SpudFiles

_Fnord wrote:Adding a small engine such as the one jack posted would not add much extra weight. If you had a hybrid you could use it to generate electricity instead of mechanical energy.

I'm sure you could find a way to make a boiler safe with minimal maintenance, though it would be more expensive to build.

And it doesn't have to be hooked up to the radiator, you could probably get enough power from the exhaust system alone.

I still don't see enough reasons not to try something like this if I ever got the chance.

Wouldn't it be easier and lighter to hook up a turbine to the exhaust, in the same way turbochargers work?

I read in popular mechanics a while ago in the Jay Leno section about this awesome steamer. It is a little off topic, but I thought I would mention it because it is cool. There is really no boiler persay, its just a bunch of radiating coils with a huge gasoline torch in the middle. To start it, you pull the lever, and WHOOOSH it heats the coils with water in them red hot instantly. And, the system is in an enclosed enough space, and there is enough heat, that it almost creates full combustion. Therefore, very little pollution. There is some sort of heat spring that activates the burner when it has cooled down too much, and it keeps a constant heat that way. Very, very simple. To move, water is released from the coils, and it flashes into steam in a cylinder. Something like that. It was capable of 60mph easily, and extremely quiet. Also, it had masses of torque. I might find it later on their website, as they log all of their articles there.

why cant you just buy a engine and modify it ??? surely that would be easier than making a whole new one ehh

pat123 wrote: So would you go with my design or the one i linked to? And what type of pipe should i use? will steel hold all of the smashing of the piston, i think it should.

The questions you are asking regarding this project tells me that you are woefully unprepared to proceed much beyond thinking about it. The device you've drawn appears to be not much more that a butane rattle machine that may or may not rattle much.

Were you hoping for circular torque on its output? (crank and balance) How about cooling, air/water? Ignition/timing? The limit switches you put in place in your cylinder are fine from a conceptual perspective but reality is much different. You have a butane input, how are you going to get air in there? Will it be mixed (carbureted) properly? Do you have milling and lathe equipment that can precisely cut and fit pistons, cylinders, cranks and drive shafts?

The big question I have is..Why? There are hundreds of supply sources for cheap 2 cycle engines, ready made for most any job you can imagine. My advice is don't burden yourself down with re-inventing this particular wheel.

A normal engine could, be converted relatively easily into JSR's design

Too many Iowa-class avatars in this thread

Sorry All fixed

Great, now I can tell you two apart

Haha Plenty more where that came from.

Scrap the propane idea, and go big, Like a big jet engine.

ooooh Jet engines

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why cant you just buy a engine and modify it ??? surely that would be easier than making a whole new one ehh

I have an old four wheeler engine in my garage but it hasn't started in over 15 years. do think it would be hard to work on?

No it shouldn't be in fact you are probably better off just using that engine the way it is...probably hooked up to a transmission which would equal fun 8)

If you have a basic understanding of mechanics and the way an engine works... and know how to uses tools you will easiy be able to get that thing to run....

Assuming its not a ball of rust, or someone did run it through the mud before they put it away...

If its in decent shape then you have a good find

it is actually my cousin's but i have no idea why we kept it for 15 years. they would probably give it to me. somebody filled the gas tank with water to clean out the dried up gas. that probably wasn't a good idea

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:Great, now I can tell you two apart

Didn't Spitfire have the topdown view of Iowa?

Jared Haehnel wrote:I read a report about a guy developing a six cycle engine. After the normal combustion of a four stroke there was another cycle where water was sprayed onto the hot cylinder to flash off into steam. Kind of like a Stanly steamer. It was projected to increase mpg by 40 percent. I think it was in popular science...

yup popular science, i thought that was really cool too, from what i understand the power was also dramatically increased as well, that would be an interesting project as well seeing that we know its possible

pat123 wrote:I have an old four wheeler engine in my garage but it hasn't started in over 15 years. do think it would be hard to work on?

I just finnished rebuilding my 4 wheeler engine after a piston explosion so i might be able to help a little. What size atv engine are we talking? btw jared this will prolly be the easiest solution as atv engines are generally part of a crankcase which houses the cylinder, crankshaft, clutch, and tranny in one somewhat easy to mount unit