Another engineering masterclass

My son sent me a video of a motorbike build, I dont like links so just google 'The flying Millyard' to see what you think, some of you may already be aware of this of course.

On a similar subject I have posted before about an incredible engine I saw at an exhibtion a few years ago, The Napier Dagger. Does anyone know if this was finished ?

Bill D

Alan Millyard is a clever fella, onof his projects was to fit a V10 from a Viper car, he is on the Motorcycle show series as well.

Martin P

I have watched quite a few of his videos in the last few weeks. To watch him get a hacksaw out and cut a big 3 cyl 750cc engine into three pieces and then weld another cut engine up to give IIRC 5 cylinders is just amazing. He then builds a crank from scratch. Doesn't really appear to use drawings he just knows what he needs to do.

One of his engines used a pair of cylinders from a Pratt and Whitney radial engine and he ended up with a 5 litre V twin. All made to look old.

Colin

Was the Napier Dagger the hybrid reciprocating / gas turbine engine? Or was that the Eland?

What did they call the H 24 cylinder aero engine. (Two horizontally opposed 12s, with the cranks geared together? )

Howard

The piston/turbine compound was the Nomad, the Dagger and Sabre were the H24s.

Some great info on these and many others here:

https://oldmachinepress.com

At the other end of the scale, he turns a Honda SS50 (my first bike) into a SS100 V-twin. and then he does the same with a C90 engine.

At the end of the day, all his bikes look right as well. Nothing Frankenstein's monster about them - they look like (deranged) manufactorers models.

The very definition of a shed based genius.

The Sabre was a beast. This is from Wiki;

"Development continued and the later Sabre VII delivered 3,500 hp (2,600 kW) with a new supercharger. The final test engines delivered 5,500 hp"

This was from a 37 litre engine. To get that power ratio with aircraft reliability? Then along came the jet....

The model I was referring to was being built by Norman Lawrence, I think the description beautiful to describe the engine would not be over the top.

Can't find out anything about Norman or the engine, there must be someone out there that knows what happened.

Bill D.

allan millyards bikes look fantastic but i wonder how they handle on the twisty roads?

A couple of years ago Alan Millyard gave a talk to my local motorcycle club about his creations. I admired his enterprise, imagination, his craftsmanship and his ability to get through these projects. The finished product less so and in some cases some very dubious engineering. The way I look at these is would they stand up to "real world" use, I very much doubt it. Having said that I would suggest that was never his intention.

His latest project (that I'm aware of) is the Velocette V-twin, certainly looks very nice.

John

They do seem to. I particularly admire the fact that he creates useable vehicles rather than 'engineering sculptures' what would fall to pieces if started.

Here's his little 4 cylinder 350 being revved to 7k RPM and hustled around some bends (towards the end of the video)

Here he's riding his V10 Dodge Viper engined bike (In part 2). He reckons to have put over 9000 miles on it since it was built.

Part 1:

Part 2:

I find it frankly astonishing that anything so monstrous could be engineered to be usable.

The fact that he's prepared to rest his nuts on it and open the throttle to hit 200mph also speaks of man who is confident in his engineering ability.

He also claims to have over 9k miles on the Pratt & Whitney 5 litre V twin

Part 1:

Part 2:

Edited By Andy Gray 3 on 25/11/2020 17:23:41

Andy G3, we questioned him about the useability of his creations during the Q & A session after his talk. He was completely open about this and agreed that the bigger bikes were something of a handful, not the sort of thing to ride home after a day at work on a cold and wet evening! The smaller creations entirely suitable, I would love to try them.

5 comments from a non engineer

The fork head races look tiny.

He uses 1/4 throttle to reach 189mph.

It's begging for wheelie bars and a trip down the salt.

The P&W twin pinks on his advance setting, naughty boy.

All that said they run, you can ride them, well he can, very carefully .

Just had a quick look on the net , Looks like a long time is going to be spent reading through al[ of this info , One clever Guy

Regards to all Bee M

Funnily enough, this just popped up elsewhere:

(I'm a fan, in case you hadn't realised! )