I imagine, that the bicycle drive wheel also acts as the flywheel to help keep the engine spinning. This engine may not be designed to run/idle, when the bicycle comes to a stop, like at an intersection, but instead meant to be used when the bicycle has long periods of uninterrupted travel. More for use in rural areas or between towns or cities, than inside towns or cities.
You should consider fitting a fiberglass fairing and entering the Craig Vetter fuel economy challenge! One could probably get several hundred mpg on this if you manage weight, aerodynamics, and driving style. Look it up
I imagine, that the bicycle drive wheel will also act as the flywheel to help keep the engine spinning. This engine may not be designed to run/idle, when the bicycle comes to a stop, like at an intersection, but instead meant to be used when the bicycle has long periods of uninterrupted travel. More for use in rural areas or between towns or cities, than inside towns or cities.
As a boy, in the early 1950ties, I’ve seen the Lohmann motor on a bicycle and recall it fuming and smelling like a Kerosene lamp. Compared to a 50 ccm moped it was of course quite inefficient. Kerosene was probably the best fuel to get it running as, according to Wikipedia, it needed high- octane fuel in contrast to a real Diesel engine (with fuel injection). A similar principle was used in early model airplane “ Diesels” before they were built with glow plugs. They had variable compression and used fuel with one third diethylether (yes, the anaesthetic!) for ignition. A comprehensive description with a nice foto you may find here: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lohmann-Motor
The Lohmann is a very, very rare engine, even in Germany. Please take good care of the little bugger, it´s such an oddball but a viable option in the days. I think it was ment as a multi fuel engine, also a viable idea at the time.
Imagine how far you'd have had to pedal in order to effe t that first cold start! Thank goodness for cordless drills. I think the concept of a lightweight engine which can be unclipped from the butter churn and clipped to a bicycle makes lots of sense on a fairly remote farm. You can always siphon some diesel from other pieces of farm equipment - brilliant! And that bicycle is utterly gorgeous.
@@JohnSmith-pl2bk I'm sure that you're right, and that it would, but I should think that, if this engine were in daily use, it would become easier and easier to start. I doubt that it would be long before the rider found himself enjoying a pleasant chat with the local law enforcement officers, however.
I've heard the Lohmann Diesel mentioned many times, but my thing isn't this type of transportation (i love mopeds, but not usually bicycles with engines), so i haven't bothered looking into it. ..but man.. Variable compression, so simply made. Watching how that works, putting myself into the shoes of people facing some pretty real world tech issues back then, i'm absolutely fascinated by it. ..and that tiny piston 🥰Could you show us the fuel delivery system when you have to fiddle with it anyways? I want to know more 🙂
The fuel delivery system is a super simple carburettor ("mixer") without a float chamber. And that "mixer" is one of the main reasons for the scarcity of the Lohmann engines. It is made out of Zinc and simply rots away.
@@stewart8127 All motorcycle manufacturers started by attaching an engine to a bicycle, a mo- ped. This began in 1885 when Rover invented the safety bicycle which is still manufactured almost unchanged world wide even today. Later in 1899 they fitted an engine to it and went on to manufacturing over 10,000 motorcycles before concentrating on motor cars.
I heard a story once that if you were riding your bike somewhere and tried starting the engine, that by the time the engine started you already arrived at your destination.
I've had model RC aircraft fitted with diesel engines that used the exact same principle. The piston runs inside a sliding liner that you tightened or loosened with a T bar screw in the cylinder head. You started it with low compression then screwed it tighter as the engine got warmed up. If the engine stalled you had to slack the compression off to restart it.
Yes. Also smaller non-RC engines. I had a 1.5cc two stroke diesel in the 1970s (made by Frog, if I recall). It produced an amazing amount of torque for such a small engine.
@@GodmanchesterGoblin yes. The ones I had were made by Davis Charlton, 1.5cc with a bronze coloured cylinder barrel, like you say, pretty powerful for their size.
@@strawbemily3182 no. Totally different principles. A Diesel engine sucks in pure air, compresses the air charge, and the ignition happens when the fuel is injected. If an engine has a carbutettor or any other means of an external mixing device, it is not a Diesel engine.
