Mick Walker is dead. From Aermacchi to Villiers, he wrote them all...I don't think he wrote a book about Zundapps, perhaps it was next on his list. Anoraks like us may have found inaccuracies in his books, but there is no doubt his contribution to motorcycle history is immense. Next bike I buy, I'm sure I'll find everything I need to know in a Mick Walker book.
Are you kidding me? Mick Walker is responsible for a heap of 'facts' out there that internet experts like to quote..
Are you desputing the fact that the Guzzi V twin was developed from a farm tractor ?
"Developed from " ? What is this "developed from" ? Once a farm tractor, always a farm tractor.
Wasn't the Triumph TR series developed from the Vanguard/tractor motor?.....I found a really cool motor on the net yesterday a opposed piston, supercharged diesel by that great engine company...Commer.
Yes, the Fergy had the Vanguard engine, and so did the Leyland 20 van. Both the big 4 and 6 cyl Austin Healey engines could be found in trucks too...and the A90 Atlantic. The Commer TS3, 202cu in - I'd like to see an HQ Holden pull a truck and trailer with 3 decks of sheep on board.
yes motu....they all care about Mick...really they do...although it comes down the list behind recording the time of the onehunga to otahuhu train.....
If you think the TS3 commer was cool, do some research on the Napier Deltic...
is that the sleeved valve engine used on planes during the war?
no much more interesting than that - more like three TS3 engines arranged in a triangle - three crankshafts, 12 rods on each crank, 36 opposed pistons, two stroke, supercharged of course. A lot of power in a very compact package. Originally built for Navy fast patrol boats, ended up in railway locomotives, possibly used in river patrol boats in the Vietnam war (The Nasty boats) http://www.wis.co.uk/justin/deltic-engine.html
I've always wanted to know the firing order. Imagine the cred of taking it into the shop and casually saying "I think it's missing on number 27"
The last of the Foden 2 strokes were turbocharged V12's in landing craft, a tough engine that could come in at full throttle and slammed into reverse to pull off again. The police launch Deodar originally had a couple of Foden engines, the foreman I served my time under fitted them - he said they first had straight stacks up the side and sounded incredible. Of course dealing with the government the installation was a total cock up and none of Foden's recommendations were taken up (like not fitting straight stacks) and all the problems were blamed on Fodens. I love the sound of a 2 stroke diesel, but not often heard these days. Gone with the sound of a big single with an open megaphone.
Nothin like the sound of a screamin Detroit 8v71 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yksros1elc
I did my apprenticeship at GG&H on Cat tractors - the bigger ones had starting engines (side valve parallel twins) which were either electric or rope start. So startup order would be the starting engine firing up, usually involvng a fair bit of backfiring and so on, then the main engine would start turning over on the decompressor, and finally the decomp was kicked off and the fuel applied, so again a fair bit of clattering and banging before it settled into a high idle. The first time I fired up a Terex (GM diesel, direct electric start) was a surprise (winga winga RUMMMMMM) Cats are ok but two stroke diesels are good shit.
One of the early trucks I drove was a POS Bedford TK repowered with a 6v71 in it. Went like hell, noisy beyond belief, going down a hill one day hit a bump & the doors flew open. Got promoted to a bullnose Leyland Octopus 290hp, turbo, twin stick shift, noisy as shit . It sat in the corner for years , the bean counter said he would shout the company a champagne breakfast if it ever turned a dollar. The bastards fixed it up & sent me to ChCh while they pissed it up , Bastards.. I got stopped by CVIU at Tokoroa , dark, raining, 'Where's your weigh bill'. Playing dumb, 'what's that , I work in the office but we are short handed so I got sent out in this POS' .. ' Where are you going ' Christchurch I replied. At this point the 2 coppers burst out laughing & commiserated with me about having to drive a POS like that to ChCh. We found a weighbill book , they showed me how to fill it out & wished me luck. Wouldn't happen now
