Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Roverron · Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 134 Location: Yorkshire

Which English-made post WW2 vehicle has two sparking plugs, fires as a twin, yet has six cylinders & six pistons, and a rotary valve in the induction tract?

No prizes but who knows the answer?
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Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22788 Location: UK

the last post-war British, twin plug, car I saw at a show was an Invicta? anywhere near?

Rick
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Roverron · Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 134 Location: Yorkshire

Well, no not really. The Meadows engine wouldn't fire as a twin.
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47p2 · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow

Was it a motorcycle?
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One of Britain's Fine Cars

Jim Walker · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:04 pm Post subject:

This sounds like an opposed piston two stroke twin with two charging cylinders like the Trojan van. Only the Trojan was not opposed pistons. There have been several opposed piston two stroke diesels including a Junkers used in German bombers, but I have never heard of a petrol type.
Am I in the right ball-park?

Jim.

Jim Walker · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject:

Further to my last post.

I mentioned the Trojan van, which I remember had charging cylinders, at right angles to the power cylinders, which charged the cylinders via ports instead of using crankcase compression. That allowed a force fed lubrication system to be used instead of 'petroil'.

What I cannot remember is whether it was a "Twingle" engine. I'll say no more about "Twingle". Is that another conundrum? If it was though, it would match your spec.

Jim.

Addendum. Since I posted this I have found that the Americans also use the term "Twingle" to describe (in its simplest form) a Vee Twin with both cylinders firing close together rather than almost a revolution apart. Very different to European use of the term. A later reply cites the Commer Opposed Piston Two Stroke Diesel. Just taking into account the lack of Spark Plugs rules that out. Sultzer also produced a similar engine. These engines are opposed piston engines NOT "flat" engines. There is some argument whether opposed piston engines are counted as one cylinder per pair of pistons or two per pair.

Brian M · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject:

My first thought was the Commer 2 stroke flat 6 cylinder bus engine that powered the famous Ecurie Ecosse transporter but I seem to recall that was a diesel, but did they make a petrol version?
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47p2 · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow

I was thinking of the Frank Aspin's rotary engine which was fitted to a prototype Wolseley and Ford, a bus which operated in Northern Ireland and at least one motorcycle Confused

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ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

Geoffp · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:08 am Post subject:

I have found a reference to the Lloyd 650 which had a two-stroke twin cylinder engine. As far as I can work out, unfortunately I couldn't find a drawing, it only had one charging cylinder and piston, therefore making it three cylinders short Sad

Please tell me I got it wrong, and that was the mystery vehicle Smile

Geoff

Roverron · Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 134 Location: Yorkshire

Well done Jim. The 15cwt Trojan van was fitted with a 'split-twin' petrol two-stroke engine and two seperate cylinder compressors instead of crankcase compression. The pre-war Trojan was a 'split-twin' two-stroke with crankcase compression and no rotary valve. It had four cylinders and four pistons, but fired as a twin.
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To Hell with ambition, it drives a man mad, I can scarcely wake up to be fed.

47p2 · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow

Well done Jim, back to the drawing board for me Crying or Very sad

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Jim Walker · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject:

Thanks Both, I was not very sure Roverron, but what you have described as "split twin" is in fact a "Twingle". DKW produced one before the last war as a motorbike engine without the charging cylinder. I am not sure whether it was a single twingle or a twin twingle. The main claim was fuel economy - power was about the same as conventional two strokes. One or two other manufacturers dabbled with it as well.

Cheers, Jim.

Jim Walker · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:40 pm Post subject:

By the way, in the early days of ITV these vans featured in adverts. It seems they were mostly driven by chimpazees! It only needed one to say " The name is Bond, Brooke Bond" to really make the advert. but perhaps that was before the Bond Films started.

Jim Walker · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject:

Someone is going to say " I wsh he would dry up" anytime now, so I will lay off for a while after this.

If any one is interested, I have just found a twingle engine entry in Wikipedia the internet encyclopaedia website. It carries a brief explanation and lists some of the manufacturers who used it.

Bye.

PAUL BEAUMONT · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 1281 Location: Barnsley S. Yorks

Hey Rick, If my Jowett Bradford Utility counts as a car, then it's post war with 2 plugs!
PAUL