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12-02-23 | 11:14 PM

#76

cyccommute

Mad bike riding scientist

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 29,161

Likes: 6,229

From: Denver, CO

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Quote:

Originally Posted by madpogue

Doesn't a piston engine have multiple crank arms, that make up the crankshaft, that sits in the crankcase? Wouldn't that have been true even if the first reciprocating engines had electric starters rather than external cranks?

Good thing we're not fretting over musical instrument terminology.

I was incorrect on calling it a “crank arm” rather than a “crankshaft” but it is still encased in the crankcase. But you have the wrong terminology as well. The pistons are moved up and down on piston rods that are attached to the crank. A crank that is still in a crankcase.

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Last edited by cyccommute; 12-02-23 at 11:26 PM.

12-03-23 | 03:48 AM

#77

madpogue

Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 6,169

Likes: 1,797

From: Madison, WI USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyccommute

I was referring to the crank itself, not the connecting rods. The "crankshaft" is not a straight shaft. The sections of the crank that the connecting rods connect to are, of course, offset from the centerline of the crank.