T head engine by Brian

[Brian Rupnow]

So this is it kiddies. The engine is completely finished, runs the way I like, and looks pretty too. I had a few problems with valves not sealing, but new valve cages were made and the problem was fixed. This has been an interesting engine to build, and it is similar in many respects to the flathead engine I built ten years ago. Complete plan sets are waiting to be sent out to anyone wishing to build this engine.($25 Canadian funds), contact me. Thanks to all who have followed and commented on the forums as this engine came together.---Brian Rupnow
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvneRKPC0yM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvneRKPC0yM</a>

[crueby]

Love the nice slow tickover, sounds great!

[Brian Rupnow]

This is the T head engine I designed and built a few months ago. I finished the engine, tuned it to run and took a video. Then it went up on the shelf. Yesterday I had some free time, so I got it off the shelf, down to my work area, and made up a spring return bracket and a throttle extension handle with a return spring. I started it up, adjusted the idle, and then let the engine run until it ran out of fuel. I had my office door open while this was happening so I didn't gas myself. Actually, I went into my machine shop and worked on something else until I heard the engine quit.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X71y1TEn3FM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X71y1TEn3FM</a>

[ShopShoe]

Brian,

Thanks for another look at this one. The spring and lever and the result of their addition makes the engine run the way I like them also.

The sound reminds me of the old generator sets: A constant background sound while going about other chores....

ShopShoe

[gipetto]

there's not much on the internet about t head engines. wikipedia says they use one cam for the exhaust valve and one for the intake valve. I find it difficult to conceptualise what a multi cylinder version of this would look like.
would the head be rotated 90 degrees, and a single exhaust cam span the length of the engine block to service all cylinders?
I love this design though, seems infinitely serviceable. I think the cams would last longer if they were running in oil but i understand that models are built to be viewed, not worked for 20 years.

[Charles Lamont]

Yes, they have a valve each side of the cylinder and two camshafts.

Reference to a T-head takes me back. I have briefly driven this:

 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/LP8389-1916-Dennis-B-type.jpg

It has a 10-litre straight-4 T-head engine.

[gipetto]

I've yet to see a T head run, but i've seen many steam engines. my native ireland didn't have much industry when those were in vogue, so our vehicles tended to be newer. My grandfather bought a steyr single cylinder diesel with an L head i think. it's quite rare as they were extremely expensive at the time. I first came across the T head when i saw a youtube video of the renault FT engine. One of the advantages of the t head was that they didn't use head gaskets, however this model does. the valves had a threaded plug over each valve to install them.

[Charles Lamont]

On the Dennis, the heads and cylinder barrels were cast in one piece. Can't remember if the cylinders were individual or cast in pairs.

[crueby]

Some of the gas powered Lombards used a T-head engine made by the Sterling company, they have one of the old engines up at the logging museum.