has there ever been a motorcycle with a rotary engine? would it be a good idea?

There have been a bunch.

http://www.monito.com/wankel/motorcycles.html

Try also www.rotaryrecycle.net (http://www.rotaryrecycle.net)

When I couldnt get our lawnmower started I wondering if you could use a rotary engine in a lawnmower....but then I thought nah:D

They also use them in aviation, which speaks to the wankel's reliability.

http://www.millville.org/Workshops_f/kess_mech/tools/1tools/aircraft.html

and

http://www.monito.com/wankel/aircraft.html

There is also a tiny one used to power model airplanes!

Actually, there was a rotary powered lawnmower... monito.com probably has something on it...

Originally posted by Mazda man
When I couldnt get our lawnmower started I wondering if you could use a rotary engine in a lawnmower....but then I thought nah:D

One company made a rotary lawnmower as a fun spinoff to their rotary research in the 60/70's... I've seen a photo, but can't remember who. Might even have been Wankel himself.

I loe rotaries, but I think a rotary lawnmower is pretty silly! It couldn't be cheap and there are good options in a two and four stroke. I think the rotary lawnmower is on the monito site.

Originally posted by DonG35Miata
I loe rotaries, but I think a rotary lawnmower is pretty silly! It couldn't be cheap and there are good options in a two and four stroke. I think the rotary lawnmower is on the monito site.

Depends... could it be made quieter... I want to sleep on sunday morning, not listen to next doors lawn mower that sounds like he's got a tractor pulling competition going on.

actually, i think that the rotary (like a 100cc or something) would be perfect for a lawnmower, espeically as time goes on and emissions catches up with even the little 2 strokes... a rotary doesn't make that much less power/torque, and is far cleaner... it wouldn't really beat out a 4 stroke in that area, but it's really much better than the 2 stroke... NOT TO MENTION YOU DON"T HAVE GAS MIXING INTO YOUR OIL!! :D

Possible uses for rotary engine? you think youve seen the extreme? i would take one of these over an rx-8, even an 787B, anyday. ok im joking about the 787B, i would have to consider it strongly.


http://www.moller.com/skycar/technology/

The rotaries are not mazda, but there rotaries for heaven's sake....:D

No pun intended... the Moller is never going to fly. Anyone who has flown even a small airplane will tell you it is a lot more intense and demanding than getting in a car and driving somewhere.

Rotary engines been in quite a few devices, many still in production today, but not what you think...

Motorcycles, cars and snomobiles have all had them. But the largest production, by volume, is pumps. Look around for rotary pumps. They are used for water, sewage, A/C, etc etc etc.

Michael

Aren't most helicopter engines rotaries? They need small, compact engines with little vibration that can turn very high RPM.

Could be totally off base.

Yep, totally off base! Most helicopters are gas turbines... even smoother and higer-revving than Wankels. (Technically a Wankel is an orbital engine as the rotor does not make a perfectly circular path.) Gas turbines exhibit perfect rotary motion.

Originally posted by red_base 95
Aren't most helicopter engines rotaries? They need small, compact engines with little vibration that can turn very high RPM.

Could be totally off base.

No, most helicopters are turbine-based....aka jet engine

Michael

the company that made the rotary lawnmower was the same that made the W-2000 roatary motorcycle, sachs/herculies.

here is a pic

Rock on rotary! Rotary lawnmower, rotary model cars, rotary powered toothbrush....:D

Some university was working on a chemical battery that used a tiny rotary engine to burn a fuel source.

:p i dunno if i want a powered toothbrush powered with petrochemicals... just think of all that exhaust in the bathroom, the earsplitting noise....

but then again, super smooth operation, and power that would nearly tear your gums off!! ;) count me in!!

One of my dads air compressors has a rotary engine in it. It is a 6 horsepower model and is alot smaller than his other 5 horsepower compressor.

later james