RUMCars Forum

General Category => Off Topic Lounge => Topic started by: Bob Purton on October 23, 2012, 02:57:16 PM

Title: Pulse jet moped
Post by: Bob Purton on October 23, 2012, 02:57:16 PM
I'm thinking if converting my moped to be powered by one of these! ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=yy4KH88tLSY&NR=1
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: marcus on October 23, 2012, 05:20:17 PM
Not particularly practical for every day use!
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: richard on October 23, 2012, 05:36:25 PM
not for you bob you'd burn the cabbage  :D
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: Bob Purton on October 23, 2012, 05:43:10 PM
From what I gather they are quite simple to build, maybe we should make a stationary one for a demo at the next rumcar open day, fire brigade on hand.
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: marcus on October 23, 2012, 05:44:16 PM
Chortle!

Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: Chris Thomas on October 23, 2012, 06:18:58 PM
Dear Bob

What would be good would be a line of comparative engines, all about the same power showing relative size, such as an electric motor, 2 stroke , 4 stroke, Diesal, Wankel, ram jet, gas turbine and anything else you can think of. We could start them one at a time on the day. It could also attend the National as a static display.

Displays of horizontal engines, radial engines, V twin, triples, twins and singles would also be novel.

I am sure Big Al probably has one of each he is trying to clear out of his warehouse.


Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: Bob Purton on October 23, 2012, 06:51:00 PM
Sounds fun Chris.
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: Chris Thomas on October 23, 2012, 10:02:09 PM
Deaqr Bob

Big Al has gone very quiet

Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: Jonathan Poll on October 24, 2012, 06:27:42 AM
Wow, that engine is great. I should also make one for my mopeds ;)

... especially the Yamaha that doesnt seem to work anymore!
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: Big Al on October 24, 2012, 08:24:29 AM
Deaqr Bob

Big Al has gone very quiet

Chris Thomas

I was looking for some interesting engines but only came up with the mech for a Clockwork Hornby.

Collecting interesting engines could be fun. I know for a 5 cylinder Gardner which is a wonderful lump. Nearly had a small Stanley unit.
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: richard on October 24, 2012, 08:44:28 AM
Is that stanley as in steam ?
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: Chris Thomas on October 24, 2012, 09:34:55 AM
Dear Al

When I suggested that the engines should all be about the same power, I was thinking about Microcar power rather than truck power. Small, easy to mount on a steel frame rack that could be slid into the back of a transit van for transportation, each engine would have a small fuel header tank (or battery) and a common exhaust manifold running along underneath exiting at the end of the rack to keep the noise and smoke under control.

For me seeing an engine is an integral part of the experience of looking at cars. Whilst the body can be crisp and functional, the engine is the heart of the machine, and is not seen enough for my liking.

Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: Big Al on October 24, 2012, 10:19:48 AM
Stanley as in process, a sort of heat pump really.

Gardner is on a steel chassis and would slide in and out of a Transit, if you had a platoon of Gurkhas handy. You can play with the de-compressors and have it ticking over at silly low speeds or power the rally from it onto the generator that is with it driven by 7 belts. It would look excellent in the middle of the sitting room. See Dutch house with boat engine in at Sneek, pub with Jag engine with exhaust up the chimney. Might go for it if I can get it for about £400. Worth half that in scrap metal! It was out of a bus and has the gearbox with it.

Tricky to find some engines at microcar power. 10 hp wankel? Some of the marvellous model aircraft engines are in the frame. A collectors area in its own right. ONe of the old Goggo stalwarts gave up to expand his collection of those.
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: marcus on October 24, 2012, 04:38:45 PM
I wish I still had my Jetex solid fuel rocket motors. And a lifetime's supply of their cylindrical fuel tablets.
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: richard on October 24, 2012, 05:52:01 PM
pipe dreams chris it wont ever happen  :(
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: Bob Purton on October 24, 2012, 06:32:23 PM
I have to agree but it was a fun thought. Engines that were once spare are now finding there way into newly restored vehicles, just think back a few years and remember all the villiers stuff knocking around that no one wanted, its now become sort after.
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: richard on October 24, 2012, 07:05:03 PM
nice idea to bring an engine that hasn't been started up under present ownership and see what the experts can do  ;) lloyd 400 twin 2 stroke anyone
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: Big Al on October 24, 2012, 07:57:37 PM
Starting a dud sounds like more fun to me. Ever was the one to get covered in grease.
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: AndrewG on October 24, 2012, 10:20:45 PM
I though the important things to learn about building a pulse jet moped were:

1) fit the motor controls to the ends of the handlebars so you can operate them without having to let go of the grips;

2) consider fitting footrests;

3) consider starting with a small motorcycle that gives you a footbrake to use when running the jet up to speed and so avoiding the need to scrabble with your boots on the ground trying unsuccessfully to hold the machine stationary.

But other than that, full marks.  I felt the "bof, putain" comment from the cameraman pretty much hit the nail on the head.....
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: Big Al on October 25, 2012, 09:03:42 AM
pipe dreams chris it wont ever happen  :(

That was my album to follow Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Smells'.   'Pipe Dreams', punk based suite of music using large organ and bass Twyford toilet amongst other instruments by the band Bum Fluff. Never happened.
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: AndrewG on October 25, 2012, 12:50:32 PM
'Pipe Dreams', punk based suite of music using large organ and bass Twyford toilet amongst other instruments .....

I can suggest the ideal video to go with it, though I admit there is no RUMcar link. 

As a kid, my school had its services in an abbey and the organist (rightly) took the view that he was only going to get through to the kids by giving them more bass than Led Zep, so he made ample use of the bass-est (a word?) pipes in the organ.  These were sooo large that they weren't in the organ loft but were laid horizontally along the roof space over the side aisles with the sound coming out through the arches under the clerestory. 

Of course that roof space was dusty and so when those pipes were played jets of dust would erupt from the arches above the nave.  On a sunny day, it was like a 'visual organ' with most of the schoolboys captivated by these clouds of multi-coloured dust motes.  You could almost see the frequency of the lowest pipes as they puffed.

And all that was before any recreational chemical use....
Title: Re: Pulse jet moped
Post by: Big Al on October 26, 2012, 08:38:13 AM
Brilliant, and probably now illegal on several grounds.