Two Stroke Diesel Moped With Variable Compression! 18cc!

This is a Lohmann Diesel moped engine with 18cc and variable compression.
A very interesting thing !
Should be able to return 100km on one liter of Diesel!
#dieselengine #twostroke #moped
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[@SeasideGarage]

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!

[@DanielBerkness]

I'm here just in time!

[@marvindebot3264]

Mate, try running it on kerosene, I think you will get far better results.

[@sparky6086]

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.

[@SynomDroni]

What about oil? Did I miss something?

[@qoph1988]

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

[@Mountain-Man-3000]

There's just something so endearing about a tiny engine on a bicycle. A tiny diesel is even more endearing!

[@fidelcatsro6948]

Little baby Cummins diesel engine so cute😂

[@michaellavery4899]

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.

[@jonathanmellqvist2]

​@@michaellavery4899it's not that deep

[@michaelathens953]

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.

[@steve-tr2yr]

YES.. I AGREE. STEVE IN PGH, PA

[@sparky6086]

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.

[@one_boi3926]

And there are a lot of those areas in Denmark and Germany

[@stevenroper3577]

The ultimate barn find - one can only dream!

[@LaLaLand.Germany]

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.

[@alfonsoortizavila4373]

Thanks for sharing this! I love tiny engines also, but a mini diesel engine is just so cool.

[@paulvandermaas6639]

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.

[@topspoke]

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?🤔

[@SeasideGarage]

The Dark Barn... :P

[@gehejjed1]

Dark web. That's good! 😂

[@JOOLZNED]

Works excactly like a 1970's RC model diesel engine. Love it

[@michaelwoernle378]

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

[@kasuraga]

not high octane, high cetane. Octane is resistance to detonation, Cetane is ability to ignite. Higher the cetane, faster it self ignites.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

​@@kasuraga😼👍

[@G-ra-ha-m]

Possibly vegetable oil might be better, nicer smell and better lubrication.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

@@G-ra-ha-m i once topped up my 110cc bike with edible vegetable cooking oil because the oil level was below par

[@G-ra-ha-m]

@@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! :)

[@Del350K4]

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.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

You finish your errands and it starts on the way home a few feet from your doorstep 😂

[@Del350K4]

@@fidelcatsro6948 Ha ha!

[@JohnSmith-pl2bk]

Perhaps making sure that you heat the engine with a blow torch before pedaling might hasten starting?

[@Del350K4]

@@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.

[@gur262]

The horror: cycling 😂😂

[@neilfoster814]

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.

[@GodmanchesterGoblin]

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.

[@neilfoster814]

@@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.

[@albinklein7680]

Those aren't Diesel engines. These engines are compression ignition engines. A true Diesel engine is a completely different story.

[@strawbemily3182]

@@albinklein7680 pretty sure diesel and CI are the same thing.. just that diesel is a subset of CI that well.... runs on diesel

[@albinklein7680]

@@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.

[@darrenwilson8042]

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

[@ThisTimeTheWorld]

The All Lies really screwed up. By joining the J team instead of the A team, America got jewed too.

[@robinwells8879]

Sometimes, just occasionally, I bless the YT algorithm ❤. I have found another spiritual home.

[@jo05dk]

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 🙂

[@albinklein7680]

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.

[@JohnSmith-pl2bk]

@@albinklein7680 Bit like magnesium aero engine bits and pieces...rot away.

[@stewart8127]

Honda started with simple mopeds

[@johnbrereton5229]

​​@@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.

[@stewart8127]

@@johnbrereton5229 not the ones that started in the 1970s who previously made looms , musical instruments,or Trains. Meaning 3 of the big 4

[@andydelarue9344]

Starting tip for old diesels, heat the inlet air with hot air gun , paint stripper/ hair dryer .

[@johnbaker1256]

Fascinating!

[@ai-d2121]

Wow. Great little engine. So clever.

[@SeasideGarage]

Very clever ! yet very simple... which is two great things to combine..

[@ronitsingh85]

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!

[@mikemike9449]

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.

[@paddyglenny]

Excellent video! And may I say that as a non-native English speaker, your use of colloquial English is very, very good.👍🏾

[@what9418]

That thing seems to like revs. Interesting!

[@johnwalker194]

I thought that same thing ! Peppy little bugger 🤔

[@rubenhoekstra4637]

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.

[@noahwail2444]

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!

[@cristianocastagno9680]

This is absolutely wonderful to hear you explaining this jewel of human ingenuity.

[@robvandeventer3307]

These things run maximum 20 mph on a good day and smoked so much that the police saw you coming 5 miles away.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

It makes a great mosquito fogging machine on the go..

[@JohnSmith-pl2bk]

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????

[@chrisboll1515]

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.

[@theblackhand6485]

Great! Nice technique. Didn't know this existed. And great history lesson that comes with it too!

[@marcellucassen8033]

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.

