I Built a Piston Powered Tank Drive with Twin I-4 Engines!

I built a piston powered tank in Scrap Mechanic. A lot of people have requested it so I finally built one...
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About Scrap Mechanic:
store.steampowered.com/app/387...
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#scrapmechanic #kangaming

[@kANGaming]

What other things should we build in Scrap Mechanic?

[@mikelenz1990]

First of all interesting piston motor you got their kon gaming second has about a piston powered motorcycle using one of the maybe seven piece edge and you’ve built so far in your videos, including the one you’re shown in this video?

[@austin.5947]

Piston Powered Unicycle?

[@ograograogra4550]

Piston powered supercar

[@xDmakc]

Piston engine with a short stroke/ kevin andeer(or what is his name)(the guy who contacted you) like engine

[@user-yp3kx2ro7w]

Piton engine train?

[@MrLarsgren]

you dont need mirrored engines. you just need to paint the timing disc different on the one running backwards

[@kANGaming]

True that would have been easy

[@kepstin]

@@kANGaming "mirroring" the engines would also require having the 90s in the crankshaft going the other way, I think? But you probably don't need to do that with the i4 since you would end up having pistons at every 90° increment either way - just mirror the timing wheel paint job and rewire the timing sensors for the reversed firing order?

[@JamesTK]

@@kepstinand a few nukes on button number 5 for when everything goes wrong

[@outandabout259]

@@kepstin he used controller to offset the crank so he only needs to mirror the paint and reverse the bearings. Then the whole engine will be mirrored.

[@K0wp3R]

Or rotate the timing wheel 105 /-105 degrees from the middle of the 0rpm zone (should be about ±30°). The timing is symmetrical to that point in the middle of the "dead" zone, +x degrees spins one way, -x spins with the same torque and rpm but the other way.

[@theflyingshunter]

Can you try remaking a train with these new techniques

[@theatlasv8633]

Im curious if siderods would work on such a creation

[@outandabout259]

You could eliminate a lot of gears and lag by connecting the wheels with long bars. Maybe one on the inside and one on the outside offset by 90 degrees and a piston on the inside of the wheel for the bar to pass through.

[@ka-uy8yh]

you can use curved pipes for the gears, it removes a lot of the "slack" in them (very cool video as always :))

[@kANGaming]

I tried that in the challenges but a lot of people said that was causing the interference.

[@ka-uy8yh]

@@kANGaming I've never had issues with it, you could test it with the Dyno if it causes any loss in Performance

[@wesleyfischer2913]

Strait gears have a lot of slack and corded gears of build wrong have a huge amount of vibrations

[@keewalks5310]

Yeah he should @@ka-uy8yh

[@scrap5407]

It would be really cool if you make a tank with differential steering, that only utilizes one engine and powers both rear wheels like a locomotive

[@mukuldeep3488]

that would be a lot of bearings though as you see but it may work as you'll have one less engine working

[@scrap5407]

It will use a lot less bearings than having 18 gears drive 8 wheels

[@MrLarsgren]

it will be horrible at steering tho since you have to brake steer and have 1 track lock up instead of going reverse . it will work yes but badly.

[@scrap5407]

@@MrLarsgren Yep, unfortunately nothing complex in SM is really practical anyhow

[@DianaTheLance]

If you need a MM idea, it could be cool to have a no-seat race with the frame you've got at 10:15, where y'all stand on a platform and have to adjust both engines to regulate your speed and flip the bearings to turn.

[@MrLarsgren]

since youre getting really into piston engines now then i challenge you to ONLY use piston powered vehicles in survival when chapter 2 come out XD

[@kANGaming]

I've thought about this but it usually takes a while to get the parts needed to make a decent piston engine. I might play through it first normally just to see all the features then do a piston only playthrough :P

[@MrLarsgren]

@@kANGaming just farm the ruins in burnt forests and corn fields for kits. i found those to have the best kit payout.

[@anteshell]

@@MrLarsgren That is assuming the balance won't be changed on the update, which is very unlikely. Everything they've published about the chapter 2 points towards drastic gameplay balance changes around the component kits.

[@Midnight-ne8zi]

@@kANGaming I am currently doing a run through where i am only allowed to use the scrap engine.. everything else has to be piston powered, This allows me to get early game resources with a crappy engine but then i can upgrade to piston power when able..

[@MrLarsgren]

@@anteshell alot of people says its oh so hard to get component kits so they are probably gonna add more..

