Radial engine without the wings!




From AutoBlog: If somebody told us that a custom chopper was being built for Airstream, we would have assumed that the Orange County Chopper boys were behind it. Not so, it seems. According to the press release pasted after the jump, Jesse James of West Coast Choppers fame and his crew are hammering, riveting and welding together thin sheets of aluminum to construct a custom motorcycle and sidecar combo that will debut at the 2008 Legend of the Motorcycle show on May 3rd. This is the second time that James has released a new bike at the show, the first being back in '06 with his Radial Hell bike (shown above) that is powered by a Rotec 7-cylinder radial engine normally reserved for powering aircraft. We're always up for a new take on motorcycle design, and the idea of strapping the Monster bike to an old Airstream trailer has us wondering just what Jesse's bike will look like.

 

That's nuts! Can it even be ridden? Any write up on it?

 

a bike that probally vibrates more then a harley[&:]looks mean tho

 

hows that thing stay lubed??
i would think all the oil would pool into the bottom cylinder, but i know nothing about planes other than they fly[8D]
anyone know?

 

wow

 

An oil pump :P

Same engine they used in WW2 fighting planes. That is awesome... must get hotter than hell though.

 

hah, dur.
im to lazy to think for myself

 

I bet it sounds bad azz.

 

I do know actually.
The oil does in fact pool in the bottom cylinder and the engine must be turned by hand a few times before the starter is engaged or it may fluid lock. But once you get it going there is no problem with circulation. As for whether it is a wet or dry sump or where the pickups are you will have to do your own research.

There is also another type of radial engine where the crankshaft is stationary and the cylinders and the propspin around it, but that wouldnt be very practical for a bike. But I would ride it if I had the chance.

 

That's why Japanese Zero's could turn really well in one direction, and not so well in the other... they had to deal with the torque of the turning radial engine assisting or handicapping their turns. I tell you what Prom... I almost missground school!