Just shows as WW2 went badly for them and supplies were limited and intermittent that the Germans were thinking out of the box. Mobility that can run on any fuels needed variable compression - back in the 1940's - wow
Fantastic. I love the diversity of your videos. Your mastery of the English language deserves praise. You are so articulate and explain everything so well. You are a great communicator. An inspiration. Thank you for all you do.
always loved diesel engines, I got hooked when one of my uncle hand cranked a small lister engine and it breathed into life. Always wished i would find a small diesel engine here in the US. Guess I am in the wrong Country! It is amazing to see such a tiny diesel! Germans are something else. respect!
Here In the Netherlands we had a bike called the “spartamet” it had a 30cc 2 stroke engine from sachs in had a topspeed of 28 km/h and had a fuel mileage of 100 km on 1 liter of fuel.
Model aircraft diesel engines are still made, variable compression using an adjustable contra piston in the cylinder head. Fuel is typically equal parts of ether, kerosene and oil, ether has a very low flash point so fire's easily. PAW is the best known UK maker.
Great! Thank you for this. I read about them over 50 years ago, and remember the adverbs in the magazines. They alvays fasinatet me, but this is the first time i saw (and heard) one running. And funny enough, a few weeks ago, I got to think about it, and even found one for sale, but unfortunately, out of my financial reach. So realy great to se yours!
What a cool little engine, my grandfather built his own powered bicycle back in the 30s/40s as he had to travel a long way to work living in rural ireland, started with a battery and car starter motor iirc and just a simple on off switch, then found a little petrol engine which he attached to the frame, used it to travel 20miles or so to work, used to leave a can of fuel under a leaky fuel pipe that was for an airport iirc which was on the way to work and would use that to power it so got free fuel as well :) I built my own electric bicycle when i was about 13 or so for the fun of it, much easier then with parts easier to find, also got lucky and found a ton of brand new nicad battery's that were being tested and then thrown straight out after ward for some daft reason, so had 100s of them to use, soldered up a few packs for the bicycle which made traveling around easier as a kid.
Itala in 1911 at the very variable compression engine as well, but I’ve always wanted to see when these engines run. I’ve only seen one on display. Thanks, Michael
Years ago I brought home a 27cc 4-stoke gasoline engine from a string trimmer that someone threw out at the landfill to take apart and clean up for fun. The trimmer part ended up being beyond repair but I still kept the little engine because it was so much fun to work on and get running!
That's a super neat little engine, I like the variable compression setup, but it does seem quite complex FWIW, variable compression diesels were a fairly big thing in aeromodelling from about 1945 onwards, but generally had a really simple setup with a counter piston in the head that could be screwed in and out to increase or decrease compression.
Variable compression two stroke diesel engines were common in the model aircraft scene back in the day . We added ether to the two stroke mixture for easier stating .
Love it , I have a diy electric with roller drive it's amazing how well they work. The Diesel on a bike is new to me. Hope to see you on the road soon.
Thanks for sharing! I had an opportunity to see a Lohmann engine during my study time at the brilliant university of Tuebingen; one of my study mates had a dream to revive it in some modified form but never got his hands to that project unfortunately.
Your thinking of a decompression lever that would hold a valve open to make it easier to start, this set up is almost closer to a slide valve engine, but even that didn’t change compression, this is incredibly unique
Old bikes- of that vintage or more- were pretty low compression and didnt need decompressing to kick. Reckon you're mixing that up with spark timing lever/ twist grip on the opposite handlebar. Spark timing wasn't automatic back then. If you left it advanced, it'd send you over the handlebars when you kicked it over.
@@rossbrumby1957 I owned a 1960's VeloSoleX which is probably the lowest compression moped engine ever made. And it had a real, in-head de-compression poppet valve. All because it used a friction wheel against the tire, which in rainy Fall and Winter France needed all the advantages you could get to spin the engine over when the streets were slick with rain.
This Is The Smallest Engine I have EVER SEEN That Meant To Carry Humans, Seriously, WHAT A HISTORIC CLASS! Loved The Video, Thank You For Showing Us This Uniqe Bike
Looks very similar in principle to one of those diesel model engines for aircraft, they also had variable compression with a screw and lever on the top of the cylinder head, I had one many years ago, it was difficult to start initially but ran well eventually, no piston rings, just a snug fitting piston. They ran on paraffin, engine oil and di ethyl ether 33.3% of each. The ether being for the ignition at a lower flash point.
