Can you weld engines together?

[Mith]

Just thinking today, yea i know, it bad for ones health......
I could get many running 3.5HP briggs freeish. 3.5's in themselves aint too good for much. can i weld engines together output shaft to flywheel, thus making the overall output more?
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
might work?

the pic demonstates the idea

 

[Mith]

Artists impression of the finished product
(Chavved the pics of the web)
Will it work?

 

[BGL990]

How about mounting them all at the same level, in a circle on a plate of metal. Put pulleys or sprockets on all the shafts and run a belt or chain around all of them. Might need some idlers to keep the belt or chain wrapped far enough around the pulleys where it goes off to power something.

See the incredibly poor drawing attached /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Tim_in_IA]

Just gave me an idea. You could have the first engine separated from the others by some type of clutch or loose belt, then when you get the first one started, engage the clutch and it kick starts the others. Might save your arm or a starter some work, and give you the option to run 1 or bring the others on board if they are needed.

 

[Mith]

Nice ideas, as to having them all spread out and connected by belts, could be cool
limo style...... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

would simlpy welding them work though, or am i gunna be the one sailing into unknown territory

 

[BB_TX]

Welding would be one major alignment problem. But you could couple them up with some fork or u-joint couplers that would allow for some misalignment. Now trying to pull start several engines at once may be a problem. I am trying to visualize three engines, three men, and three ropes, all pulling in sync. One, two, three, pull. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[EddieWalker]

How would you get the timing correct so they are all turning at the same speed?

Seems to me they would tear each other apart, even if you got the welds perfectly aligned.

Depending on what they are made of, the welds might damage the blocks by changing the characteristics of the metal, and it's ability to disperse heat and not warp.

A clutch that slipped would help, but then you'd be getting into an expansive nightmare of a project that would cost allot more then one ten horse motor that woud work much better.

Drag racers have been able to run multiple engines with automatic transmissions to accomodate the difference in timing and engine speeds.

 

[DaMadman]

Pulling tractors do it too. I have seen 12 cylinder allison aircraft engines backed up and started by v-8 engines all output to input coupled together to get more horsepower.

Idunno how they do it but they do and it works

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Seems to me they would tear each other apart )</font>

Reminds me of an uncle I had who once tried to run two outboard motors on the back of his boat. He thought that 25 hp motor wasn't quite fast enough and maybe his little 5 hp motor would give it a little boost. He learned that repairs on a 5 hp motor are expensive when you overrev one. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[GaryE]

<font color="blue"> Will it work? </font>


I think you will have a few problems with this idea....

First you will need to phase the engines firing points properly or you will have a BIG vibration problem.

Second, as Eddie points out, you will need to synchronize the engines. This is done in most outboard engines by "syncing" the carbs, it would be a linkage nightmare with the three engines.

Third, the crank shaft is designed for 3.5 hp not 10.5, so the end of the shaft will be marginal at best. Also welding the shafts will probably weaken them further.

Not to mention aligning the engines and finding a way to mount them. But it sounds like fun, I say "GO FOR IT"!!!!!!!

Gary