Animations of our favorite engine

[DatBoi69YOLO]

Came across this YouTube vid this morning: https://youtu.be/JDYHyGNFR5Y

I somehow was under the impression that the F6 was a boxer type engine, meaning that each pair of pistons is firing at the same time but in opposite physical directions, but that’s not what the animation shows.

Is that right?

Anybody else have any cool and informative animations of different components on this bike?

[98valk]

https://engineerine.com/flat-engine-is-not-boxer-heres/

There is a big misconception when talking about flat engines and saying it’s the same as boxer engines. All boxer engines are actually flat engines, but not all flat engines are boxer engines.

flat engines are actually 180 degree V engines

[John Schmidt]

There's a difference between a Boxer and a flat engine, at least in the construction and operation. As I recall, the so-called flat engine has two connecting rods connected to the same crank pin. The Boxer has all connecting rods connected to individual crank pins. I would think that requires the firing order on a boxer type motor to be separated as shown in your video. Just an assumption on my part.

98Valk kinda beat me to it. 

[DatBoi69YOLO]

flat engines are actually 180 degree V engines

That’s a good way of putting it
Guess I learned something new today

[WintrSol]

A boxer engine doesn't have to fire both pistons in opposition, and usually doesn't; it just have to have the pistons move out and in at the same time. This action (mostly) cancels the vibration when a piston moves from BDC to TDC and back. While the Valkyrie engine does produce a spark at both TDC positions, only one is under compression.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat-four_engine

[RonW]

you know, you can post the animations themselves.

An analogy would be, the flat engine is like paddling a kayak, left side, right side. A boxer is like rowing a row boat with two oars, both on the pull stroke, or both on the push stroke.


          Flat engine (When the left piston is at TDC the right piston is at BDC, or visa versa.)
          
        
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          
          Boxer engine (Both pistons are TDC or BDC at the same moment.)

[RonW]

Oh, I forgot to ask. So, is the Valk engine a Flat or a Boxer?

[Itinifni]

The Valkyrie crank has six, individual crankpins, it's a boxer. There's a clear photo on page 11-13 of the factory shop manual.

Being a boxer allows it to run with only 3 coils, if companion cylinders were sharing a single crankpin it would need 6 coils.

Edit: I should have said opposing cylinders, if they were on a single crankpin they would not be considered companion cylinders.

[RonW]

okay, thanks.

[rug_burn]

Yes, but does anyone (other than model one airplane engine maker) even make horizontally opposed engines with the single crankpin-per pair setup?   I can't think of one....   Not the good old Valk, at least.   And Honda even calls it a 'flat' six (F6).   
    I mean, you'd lose the best thing about the opposed layout: the incredibly low vibration and well balanced nature of these engines, which is why they are made that way in the first place.   
    To me, the 'boxer' name is just some gimmicky term  created by a bunch of nerdy Porsche guys.   I don't know, maybe it sounds tough to them.   But engines don't box.... at least I never seen it happen.