Diesel engines use "Adriatic" ignition by compressing the air so much it gets super hot and then Diesel fuel is injected as a fine mist that ignites from the hot compressed air. Glow plugs are for cold start only. Not all diesels use glow plugs.
That engine is truly amazing I have seen lots of old variable compression engines very economic you could adjust the compression so the engine is only making the power you need often used to drive Farm equipment The military also have variable compression engines because they are multi fuel engines which can run on gas petrol parafran or TV0 and diesel
Kids today! FYI all model aeroplane engines in UK in the 40's and 50's had small diesel engines with a contra piston and a compression screw to adjust it, they are still made!
Now I concider myself e a geek when it comes to engines but I never knew this existed. Very interesting. I see something like this for a generator that u can fuel with any kind of oil u can find in shtf situations
Variable compression engines have been around for quite some time. US military was using multi fuel (Variable compression) engines all the way back to WWII.
Thanks for all the lovely comments! I am reading them all!
I JUST uploaded the next video with this one! And I actually attempt to ride it!
I'm here just in time!
Mate, try running it on kerosene, I think you will get far better results.
I imagine, that the bicycle drive wheel also acts as the flywheel to help keep the engine spinning. This engine may not be designed to run/idle, when the bicycle comes to a stop, like at an intersection, but instead meant to be used when the bicycle has long periods of uninterrupted travel. More for use in rural areas or between towns or cities, than inside towns or cities.
What about oil? Did I miss something?
You should consider fitting a fiberglass fairing and entering the Craig Vetter fuel economy challenge! One could probably get several hundred mpg on this if you manage weight, aerodynamics, and driving style. Look it up
There's just something so endearing about a tiny engine on a bicycle. A tiny diesel is even more endearing!
Little baby Cummins diesel engine so cute😂
This may be more sinister than people realise. Remember the last time Germany felt they didn't have enough power? It didn't end well.
@@michaellavery4899it's not that deep
Especially such a simple tiny diesel, like he said in the video you could put almost any combustible oil in there and putt around on it.
YES.. I AGREE. STEVE IN PGH, PA
I imagine, that the bicycle drive wheel will also act as the flywheel to help keep the engine spinning. This engine may not be designed to run/idle, when the bicycle comes to a stop, like at an intersection, but instead meant to be used when the bicycle has long periods of uninterrupted travel. More for use in rural areas or between towns or cities, than inside towns or cities.
And there are a lot of those areas in Denmark and Germany
Works excactly like a 1970's RC model diesel engine. Love it
As a boy, in the early 1950ties, I’ve seen the Lohmann motor on a bicycle and recall it fuming and smelling like a Kerosene lamp. Compared to a 50 ccm moped it was of course quite inefficient. Kerosene was probably the best fuel to get it running as, according to Wikipedia, it needed high- octane fuel in contrast to a real Diesel engine (with fuel injection). A similar principle was used in early model airplane “ Diesels” before they were built with glow plugs. They had variable compression and used fuel with one third diethylether (yes, the anaesthetic!) for ignition. A comprehensive description with a nice foto you may find here: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lohmann-Motor
not high octane, high cetane. Octane is resistance to detonation, Cetane is ability to ignite. Higher the cetane, faster it self ignites.
@@kasuraga😼👍
Possibly vegetable oil might be better, nicer smell and better lubrication.
@@G-ra-ha-m i once topped up my 110cc bike with edible vegetable cooking oil because the oil level was below par
@@fidelcatsro6948 It's a good oil yes! I ran a diesel car on it for a while, until the prices went up LOL, car still works perfectly! :)
The Lohmann is a very, very rare engine, even in Germany. Please take good care of the little bugger, it´s such an oddball but a viable option in the days. I think it was ment as a multi fuel engine, also a viable idea at the time.
Starting tip for old diesels, heat the inlet air with hot air gun , paint stripper/ hair dryer .
It never ceases to amaze me how you always manage to find these unusual vehicles! Is there like a special website on the dark web where you go?🤔
The Dark Barn... :P
Dark web. That's good! 😂
Imagine how far you'd have had to pedal in order to effe t that first cold start! Thank goodness for cordless drills.
