in some tractor magazines I read, because it’s publisher is octane press which also publishes lots of tractor related books.
That’s the mindset I’m trying to get into, one of my biggest inspirations was a YouTube series on a few guys making a 4 cylinder Briggs motor by smashing 4 single cylinder motors together, and they didn’t have nearly the setup I have, just imagine what I could accomplish if I put my mind to it? Thanks anon.
There is a book called Internal Fire that you should read. There is or was a magazine called 'Home Shop Machinist" that had articles from a guy named Phillip Duclos and his specialty was small, simple engines.
https://craftsmanshipmuseum.com/artisan/phillip-duclos/
There was also an entire magazine series called 'strictly IC' that was all about model engine building. Its out of print, but you can find them 'out there'. I purchased the entire series some years back from the publisher just to have for when I get old(er). Its pretty great.
I used to be super interested in engine building as a kid, then built up enough of a shop and a skillset to where it wouldn't be difficult anymore and now mostly work on more complicated things as my interests have evolved. But my lessons from the time may be relevant. Don't think in terms of only machining, embrace fabrication. If you design and make things larger you don't have to worry as much about tolerances and sealing. I watched a video the other day of a guy making a sterling engine from pvc pipe, aluminum cans, wire and other scrap - don't overthink your first engine. The first IC engines were made (by geniuses) with tools and materials that were staggeringly subpar compared to what you have available to you.
https://www.youtube.com/@letslearnsomething30
some of the engines are probably relevant to thread.
>building my own engine
You zhould retink zhat ideah before vhe freeshe your accounts, yes?