Opposed-Piston Engines

Geo-TH,In · Oct 5, 2023

Savior Of Internal Combustion: Heres Why Opposed-Piston Engines Are Becoming Popular Again

I never heard of this old type of engine.
I thought I would share.
Did anyone put Opposed-Piston Engines in farm tractors?
OP

r.w.b. · Oct 5, 2023

early case used 1. least seen it in a case book.was a steamer chassis when all builders were expanding,maybe a smaller case too. hope others chime in as i think a few more builders ued them

caterpillar guy · Oct 5, 2023

Lot of the older Cats with starting engines had horizontal opposing engines in 2 cylinder. Rope start then a clutch so to speak to engage the diesel to turn it over for starting. From the early 30's maybe the late 20's till into the late 50's early 60's.

MarkB_MI · Oct 5, 2023

Probably the leading example of an opposed-piston engine is the <a href=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbanks_Morse_38_8-1/8_diesel_engine>Fairbanks-Morse 38-1/8</a>. It has been in continuous production since 1938. Among other applications, it was used in diesel-electric submarines and, I believe, is still used as backup power for nuclear subs. Its form factor is pretty much ideal for subs, where a long, tall, narrow engine takes advantage of the available space. Also the considerable weight of these engines isn't a major problem in marine or stationary applications.

The reality is that engineers are squeezing about as much efficiency as is possible out of an internal combustion engine. At this point, efficiency gains are incremental. If opposed-piston and other designs that radically depart from proven four-stroke piston valve-in-head designs offered significant gains, the major OEMs would be looking at them. So far that hasn't happened.

J Hamilton · Oct 5, 2023

Case 20-40, Case 12-25, and some Avery's are just a few that I can think of that were opposed. Briggs & Stratton used opposed twins on many lawnmower engines in the early 90's, I have about 3 or 4 of those engines

Geo-TH,In · Oct 5, 2023

Are opposed piston engines compression ignition, no spark plugs?

If so, does that mean they need a higher or lower compression ratio than diesels?

Brendon-KS · Oct 5, 2023

People are mixing up 'horizontally opposed' with 'opposed piston'. The engine described in the link has two pistons in each bore facing each other, each operating off of it's own crankshaft. It is completely different than the commonly-seen horizontally opposed engine configuration.

It is an interesting concept. It would be interesting to know what percentage of the theoretical efficiency gains in the cylinder are offset by the loss in the gearing required to join the two crankshafts.

MarkB_MI · Oct 5, 2023

> Are opposed piston engines compression ignition, no spark plugs?

Well, the 38 8-1/8 is a diesel compression ignition engine. But there's no reason you can't make a spark-ignition opposed piston engine, other than engineers are a lot more comfortable designing four-stroke valve-in-head designs.

Frank(Mi.) · Oct 5, 2023

Kohler made 'em too. K537 I believe. Got one on my Wheelhorse D 200,

Majorman · Oct 5, 2023

Commer made a truck here in England with an opposed piston engine, the Commer TS 3, quite a popular truck of the time. TS stands for Tilling Stevens, the engine designer and 3 for the number of cylinders. Three bores, six pistons driving one crankshaft through a rocker mechanism. Also was a two stroke with a Rootes blower.

Would make the air vibrate with a beautiful sound when under full load. Foden also made one and there was an eight wheeled version that use to move coal trough our local town. There were a set of traffic lights on a little hill, near our car showroom and when he was loaded and drew away from the lights, the plate glass windows in the showroom used to vibrate.

Commer TS3. Commer were part of the Rootes Group that got taken over by Chrysler.

Junkers fitted an opposed piston engine in aircraft during WW2 and a similar design was fitted in a Fordson Model N in the 1940's. All were two stroke diesels.

Fordson N with Junkers diesel.

MarkB_MI · Oct 5, 2023

> Commer made a truck here in England with an opposed piston engine, the Commer TS 3, quite a popular truck of the time.

Thanks for the pics, M-Man. I'm always impressed with your knowledge of obscure tractors and engines.

Here's info about the Commer TS3:

<a href=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commer_TS3>Commer TS3</a>

And here's an article about the Junkers Jumo 285:

<a href=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Jumo_205>Junkers Jumo 285</a>

centash · Oct 5, 2023

Deltaic opposed piston engine used in some English trains.....a triangular shaped engine with two pistons per side in one cylinder, and a crankshaft at each corner....several sections attached together would give multiples of 3cylinders, 6 pistons. Jumo opposed piston diesel engines were used in long range patrol aircraft during the second world War, giving endurance of 30 plus hours. Neat engineering!

Ben

Dean · Oct 5, 2023

Bingo.

Neither air cooled VW engines nor Corvair engines are opposed piston engines.

Dean · Oct 5, 2023

Serviceability issues and form factor render such engines unsuitable for just about any commercial application.

Still suitable for some military application where power density dictates and cost is of little concern.

Loosehandle · Oct 5, 2023

Some large Fairbanks Morse were

Geo-TH,In · Oct 5, 2023

Didn't they call some horizontal piston boxer engines?

Texasmark · Oct 5, 2023

Is the Jimmy 2 stroker opposed by type nomenclature....GM 671 I think was the nomenclature....6 cylinder 71 cu.in. per cylinder, 3 cylinders with 6 pistons. 2 per cylinder, very vague memory......just remember how they sounded and that they loved to leave puddles of oil....as the owner's expressed.

VicS · Oct 5, 2023

No. But you are close. 6'71 is 6 cylinders. With 71 cubic in displacement per cyl. They are 2 cycle. Hit every time piston comes up.

kencombs · Oct 5, 2023

yep, Subaru still uses that term to describe their 4cyl, horizontally opposed, water cooled engine. Odd car front wheel drive design as the engine is ahead of the transaxle.

DMartin9N-2N · Oct 5, 2023

Good morning, all: I am not an expert, but I do know the Rock Island railroad had two Fairbanks-Morse diesel locos they used for suburban commuter train service, #400 and 401. The locos were distinctive in appearance, the hoods over the power plants were unusually high. This was because the opposed piston design had a crankshaft at top of engine as well as at bottom. My two cents worth...
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Dennis M. in W. Tenn.
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Opposed-Piston Engines

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