I think the concept of a lightweight engine which can be unclipped from the butter churn and clipped to a bicycle makes lots of sense on a fairly remote farm. You can always siphon some diesel from other pieces of farm equipment - brilliant!
And that bicycle is utterly gorgeous.
You finish your errands and it starts on the way home a few feet from your doorstep 😂
@@fidelcatsro6948 Ha ha!
Perhaps making sure that you heat the engine with a blow torch before pedaling might hasten starting?
@@JohnSmith-pl2bk I'm sure that you're right, and that it would, but I should think that, if this engine were in daily use, it would become easier and easier to start. I doubt that it would be long before the rider found himself enjoying a pleasant chat with the local law enforcement officers, however.
The horror: cycling 😂😂
I've heard the Lohmann Diesel mentioned many times, but my thing isn't this type of transportation (i love mopeds, but not usually bicycles with engines), so i haven't bothered looking into it. ..but man.. Variable compression, so simply made. Watching how that works, putting myself into the shoes of people facing some pretty real world tech issues back then, i'm absolutely fascinated by it. ..and that tiny piston 🥰Could you show us the fuel delivery system when you have to fiddle with it anyways? I want to know more 🙂
The fuel delivery system is a super simple carburettor ("mixer") without a float chamber. And that "mixer" is one of the main reasons for the scarcity of the Lohmann engines. It is made out of Zinc and simply rots away.
@@albinklein7680
Bit like magnesium aero engine bits and pieces...rot away.
Honda started with simple mopeds
@@stewart8127
All motorcycle manufacturers started by attaching an engine to a bicycle, a mo- ped. This began in 1885 when Rover invented the safety bicycle which is still manufactured almost unchanged world wide even today. Later in 1899 they fitted an engine to it and went on to manufacturing over 10,000 motorcycles before concentrating on motor cars.
@@johnbrereton5229 not the ones that started in the 1970s who previously made looms , musical instruments,or Trains. Meaning 3 of the big 4
Thanks for sharing this!
I love tiny engines also, but a mini diesel engine is just so cool.
I heard a story once that if you were riding your bike somewhere and tried starting the engine, that by the time the engine started you already arrived at your destination.
I've had model RC aircraft fitted with diesel engines that used the exact same principle. The piston runs inside a sliding liner that you tightened or loosened with a T bar screw in the cylinder head. You started it with low compression then screwed it tighter as the engine got warmed up. If the engine stalled you had to slack the compression off to restart it.
Yes. Also smaller non-RC engines. I had a 1.5cc two stroke diesel in the 1970s (made by Frog, if I recall). It produced an amazing amount of torque for such a small engine.
@@GodmanchesterGoblin yes. The ones I had were made by Davis Charlton, 1.5cc with a bronze coloured cylinder barrel, like you say, pretty powerful for their size.
Those aren't Diesel engines. These engines are compression ignition engines. A true Diesel engine is a completely different story.
@@albinklein7680 pretty sure diesel and CI are the same thing.. just that diesel is a subset of CI that well.... runs on diesel
@@strawbemily3182 no. Totally different principles. A Diesel engine sucks in pure air, compresses the air charge, and the ignition happens when the fuel is injected.
If an engine has a carbutettor or any other means of an external mixing device, it is not a Diesel engine.
Wow. Great little engine. So clever.
Very clever ! yet very simple... which is two great things to combine..
Just shows as WW2 went badly for them and supplies were limited and intermittent that the Germans were thinking out of the box. Mobility that can run on any fuels needed variable compression - back in the 1940's - wow
The All Lies really screwed up. By joining the J team instead of the A team, America got jewed too.
Fantastic. I love the diversity of your videos.
Your mastery of the English language deserves praise. You are so articulate and explain everything so well. You are a great communicator. An inspiration. Thank you for all you do.
always loved diesel engines, I got hooked when one of my uncle hand cranked a small lister engine and it breathed into life. Always wished i would find a small diesel engine here in the US. Guess I am in the wrong Country! It is amazing to see such a tiny diesel! Germans are something else. respect!
These things run maximum 20 mph on a good day and smoked so much that the police saw you coming 5 miles away.
It makes a great mosquito fogging machine on the go..
Even better if you had access to the "fog generating fuel" that was used to generate the fog that hid bombing targets during the War????