[@niteshades_promise]

Love my 4stroke gas bike. But a diesel you can run multi fuels in would be awesome.🤔🍻

[@ATomRileyA]

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.

[@michaelgillett5477]

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

[@Alan_Hans__]

What a cool bit of gear.

[@Pathfinderxr]

"I just need to learn how it works," the words of humble, Wise man! 👍

[@wibblywobblyidiotvision]

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.

[@Dieseljonnyboy]

That’s a brilliant design. Thanks for uploading and all your dedication!!

[@holdenbrougham1056]

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

[@DavidPritchard-i7x]

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.

[@snowdaysrule]

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!

[@waltersaunders7699]

Fantasic! Every home should have one or more. What a great find. Thanks

[@frequencywatchers]

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

[@fredtracy1673]

My brother had a Chicken Power bicycle engine that clipped onto the forks, back in the mid 1980's. 🙂 cheers from Canada 🇨🇦

[@Hipyon]

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

[@ReidHenderson]

I love rare oddity engines like this when I find them❤.

[@nomadicmind]

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.

[@------country-boy-------]

I love all types of diesel engines big and small !!! Watching all the way from Belize 🌴🌴🌴🌄

[@yakacm]

A lever to alter compression was pretty common on older bikes, so it was easier to kick start the thing.

[@audiovectra]

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

[@rossbrumby1957]

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.

[@tauncfester3022]

@@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.

[@audiovectra]

@@rossbrumby1957it’s a diesel, there’s no ignition system

[@christo930]

4:33 I don't think any diesel engine has a carb. AFAIK, diesel has always been injection. Presumably, the fuel has to be injected very close to TDC to prevent the fuel from igniting too early in the stroke. Like say diesel ignites at the temperature generated at 12:1, but it's a 15:1 compression engine. If you inject the fuel too early, it will auto ignite when it reaches the point in the stroke where the compression has reached 12:1 and its associated temperature. So ideally, you would inject the fuel just before TDC.

[@TankEpidemic]

The tiny continental tire is hilarious, what a cool find

[@cartmanrlsusall]

Very clever engine with a few refinements like electronic controls over fuel and a belt drive instead of the wheel friction it would be a viable machine, it's very interesting compared to the kits available for bicycles right now

[@JohnSmith-pl2bk]

With gasoline fuel injection on chainsaws now common... maybe a high pressure fuel pump driven off a bump in the crankshaft and electronic injector is feasible for this style of diesel engine...rather than a drip?

[@cartmanrlsusall]

@@JohnSmith-pl2bk I agree with a little modification that looks like a good engine, is it cast iron or aluminum

[@JohnSmith-pl2bk]

@@cartmanrlsusall Looks like an aluminium piston, steel rings, steel inner cylinder and aluminium 'exterior "head" etc.?

[@cartmanrlsusall]

@@JohnSmith-pl2bk I don't know a schematic with details would answer that

[@kevinsellsit5584]

That is very cool! Please show us more on this very unique engine! Thank you!

[@superliegebeest544]

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

[@joneserupinsmoke9161]

I love two stroke engines man.they need to make em like they use to

[@sietse9920]

Makes me think of the Marine Volvo Penta MD6: when you start it, you take off the compression to help the starter to get it to ‘some’ RPM. Once it ‘s spinning, you pull down a leaver which closes something (?) and there is compression and the engine starts running

[@d-d-i]

My father had one old norwegian Øglænd (Öglaend) moped which had half-compression valve on the cylinder head for easier starting. Once it fired up, you closed the valve, there was cable and lever for it on the handlebar.

[@JohnSmith-pl2bk]

@@d-d-i Larger CC chainsaws, larger single cylinder dirt bikes, old Brit single banger motorcyles had a compression release of one sort or another..

[@motolab.EuropeanMotorcycles]

Called a valve lifter…. It does not close anything, but in the contrary, it opens the exhaust valve before “running”

[@16jan1986]

You really need to take it to Faaborg on a Wednesday....btw early lister or ruston diesels also have variable compression in 2 levels startup and run level in addition to the decompression system

[@DrivingSander1970]

Yet another great video! I was looking forward to this one! 🙂

[@mikevolante7663]

Great video. Fantastic piece of history. I think your very lucky to have it. Look after it

[@marvindebot3264]

I need one of these to scan, turn into CAD files and remake, so many uses for such a nice little engine!

[@goingoutotheparty1]

So much more Eco than a Tesla. Live this. Bike life ⚡

[@chuckmaddison2924]

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.

[@_..-.._..-.._]

Omg, that title is the fastest click I’ve ever made. 2 stroke diesels are the future of ICE engines, the giant ones in ships are the most efficient ICE engines in the world, as low as 200 g/kWh (I think that’s the measurement) the Detroit needs to be remade with new tech.

[@alexjohnson1612]

A friend of mine built himself a chopper, i was surprised when he said it was diesel.

[@70sport37]

That is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen ! Suppressed tech !

