Vertical Shaft Motors

Post by **Diesel Dave** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:42 pm

I was having a think about engine mounting today, particularly vertical shaft motors.

Here's a thought, what about a vert shaft motor, Comet CVT off the motor to a 90 degree bevel box chain driving the rear?

Commercial transmission products list these bevel boxes.

If it's a V2 then the cylinders can face forwards giving more foot room than a boxer config, it would have a low stack height too.

Only thing is - do they have the PTO to the top or the bottom?

Dave

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:59 pm

Funny you mention those. A year or so ago, a guy on eBay (USA) had a brand new vertical Lombardini. I kept looking at it, trying to figure something out... but never did (at least at that time) As I recall, he was asking for $175 starting bid, and never got it.
I thought about the transfer box (bevel) but knew that changing directions of power flow would cost a considerably amount of power. (The figure I seem to remember from school days was like 15%) That, figured in with the extra heigth needed for clearance, convinced me not to buy it.....
But???? If I had to do it over, I'd have taken the chance and figured "something" out...

(i like weird stuff)

Post by **Byrdman** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:27 am

I would give my left arm for an efficient way to drive a motorcycle off of a vertical shaft engine.

I have a all aluminum, Yanmar prototype powerhead rated at 36HP net @ 4600RPM. It would be one screaming motorcycle engine!

andrewaust · Post by **andrewaust** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 9:43 am

Hi Guys

Dave, the PTO is at the bottom mate on those verticle shaft engines - a lot of these replace the V twin Briggs type Petrol engines, which leads to the other thing

Ride on lawn mowers have compact clutch and gearbox systems - I really know jack about them, but seen some tech stuff on some of the racing ride on lawn mower sites - now that's really crazy & funny stuff.

Cheers

Andrew

Kenco1955 · Post by **Kenco1955** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:40 am

Hi Giys,
That vertical yanmar looks like a beautiful bit of kit!!
Only idea I have is using it to drive a hydraulic pump then pipe this to a hydraulic motor somewhere near the back wheel???? I know you'd loose a few horsess but with 36 of em to play with sounds like you have pleanty!!!
Praps a chain or belt drive to the pump mounted imediately behind the motor??
Just a thought.
Ken.

andrewaust · Post by **andrewaust** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 9:57 am

MMMM! Most of these vertical shaft engines are basically the same as a horizontal one except for one thing "Oil pickup" HINT HINT

So the question could be put to one

Would it be possible to convert the sump/oil pickup to make the engine into a horizontal engine

If that is what one would be aiming for.

You may have to run a dry sump and an oil tank at worst, doing some mods to either sump, engine pickup or both, but with many out there who are masters at alloy refab and welding, it is very possible.

Just my thought.

Cheers

Andrew

Fiddler · Post by **Fiddler** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:00 pm

Andrew,

Converting the oil feeds from a vertical crank to horizontal can and has been done. Somewhere on-line whilst researching diesel bikes I found a V2 Yanmar engined bike which had all the relevant work done.
If I can find the site again I'll post a link. From my hazy memory it worked well but was obviously the work of someone with a lot of engineering experience. Be useful if we could find it and see quite how much design and mods where involved.

Post by **Byrdman** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:00 pm

Fiddler wrote:Andrew,

Converting the oil feeds from a vertical crank to horizontal can and has been done. Somewhere on-line whilst researching diesel bikes I found a V2 Yanmar engined bike which had all the relevant work done.
If I can find the site again I'll post a link. From my hazy memory it worked well but was obviously the work of someone with a lot of engineering experience. Be useful if we could find it and see quite how much design and mods where involved.

If this was the Yanmar 2V78 than the conversion from vertical to horizontal is very easy. A new oil pickup and a change to the breather are all that is reqired.

20HP @ 3600 rpm

andrewaust · Post by **andrewaust** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:34 am

Hi Guy's

Exactly

When I read this thread with the information that was forwarded, I thought it would be a consideration to scrap the Vertical layout idea and convert the engine to a Horizontal mount.

Although some engines are harder than others, in almost all cases it is achievable to convert engines.

Aviation is a good example, some Lycoming engines have been Vertically mounted in helicopters, whilst some V8 alloy engines have been inverted so the rocker covers face the bottom, which then become the sump drains, most requiring two oil pumps etc, but is achievable.

The conversion on the 2V78 seems very straight forward for anyone to do, but do agree some need a lot of engineering to get it right.

Cheers

Andrew