Excellent video! And may I say that as a non-native English speaker, your use of colloquial English is very, very good.👍🏾
Here In the Netherlands we had a bike called the “spartamet” it had a 30cc 2 stroke engine from sachs in had a topspeed of 28 km/h and had a fuel mileage of 100 km on 1 liter of fuel.
Sometimes, just occasionally, I bless the YT algorithm ❤. I have found another spiritual home.
This is absolutely wonderful to hear you explaining this jewel of human ingenuity.
Thank you for your video, this is the type of engine I've been looking for ,, never knew they even existed, hope to see more of this engine mate
That’s a brilliant design. Thanks for uploading and all your dedication!!
Great! Nice technique. Didn't know this existed. And great history lesson that comes with it too!
Model aircraft diesel engines are still made, variable compression using an adjustable contra piston in the cylinder head. Fuel is typically equal parts of ether, kerosene and oil, ether has a very low flash point so fire's easily. PAW is the best known UK maker.
Yet another great video! I was looking forward to this one! 🙂
Great! Thank you for this. I read about them over 50 years ago, and remember the adverbs in the magazines. They alvays fasinatet me, but this is the first time i saw (and heard) one running. And funny enough, a few weeks ago, I got to think about it, and even found one for sale, but unfortunately, out of my financial reach. So realy great to se yours!
The ultimate barn find - one can only dream!
What a cool little engine, my grandfather built his own powered bicycle back in the 30s/40s as he had to travel a long way to work living in rural ireland, started with a battery and car starter motor iirc and just a simple on off switch, then found a little petrol engine which he attached to the frame, used it to travel 20miles or so to work, used to leave a can of fuel under a leaky fuel pipe that was for an airport iirc which was on the way to work and would use that to power it so got free fuel as well :)
I built my own electric bicycle when i was about 13 or so for the fun of it, much easier then with parts easier to find, also got lucky and found a ton of brand new nicad battery's that were being tested and then thrown straight out after ward for some daft reason, so had 100s of them to use, soldered up a few packs for the bicycle which made traveling around easier as a kid.
What a cool bit of gear.
Fantasic! Every home should have one or more. What a great find. Thanks
Itala in 1911 at the very variable compression engine as well, but I’ve always wanted to see when these engines run. I’ve only seen one on display. Thanks, Michael
Fantastic example of great engineering. Thanks for sharing!
Wow fascinating concept and rare indeed. Thank you , your description is ace
Wonderful video, very interesting stuff 👍
Great video. Fantastic piece of history. I think your very lucky to have it. Look after it
FANTASTIC!!!! What a find!
That is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen ! Suppressed tech !
awesome bike. Always amazing to see what those guys back then build.
Years ago I brought home a 27cc 4-stoke gasoline engine from a string trimmer that someone threw out at the landfill to take apart and clean up for fun. The trimmer part ended up being beyond repair but I still kept the little engine because it was so much fun to work on and get running!
Great video, very interesting piece of history you have there :)
That's a super neat little engine, I like the variable compression setup, but it does seem quite complex FWIW, variable compression diesels were a fairly big thing in aeromodelling from about 1945 onwards, but generally had a really simple setup with a counter piston in the head that could be screwed in and out to increase or decrease compression.
That is very cool! Please show us more on this very unique engine!
Thank you!
Variable compression two stroke diesel engines were common in the model aircraft scene back in the day . We added ether to the two stroke mixture for easier stating .
That was pretty cool. Thanks for sharing.
"I just need to learn how it works," the words of humble, Wise man! 👍
Very interesting video. Thank you for sharing.
Wow man! Thanks for sharing this! 👍🐿😎
That is a very clever designed diesel thanks for sharing.
I love two stroke engines man.they need to make em like they use to
Fantastic video 😊
That thing seems to like revs. Interesting!
I thought that same thing ! Peppy little bugger 🤔
What I remember from my young days, these moped had no idle. You start the engine during driving and shut down when you stay
I love all types of diesel engines big and small !!! Watching all the way from Belize 🌴🌴🌴🌄
Love it , I have a diy electric with roller drive it's amazing how well they work. The Diesel on a bike is new to me. Hope to see you on the road soon.
Thanks for sharing! I had an opportunity to see a Lohmann engine during my study time at the brilliant university of Tuebingen; one of my study mates had a dream to revive it in some modified form but never got his hands to that project unfortunately.
