Ron,
I had warned Rotamax about surface coating and substrate issues.
I wouldn't be surprised in any way if this caused their problems.
Pity it's a great rotary engine also, copied from the NSU/Norton engine.
Aixro is a generation ahead of the Norton engine, due primarily to the
NSU/rotor/combustion shape.
George
Not copied from the NSU or the Norton. It is an almost direct copy
of the OMC engine. Good thing you warned them George. I can now sleep
better :)
Paul Lamar
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Paul,
You are quite right: The RotaMax engine is sure not a copy of the Norton
engine, which again is completely different to the NSU engine! Actually
the AIXRO engine is very much based on the original Norton design,
further developed by MWE/Diamond Engines. Just look at the swept volumes
of 294cc! AIXRO, Sachs (KC24 and KC 27), Norton, and MWE rotors and
seals are interchangeable when being re-balanced - as long as you don't
account for leading or trailing cut-outs! MWE rotor housings can be
fitted to AIXRO engines just as easily as water cooled Norton housings.
Actually the first lot of AIXRO engines had MWE twin plug housings...
The combustion chamber of the AIXRO rotor for instance is an exact 1:1
copy of the early Norton motorcycle engines, whereas the later Norton
engines and MWE engines had an additional cut-out in the trailing edge
of the rotor flank in order to prevent pinking at high continuous
speeds.
George,
I would be very much interested in the surface coating issues mentioned
as I am currently in the process of trying to establish a salvage scheme
for worn-out rotors, housings, and endplates for Sachs and Norton
motorcycle Rotaries, as Norton Motors Ltd shall be going out of business
before the end of next month!
Having gathered intimate knowledge of the Norton and MWE engines I
unfortunately have not yet seen a RotaMax engine for a direct comparison
myself - in particular as RotaMax have a picture copied from AIXRO on
their homepage nowadays!
Regards,
Martin.
Here are some internal pictures of the RotaMax Martin.
Paul Lamar
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