Read below in earlier post.

"Jerry Wass" wrote in message
. net...
Bill Daniels wrote:
Oh, I dunno, you don't win races by blowing up engines - you have to
finish.

Most of what goes into race prepping an engine is beefing it up so it
lasts the whole race at extreme power output. Reduce power to a more
reasonable level and a race engines will last practically forever. The
current crop of "Sport Touring" motorcycles are just that - de-tuned
racers. Having one wear out or fail in service is almost unheard of.

The same tricks used to increase reliability of a race engine can be used
to increase reliability even further in normal use. DLC's increase
reliability not power.

Bill Daniels

Hey, Wot's a DLC???(please)Jerry


"Scott" wrote in message
news
Certified? Not in a "homebuilt" group!

However, that said, I think you are right...reliability is a relatively
unknown word in racing engine circles I suspect...

I'm still waiting for the space shuttles to be reitred so I's can get
one of their engines as surplus and bolt it on my Corben :O

Scott


Maxwell wrote:
"Bill Daniels" bildan@comcast-dot-net wrote in message
...

I've been following the development of Diamond-Like Coatings (DLC's)
for a decade of so. These are vapor deposited coatings of carbon in
diamond crystal form applied directly to engine parts. The motorcycle
racers have exploited this technology for about an 8% increase in HP
through reduction in internal friction.

The stuff works on any internal surface where friction and wear is a
problem. Lycoming cams and mushroom tappets seem like a natural
aplication. The costs have come down to where a few hundred dollars of
coating work is enough for an engine. However, I haven't heard of the
technology being applied to aviation piston engines.


I have always wondered why the aviation community hasn't utilized more
of lessons learned from the racing communities. Granted, we have to
deal with certified products and procedures in most cases, and
reliability should always take a back seat to overall power output. But
so much has been learned from all forms of racing that deals strictly
with reliability and efficency, that is surprises me so little of it
makes it to GA.


--
Scott
http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
Gotta Fly or Gonna Die
Building RV-4 (Super Slow Build Version)