A lever to alter compression was pretty common on older bikes, so it was easier to kick start the thing.
Your thinking of a decompression lever that would hold a valve open to make it easier to start, this set up is almost closer to a slide valve engine, but even that didn’t change compression, this is incredibly unique
Old bikes- of that vintage or more- were pretty low compression and didnt need decompressing to kick. Reckon you're mixing that up with spark timing lever/ twist grip on the opposite handlebar. Spark timing wasn't automatic back then. If you left it advanced, it'd send you over the handlebars when you kicked it over.
@@rossbrumby1957 I owned a 1960's VeloSoleX which is probably the lowest compression moped engine ever made. And it had a real, in-head de-compression poppet valve. All because it used a friction wheel against the tire, which in rainy Fall and Winter France needed all the advantages you could get to spin the engine over when the streets were slick with rain.
@@rossbrumby1957it’s a diesel, there’s no ignition system
I love rare oddity engines like this when I find them❤.
Very interesting design!
This Is The Smallest Engine I have EVER SEEN That Meant To Carry Humans, Seriously, WHAT A HISTORIC CLASS!
Loved The Video, Thank You For Showing Us This Uniqe Bike
Looks very similar in principle to one of those diesel model engines for aircraft, they also had variable compression with a screw and lever on the top of the cylinder head, I had one many years ago, it was difficult to start initially but ran well eventually, no piston rings, just a snug fitting piston. They ran on paraffin, engine oil and di ethyl ether 33.3% of each. The ether being for the ignition at a lower flash point.
That little tiny continental solid rubber drive tire is hilarious
My brother had a Chicken Power bicycle engine that clipped onto the forks, back in the mid 1980's. 🙂
cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
Love the sound of that little engine
Sounds like a Yamaha on peanut oil😂
What a weird and interesting engine too!
That was pretty cool!
The time it takes for it to start, I think you have reached your destination... nice! 😂
Fascinating!
The tiny continental tire is hilarious, what a cool find
I need one of these to scan, turn into CAD files and remake, so many uses for such a nice little engine!
What a beautiful little diesel.. Steve from the U. S. A. PGH, PA.
4:58 The first version of battery for Skills electric tools ;)
Beautiful engine!
That thing is awesome!
Absolutely amazing!
thanks for sharing this
Here in the present time I would like to say thank you for your interesting video,
Diesel engines use "Adriatic" ignition by compressing the air so much it gets super hot and then Diesel fuel is injected as a fine mist that ignites from the hot compressed air. Glow plugs are for cold start only. Not all diesels use glow plugs.
Very clever! Wow! I wish i could see one
That engine is truly amazing I have seen lots of old variable compression engines very economic you could adjust the compression so the engine is only making the power you need often used to drive Farm equipment
The military also have variable compression engines because they are multi fuel engines which can run on gas petrol parafran or TV0 and diesel
look forward to next video on this thing
Kids today! FYI all model aeroplane engines in UK in the 40's and 50's had small diesel engines with a contra piston and a compression screw to adjust it, they are still made!
Now I concider myself e a geek when it comes to engines but I never knew this existed. Very interesting. I see something like this for a generator that u can fuel with any kind of oil u can find in shtf situations
Thanks for the video nice to see such an unusual engine ❤it
The cute little continental tire is so cool. 😂
So kool thanks so much for sharing
What an interesting oddball engine. Your querky humour is priceless. 😂
Exelente envio!! Tenés una joya ! Te felicito!! Un saludo desde Argentina🇦🇷
Great video....I always wondered why diesels weren't made for mopeds and scooters
Such an interesting little engine! 🤓
Variable compression engines have been around for quite some time. US military was using multi fuel (Variable compression) engines all the way back to WWII.
Amazing bike. And Poster!😛
Excellent job 👍
awesome bike! never seen anything like it
A friend of mine built himself a chopper, i was surprised when he said it was diesel.
Very unique and intreasting video.
Wow. A tiny 2cycle sleeve valve diesel. I want one!
friction kits are becoming more and more rare. This is the 1st one I've seen under 33cc. Very cool, wish I had one
I still have a couple Dax kits I need to sort out.
What an odd little engine, never heard of variable compression much less seen how it works. Awesome :D