[@samuelmiller2552]

I think the asymmetrical power can be fixed by swapping button 3 and 4 on the second engine and connecting the engine on the other side of the piston at 8:19

[@thundercrowz]

I think you should try making a Honda civic with a piston engine in scrap mechanic it would be really interesting to see how the steering would need to be made for the FF engine layout!

[@YotaXP]

I'd kind of like to see what the "component kit" cost of each build is. Things made in creative tends to be at level 5, which gets quite costly in survival.

[@normalbird8040]

you could build some clutch system to power both tracks with only one engine but also still be able to turn so you get less lag and complexity

[@elijahwalling1246]

I personally like the idea of a single high torque engine that uses clutches and gears to distribute power to the different sides. I might try that myself

[@xEternalSaltx]

I love your piston creations. I’m going to have to do the challenge packs on stream with everything I have learned from you.

[@blueflame_sm]

Lag could've been mitigated by using 2x1 ramp passthroughs or, even better, 0-width block passthroughs. I dont think it was necessary to mirror the entire engine. Pretty sure mirroring the timimg wheel should be enough. Heck, if you find the exact offset for no rotation using trigonometry you shouldn't need to at all ... Cant wait to see you get over 100HP out of a smaller engine format. I do beleive properly built bevel gears with corner pieces have similar performance to straight pipes, but with less play.

[@TheElshagan]

With all these Piston engines etc, all we need now is a Piston survival.

[@sambrown6426]

One way to make it more aesthetically pleasing would be to have the engines longitudinally mounted in the center, driving the left and right via a 90 degree gear set running straight into one of the passthroughs on either side. You'd need to use a driver's saddle instead of a driver's seat if you want the engines to be centered, but it's definitely an option.

[@Trekkertech]

I wonder if a push rod setup would be less laggy compared to the geared setup.

[@hr1253]

I feel like Axolotl should make a pass through bearing block for vanilla. Just a block that's solid on 4 sides and a linked bearing on the other 2/

[@lem860]

If you remove the mifdle two wheels from each side you could probably fit the engines there to drive the lengthwise shaft directly, less wheels, less gears, less lag

[@MrLarsgren]

less tank XD

[@darkfire_17]

I don't know if it is possible, but a radial aircraft engine would be interesting to see. Just wondering what torque and hp it will have, I imagine it will have a lot.

[@malhardeadshot6118]

you should make the engine directly using the drive shaft as cranks, also u can try one engine connected to a differential, so when one side of the diff is locked it will rotate the other side and can turn in either direction

[@ShawnF6FHellcat]

My first thought was to build only one connection to the wheels and then use a train wheel setup to link the other ones so that the lag isn't as bad. I guess you jump into the transmission and clutch rabbit hole now? If you can find a way to make a transmission, then you might be able to get away with just one engine, possibly reducing lag in the process.

[@Psycorde]

This is awesome, I hope to see an improved and lag-free version in the next video!

[@gail_blue]

At some point, I'd like to see a video that compiles all the pistons tricks you've learned into one video: Pass-throughs, the crankshaft glitch, gears, trammel gears, timing, reverse timing, the dyno, etc...

[@waylonmorristexas4851]

Oh yeah buddy, more piston engine stuff

[@xoABEONAxo]

You could have a single V8 or something, then have the buttons activate pistons that engage clutches and/or gears

[@Till-B]

Kan`t wait to see the rebuild of this tank!

[@steavemckansey6600]

kan, pls learn the small warehouse-ramp passthrough, it will make working on everything so much more comfortable since u can switch out and weld on your creation is on your jack and you dont have to waste a piston witch will be nice for when u return to the challenges

[@aeresys]

I feel like the ideal setup for a piston powered mobile survival base would be to have 3 massive (like 33 block diameter) wheels on either side powered by slow high torque piston engines mounted directly to the driveshaft. You could also have gear reduction from the driveshaft to the wheels, if you find a good setup for larger gears

[@MrLarsgren]

why so complicated. just a springglitch in each wheel with a bearing at each end. then you have forward and reverse control and over 20000 nm of torgue on each wheel. run the glitch via a controller and have max angle at 26. above that it can get glitchy

[@RobumTurtle]

Keep it up bra. This type of gaming video is the new meta.

