T55 Eastern German Diesel Bike

[Stuart]

Guys,
this bike featured in the paper yesterday. "The world's heaviest motorbike is ridden by its constructors Tilo (L) and Wilfried Niebel of the 'Harzer Bikerschmiede' in Zilly, Germany, 20 November 2007. According to the Guiness Book of World Records, the 4.74 ton heavy motorbike is the heaviest in the world. Roadworthy but not licensed for road use, the 2.30 metres tall, 2.60 metres wide and 5.30 metre long motorbike was built within 5,000 hours of work. The motorcycle is powered by a 3.8 litres (Diesel) engine of a Soviet T-55 tank delivering 800 HP." I did some surfing and a website seemed to confirm this tanks engine is diesel.
www.harzer-bike-schmiede.de

[oldbmw]

If I remember correctly, that is a developent of the V2 aluminium engine also used in the T34, Kv series and JS series. All serious WW2 tanks, The T34 was used as a general panther killer, both teh Kv and its bigger brother the JS series were tiger killers sporting a 130mm assualt gun or a smaller armour piercing gun being all but impervius to the tigers 88mm gun.

[sbrumby]

Bloody hell if they can get 800hp out of 3.8 litersthey must know something we dont.

[andrewaust]

Hi Guy's


The info I have on the Engines are posted below.

Now I guess you wouldn't want to know the fuel economy figures , especially now with the price of fuel

I could see a motorcycle of that size being a benifit here in heavy traffic, a bit of compitition for the 4WD and truck drivers



Engine specs:

V-54 12-cylinder 38.88 liter water-cooled diesel (T-54)

V-55 12-cylinder 4-stroke one-chamber 38.88 liter water-cooled diesel (T-55)

V-55U diesel (T-55M/T-55AM/T-55AMV)

V-46-5M 12-cylinder 4-stroke diesel (T-55M-1/T-55AM-1/T-55MV-1/T-55AMV-1)

523 hp (390 kW) for T-54
581 hp (433 kW) for T-55
621 hp (463 kW) for T-55M/T-55AM/T-55AMV
691 hp (515 kW) for T-55M-1/T-55AM-1/T-55MV-1/T-55AMV-1

[oldbmw]

Hi, I arn't sure about the later tanks, but almost certain this engine is a developement of teh T34's V2 engine.. more details here

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah ... 200506107b

"Equipped with a V-2-34, 12-cylinder diesel engine, the T34 generated 450 horsepower at 1,700 rpm. Early issue tanks had 460 liters of fuel in six fuel tanks, and later T34s carried up to 540 liters in eight fuel tanks. One of the eight fuel tanks was usually filled with oil because the V2 engine burned tremendous amounts of oil. The T34 had a cruising range of up to 300 km. The four-speed gear box found in early production models was eventually replaced by a five-speed transmission."

More operational info here http://guns.connect.fi/gow/T34tank1.html

kv tank here http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/aam/ah20050825a

Jd here http://www.battletanks.com/js_iii.htm

[balboa_71]

I think they'd have more fun if it was powered by a Detroit 6V-53, at least it would sound better

Cris

[andrewaust]

How good would that be! Nothing like the sound of a two stroke diesel "with Jakes of course" - now where could you get a 1:1 diff from ........................... LOL.

Unfortunately there becoming hard to find here, even the tourist buses/coaches are going straight line common rail 4 strokes

There just ain't no fun anymore


Andrew

[balboa_71]

Andre,
Your right, I haven't heard the noise of a Detroit in many a year. Back 30 years ago we drove plenty of 6-53V's around town looking for garbage to collect None the less, all this must be replaced for better economy and emissions.

I still love my Jetta TDI when it comes to power and performance....too bad there is no sound....

Cris

[oilburner]

Every once in a while I dig out my factory shop manual for the inline 71 series (3,4,6 cyl) and reminisce. Forty years ago (yikes has it been that long!) I hung out with a couple fellows who worked in an overhaul shop. My favourite recollection of a two stroke was a 471 in an old Oliver tractor at a tractor pull. All the earsplitting noise your eardrums could handle for two minutes.

As an engine, the current common rail diesels do nothing for me - the attraction of the diesel has always the fact that it was mechanical, no computer(s) *and* affordable. Compare the price of a mechanical injector or pump with one from a common rail setup.

That said, the performance advances due to common rail diesel technology offer the best chance yet for a mass produced diesel motorcycle. Just don't hold your breath waiting.

My $.02

Avery

[balboa_71]

Avery,
While they might be quiet, the TDI engines offer a lot of performance and attractive aftermarket chipping makes them really hot. I bought one of the last VW PD(engine) TDI's and it really moves. You can run them so hot there isn't a tranny or clutch option to keep up with what the engine can do. Neat thing about the VW 1.9L engine is it's small and light, no tank engine here!!

The old DD engines were big and heavy, putting a 3-53 in a 1/2 ton Chevy was possible, but going to 4-53, 6-53 was almost impossible. 71 series just too darn big. I once saw a Chevy 1/2 ton with 3-53 for sale at a swap meet here in Texas, truck was registered in Oklahoma, price was cheap at $1,200, but owner said engine would have to be pulled to do any work on tranny, etc.. Think he was running a 4 speed Allison.... The other thing is a 3-53 doesn't make a lot of power, unless you do your homework and find some high HP injectors to make more. This seems to be how people get more from diesel engines: go to higher output injectors/pumps, boost turbo pressure, and hang on to your ass.

Cris

[SNOOT]