Didn't Vincents make a single from Lightning engine with some sort of dummy cylinder?
https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-news/qjmotor-supermono-engine/
https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-news/qjmotor-supermono-engine/
Different Single
- Thread starter bmetcalf
- Start date
Yes, Vincent made two such engines. Rear cylinder was blanked off after first testing with slave cylinder. Info from MPH and Denis Minett Notebook.
They did -2 off.
The engines were 500cc single cylinder for use in a single seater race car but based on the twin crankcases so it was easy to remove a 1000cc twin engine and replace it with a 500cc single engine at the race meeting and so race in both classes.
There was no rear cylinder at all, it was blanked off and so this not only gave the same mounting points, but importantly the rear drive chain was on the same side.
One of these engines has survived.
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Thank you, Simon. Can you tell us which one, customer Winterbottom or Bournemouth? I am guessing that it is not Winterbottom as that one was continuously broken and repaired but who knows...
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Sorry but I’m not willing to say as it would be easy for somebody to get the number stamps out and the “find“ the other one in their late uncle‘s shed.
Strangely enough this month classic racer has a long article about the Ducati supermomo (1993 onwards)
this was a very successful 500+cc single racer based on the 888cc V twin superbike motor but with the rear cylinder replaced by a blind housing containing an articulated counter-balancer the over 572cc four valve desmo racer reved up to 11K
So that it proves it can be done
this was a very successful 500+cc single racer based on the 888cc V twin superbike motor but with the rear cylinder replaced by a blind housing containing an articulated counter-balancer the over 572cc four valve desmo racer reved up to 11K
So that it proves it can be done
I understand Simon. I trust though, that the 'secret' mating number is the best security against faking this and other missing Vincent's. Thank you for all the work you do in keeping Vincent's well documented.
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More on the latest Ducati single. It touches on several aspects of our engines that we have discussed: aluminum liners,crankcase vacuum, etc. The piston doesn't look like an old Specialoid!
https://www.cycleworld.com/bikes/ducati-superquadro-mono-engine-origins/
https://www.cycleworld.com/bikes/ducati-superquadro-mono-engine-origins/