[@mukuldeep3488]

you can make it compact be attaching the wheel directly to the passthrough piston and put the gear of wheel directly on the passthrough piston and you can make remove some blocks widthwise from the frame. But that would make it way slim considering the length. Plus you made it way complicated by making a central shaft and then the engine, you could instead move the wheels apart a little and attach the engine to the directly to the two central shaft on both sides. (So I tried the wheel directly on the passthrough piston and it is not problem, maybe look into it) :) Or you could take each piston of an engine and wire them to the pipe in between the shaft things since the sensors are not one the piston like before so the timing wheel and everything can be at the end of the whole central shaft

[@GummieI]

Totally looking forward to when kAN start just making piston engines in the MM's :P

[@novacore2776]

Would be cool to see you incorporate a clutch system aswell. You could for instance only use one engine but use a clutch for each side?

[@brackpin]

Now add a explosive catapult on a turret. You can call it the boom lobba. Also side sponsen mounted tato guns.

[@EatMyYeeties]

Some have mentioned some alternative options, Ill throw in mine Just move the output gear on the left motor to the other side! Basically flip the polarity of the one motor for each operation, so itll spin the driveshaft counter to what it is currently. This will ensure both motors spin the same way when going forward/backward and the founter when turning when it doesnt matter as much.

[@slate613]

If/when you build this thing out, make false air intakes on the engine towers to cover up the verticality.

[@b1a1e48]

I think it would be super cool to use the double bearing clutch to make a one engine powered tank or zero turn

[@Darkgamer22263]

Try this with 1 engine. Make like a transmission system. Where your reverse, turning, and forward uses the same gear system that powers the wheels.

[@user-rt5hd9bn4f]

You should build a piston powered steam train with walschaerts valve gear.

[@Berilaco]

You could maybe just try another 90 degree gear to put the engines horizontally... doesnt change the performance or anything but it looks a bit bettee

[@stevepittman3770]

Hm, I bet you could make a single engine tank that uses pistons to selectively engage gears to turn either the left wheels, the right wheels, or both. You'd still need a reversible engine, but at least then you wouldn't have to worry about trying to get 2 engines to output similar force at the same time.

[@draconiumnova5110]

You didn't have to have vertical piston engines if you just had the pistons as part of the shaft that connected each set of wheels

[@KrakenIsMahB]

I think easiest way to balance it would be to make powerful 8 piston engine and just make on/off lock system for power to each side, that would allow steering, duplicate it on other side of engine for reverse function

[@nachorealname5566]

Can you show, in your videos making the passthough gear. I know i saw you do it like once but since its newish it would be nice to see you make it each time as a refresher.

[@ScottaHemi440]

i think i would have built the engines into the frame. one in the front one in the back. either way this tank is sweet!

[@eurodesigninc]

Do more railroads online there was a huge new update!

[@jakoob874]

try a subtractor gearbox and/or as a challenge see if you can do it with just one engine and a steering bearing

[@julienmeunierwolfgunnm6536]

for some reason you can use left and rigth clic you press the 2 first switsh or bottons on the hotbart

[@-aid4084]

I wonder if you could've used a coupling rod for the other wheels instead of gears, this would save a lot of bearings and collisions/potential power loss.

[@questionblechoices]

Can you use the passthrough pistons to enguage and disengage the gears? That way you can use one engine that is always runing and does not have to speed up.

[@wisnoskij]

I feel like with tank drive, the ideal solution would just to put the engines inline in each of the transmissions. You only need 4 blocks, so I think they even would of fit without moving any of the wheels. PS: I wonder if you could avoid the gearing physics by treating the ground at the gear? Make every Wheel a single piston engine works with the other wheels using the ground a a force transferring medium?

[@fedorapsycho1280]

MULTIPLAYER MONDAY RACE IDEA have everyone build vehicles that drive using only engine settings and steer using only the connect tool

[@geno1146]

I wonder if you can make a single engined version. I think it would a bit more complicated but could reduce the lag and it would be lighter.

[@aydenaustin5451]

please use one piston engine and point it strait back you could power both sides at the same time so no difference in timing and also you can put the "gears" on one side or the other to keep them both moving in the same direction

[@chris993361]

It might have been as simple as flipping one of the engines over so that technically they were running the same way.

[@royaday940]

It was only a matter of time before Kan created a piston tank

[@TheMostUt]

XOR would let you turn while moving by turning off whichever side you need.

[@jallark9041]

What about a SINGLE flat 8 with a dual gear engagement. I usually use piston based gear engagement to control forward and reverse. You could do a 2 stage version where you have baseline engagement to each side the do a directional drive gear for each side.

[@jallark9041]

I have a couple videos showing how i prefer to do it

[@steeljawX]

I mean the "true" tank setup would be to have both sides running off of the same engine, but the transmission jankery needed for that would break my mind. I can do it in Stormworks, not Scrap Mechanic.

[@Putin_mid]

Yeah new vid, love it.

