The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-01-27

Can you give me the advantages
and disadvantages of cylinders cast
separately, in pairs and in block2
The use of separately cast cylinders
In a ~multicylinder engine Increases the
overall length Of the motor ana calls
for a long crank shaft with more bear
ing supports than a pair or block cast
motor Of the same number OF cylin-
ders. This type Of motor makes mani
fold connections more complicated than
I'm the other types, and the weight ~
greater for "A given size because or
lack Of compactncsS. Because Of the
complications in manifolding there Is
greater chance Of leakage in the water
connections and inlet manifold syS-
tenn. A motor with cylinders separat-
ed usually is not as clean in appear
ance as an engine with cylinders cast
otherwise. The main advantage Of the
singly cast motor Is that, should any
trouble occur with II cylinder, that
one only need be removed. This de-
sign allows Of copper water jackets
being used, which are considered by
many DtlltI ohlNtu " NpOllllS J"Nh'N
material than cast iron. Taking a four
cylinder separately east motor usually
five bearings are used for crank shaft
support. This makes a rigid cOnstruc-
ton for the Shaft and tends to prevent
bearing injury. a great advantage in
manufacture is that should a defect
occur in the casting it may be junked
with practically little loss.
The block motor which has made
such rapid strides in the past few
years has its main disadvantage in
manufacture and repair work. Should
a casting be found defective the entire
block must be junked with a conse-
quent loss Of money and time. From
an owners point Of view a diSadvan-
tage presents itself when repair time
ome around. Should the interior of
any one cylinder require attention the
entire block must be removed, except,
OF course, where a detachable cylinder
head is used, and then only the head
requires removal. The detachable head
Oh block motors is coming into use
very rapidly. a block Is more difficult
to cast than a single cylinder. How
ever, present foundry work has been
so improved that the casting Of block
cylinders no longer results in great
waste or the production of many
blocks with unnoticeable imperfections.
a further disadvantage Of the block
casting Is that should the jacket wa
ter freeze and cause the metal to crack
the entire block may have to be scrap
ed unless, of course, an effective weld
can be made.
A block cast motor is more rigid than
any other. the manifoiding is simple,
and in most cases the manifolds may
be cast with the block. Unity may be
carried very far in this design, and
many are casting the upper portion of
the crank case with the block. This
type is quieter through life than a sep
rately cast motor because Of the brac-
ing effect of the cylinders. The crank
shaft OF a four cylinder block motor
need not have more than three brac-
ings, the greater number of small mo-
tors using two. The block motor has a
shorter overall length than any other
type. hence shorter shafting and less
weight.
The advantages and disadvantages Of
pair cast motors become obvious from
the answers concerning single and
block motors. You must not. however,
believe that every singiy cast motor
and every block motor has the qualities
previously mentioned. 1t is possible
for a certain design Of block motor to
be more complicated. more costly and
less clean than one with separate cyl
iDders. There are many things to con.
slider. such as valve location and mani.
fold design.