[@abovegroundgarage]

That little tiny continental solid rubber drive tire is hilarious

[@ghengiscant538]

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 .

[@icascone]

What a weird and interesting engine too!

[@johnlaccohee-joslin4477]

would really like to see a lot more about this engine as it looks like it could have so very good uses in todays world. I have never seen an engine of this kind and should imagine they are quite rare to find, but would love to see just how it operates amd how its built. Very interesting video indeed!!!!

[@steve-tr2yr]

What a beautiful little diesel.. Steve from the U. S. A. PGH, PA.

[@janstolk486]

The lohman set up with that tiney muffler used to be called " the nerve grinder "

[@timallen6025]

Wow fascinating concept and rare indeed. Thank you , your description is ace

[@jimeditorial]

Great video....I always wondered why diesels weren't made for mopeds and scooters

[@harryharker9564]

Love the sound of that little engine

[@fidelcatsro6948]

Sounds like a Yamaha on peanut oil😂

[@santhoshktm]

Amazing...

[@Mads_Villebro]

Such an interesting little engine! 🤓

[@gehejjed1]

Very interesting design!

[@tommytalker3416]

My mother and my father had each a bicykle with Lohman Motors in the ealy 50th. Befor skrapping, the motors was taken out and keept in the cellar. In th early 70 my father rembered the motors and startet with my brother (13) and me (11) to install one into an actuel bicykle. The second motor was used for spare parts. It was hard work to bring the motor to ingnition by pedal force. As far as I remember it tock hjalf to one kilometer to get stabil ignition. All what is left totay from the Lohmanns is the front cover of one tank (other tank version als shown in the vid).

[@noeldoyle4501]

Here in the present time I would like to say thank you for your interesting video,

[@JaymeVanAuken]

That is a very clever designed diesel thanks for sharing.

[@TonyJewell0]

Are you spinning it clockwise to start it? Surely with the backwheel going forwards you should be spinning that drive wheel anti-clockwise?

[@_zzpza]

Did you borrow This Old Tony's time travel lathe? Cool little engine!

[@thelimike]

I have one of those,got it running.Kind of hard to start.Lots of fun to play with,Going to put it on the German E bay soon .

[@JohnSmith-pl2bk]

Do you think that the zinc metal of the mixer may be "rotted" over time...and thus the fine adjustments just can't be made as they were intended to be when these were new? Do you use any lubricant mixed in or just straight diesel? Do you preheat the engine before starting it? Once it warms up does it put out less smoke?

[@ericlitalien8360]

Very clever! Wow! I wish i could see one

[@super-8]

Phantastic and all over all electros , will work in 1000 years too

[@Nordmende01]

What I remember from my young days, these moped had no idle. You start the engine during driving and shut down when you stay

[@landog59]

The time it takes for it to start, I think you have reached your destination... nice! 😂

[@Thatdavemarsh]

Fantastic example of great engineering. Thanks for sharing!

[@GrimesGarage]

The cute little continental tire is so cool. 😂

[@retrodave79]

Great video, very interesting piece of history you have there :)

[@plap.]

Great little engine. I love this kind of stuff. I have dozens of little motors from lawn equipment and such. I just can't toss a small working machine wether it is hooked to something or not. Always feels great when they come alive. My goal one day is to acquire one of the many little V8s available like a Toyan and set it up just to play on my coffee table or something. Maybe a blender. I could also deal with something like a Moki radial. Such a hoot. Don't even need a plane

[@gerrycarmichael1391]

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.

[@klesmer]

Wow. A tiny 2cycle sleeve valve diesel. I want one!

[@m0peds]

The French coined the term cyclette à Moteur de Secours later cyclomoteur or cyclemotor, fantastic video, very rare to find complete on the bike.

[@derrybelcher3286]

What an interesting oddball engine. Your querky humour is priceless. 😂

[@thatcheapguy525]

back in 1981 when I was in my last year at school, a friend turned up with a 2-stroke variable compression diesel engine with a propellor on the front. it fueled using an adjustable carburettor and the compression was controlled by a tap-screw on top raising or lowering a cylinder head dummy inside. can't remember the engine capacity but in comparision to model aircraft engines I was familiar with at the time it must have been around 10-12cc. and interestingly, we used it to test fuels from cracking crude oil in an after-school nerds club (thats before we accidentally managed to blow-up the science lab lol).

[@coachgeo]

look forward to next video on this thing

[@lyslebasinger7381]

I saw this years ago in popular mechanics. There was also a outboard version for kayak or canoe.

[@pabloiervolino2265]

Exelente envio!! Tenés una joya ! Te felicito!! Un saludo desde Argentina🇦🇷

[@seabass6106]

Saab had also made an 4 cyl engine with varying compression ratio in the late 90's, SAAB SVC engine.

[@Dave5843-d9m]

Model aircraft engines with compression ignition have existed for many decades. They were old news in the 1960s. A T-bar screw on the cylinder head was used to vary the compression ratio.

[@nonoyorbusness]

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!