[@mattiavincenzi9997]

I really wish the survaival series to come back, even if it's not with kosmo

[@laryloonster]

You could easily just move your drive gear to the other side of one side and keep the same engine and timing.

[@SuperPeter05]

Now, how did you make that pass through. I'll have to look up that video.

[@jasontrucks9465]

Try an evolution battle with this as the base frame and only source of moving power

[@Cedar23]

they should make a through bearing block a vanila thing yk

[@kepler_45]

i actualy made a transmition that requires only 1 engine and has full tank stering front and back, also the engine does not need to switch direction

[@justinpatterson5291]

I still want to see a dual rotor engine for a helicopter of some kind. Maybe a crossover rotor.

[@boris_gaming]

And here is the first prototype of Leopard 2

[@Slusar1501]

Can you try making an offroad truck with a suspension?

[@YoYoK3nny]

I'm curious, can the piston in the passthroughs still work and push the gears out of being engaged?

[@timmyvigland8962]

You could just swap which side the drive shaft gears contact with the wheel gears.

[@ziplineslowdown6782]

Instead of a dual engine u could build a one engine tank with a transmission so then u don't have to worry wether or not the engines are inputin the same amount of power/Rpm

[@joostvisser6508]

Perhaps it's less laggy if you instead use a single engine that always runs the same direction and uses clutches to control the driveshafts?

[@danialmelloman8403]

Piston v12 or v8 train or plane (probably same gearing set up with gear reduction for speed like for tank wheels) also on side note cant you just use a short pipe and make a spider gear right at engine to use 1 motor for both sides? 19:56

[@NineKunGTH]

This should work if use differential instead of a twin engine?

[@Wheagg]

I think a two-bar linkage would've been better

[@mihalydozsa2254]

You cold mitigate the lag if you turn down the phisics

[@crazyjack3357]

You could have used less through bearings. not all of the wheels needed to be powered. Just one wheel needed to be powered on the left and right. Like an IRL tank and just have the other free spinning would save on frames or, if need connect the wheels with a main rod to work as tracks to power all the wheels.

[@rojnx9]

Why didn't you use a coupling rod on the wheels over a drive-shaft? Wouldn't it have produced less friction and interference?

[@theannihilator665]

I just tried my hand at piston engines and I made a v8 with 130k nm torque and 1300+ HP at around 140-150rpm, using a 5 block crankshaft instead of 3. definitely a completely unnecessary amount of power.. it just jumps gear teeth even with double gears and extra bearings for rigidity.. I haven't been able to get more than 180rpm with it though

[@DieselSquid]

Now you need to make a train

[@Baer1990]

needs a differential I think

[@maurer3d]

Not sure if I am understanding this completely right (not an engineer myself), but wouldn't you always have the pulling in one direction or the other once you start turning. Because you are stopping an engine and restarting it?

[@fixyourautomobile]

I've got some older piston engine videos on my channel. I'd like to see each wheel on a truck or car to be powered by pistons. Maybe I'll build one later.

[@madeyema4159]

Wild

[@davidaugustofc2574]

Piston powered plane next, I guess?

[@XpertEngineer12]

nice vid

[@dodoherogames2830]

Can you try making block to block clutches(4 in total) and sapling the big v8

[@theyeetus1428]

Could you please upload this to the workshop so we can try it and attempt to improve it?

[@Samueras]

No need to make a mirrored Engine, you could just drive the left side from below instead of above the axel, that way it would go the over way with both engines going the same.

[@gabecimoch2160]

Where can we get the I-4 piston engine used in this video? Also the other day I came across the video about the battery charger, is that a real thing or just some mod.

[@Foxdog199]

Kan try make a 24 cylinder engine

[@Der_Yoloist]

There is also a new mod that brings challenge mode into creative somehow

[@UndeadJester1]

surely theres a way to make tank steering happen using only one piston engine

[@mukuldeep3488]

18:11 I would rather say that it works better because of the gear and not despite since electric drive can be like less power to one wheel and more to the other while gearing gives all the power to all the wheels

[@michaelmain1990]

Easy way to mirror the engines was change the timing wheel marks

[@nebula_wolf3132]

Couldn't you just mirror the paint on the encoder wheel? Or failing that put a gear on the opposite side of the shaft that connects the the engine? It is a good concept though, and remember that train you showed off once that required reduced physics? Since you have passthroughs now it would probably work with reduced physics.

[@trilliongold]

Alight, hear me out.... piston powered motorcycle.

[@somebody4936]

Hello kAN i think you have to try stormworks. You will like it