V-Twins... Really?

[Doc Sprocket]

Just a curiosity- As I understand it, in the bike world, a V-Twin is a unique engine in that both connecting rods essentially share the same crank journal. Timing-wise, Harleys are a little different from the imports, but the above definition holds true. I was wondering-
Are the Briggs and Honda V-Twins truly V-twins according to the above definition, or are they just 2 cylinder engines in a V-bank configuration, making them more a V2 and less a V-twin?
And yes, I'm that bored...

 

[Tony]

Why don't you look at a briggs v twin parts diagram and find out.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Because I didn't find one- that's why I asked. Nothing wrong with conversation, either.

 

[newrider3]

I'm thinking it doesn't really matter, except for the fact that v-twin sounds a lot better than v-2.

 

[modelengineer]

A v-twin is a 2 cylinder engine with the cylinders more than 0 degrees apart (inline), and less than 180 degrees apart (flat). Whether they share a journal or not doesn't change whether they're v-twins.

 

[vgk]

Exactaly what I was going to post!

 

[anderkart]

I think its cool there's so much interest in V-twins nowadays. Back when I bought my first Harley in 1979, most all (non-Harley) motor heads thought the whole design was antiquated and would soon fade away. I think its funny they were all wrong and as far as I'm concerned, there's still no other small engine design that gives you that unique sound and feel of a V-twin.

 

[309antonios]

I like my vtwin! My dad s2r1000 sounds pretty **** sweet too!

 

[Linksep]

I agree with modelengineer and VGK. To say that an engine wouldn't be a V-Twin if the rods don't share a journal would be to say that a V-8 is really a "quad V-Twin" or something like that.

Now if you really want to pick-apart an engine nomenclature I'd go after the VW/Audi Group of "W" engines. Those are really "Double-V" engines in that they have a pair of very narrow angle V-type engines (in a common block) joined at the crank. They use 2 heads instead of three like you would imagine in a W...

 

[slideways]

Most of the Briggs Vanguards share the same journal. Most of the Intek twins i've seen have separate journals.

 

[mike75925]

harley has a rod in a rod sharing the same journal, i think this may be the only one to be that way. this shared journal gives harley it's unique sound. the jap twins, utilizing seperate journals, can rev higher and produce more power. the longer stroke of the harley helps to hinder it's revability.

 

[modelengineer]

Knife and fork connecting rods. I'm sure there are some V8's which use them too.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Knife and fork connecting rods.

Please explain that for me?

 

[mike75925]

the harley is the only V engine i have ever heard of using the 'knife and fork' setup. this is due to the harley being made from the old radial aircraft engines that used a master rod and 'x' slave rods. imagine cutting a steak, you stick the knife blade through the fork's tines to cut. the one rod has a single tang which fits between the others rod's dual tang.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

It's beginning to sound like the term "V-Twin" is kind of a broad-spectrum term covering all engines that I would honestly consider a "V2".

 

[Doc Sprocket]

the harley is the only V engine i have ever heard of using the 'knife and fork' setup. this is due to the harley being made from the old radial aircraft engines that used a master rod and 'x' slave rods. imagine cutting a steak, you stick the knife blade through the fork's tines to cut. the one rod has a single tang which fits between the others rod's dual tang.

How cool is THAT!?!? And- Neat, I had no clue there was an association between Harley twins and radial engines!

 

[mike75925]

v2? what are you referencing? there are Vtwins, V4 (one of which is a 2stroke, RZ500 yamaha), a V5 (honda), V6, V8 on up to 16 or so cylinders for normal applications.

 

[modelengineer]

V-Twin == V2

Nobody says V2 because v-twin is more accepted and more common. I've never heard anyone describe a V twin as a V-2 before this thread.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

No, neither have I. I was supposing that there may be the possibility of the existence of a 2 cylinder V-block engine without being a textbook "twin" configuration.
I guess not... Thanks for clearing that up for me, folks!

 

[Rotore]

Actually there is a 2 cyl on a v twin block but its a custom engine.