It involved reworking an engine to make it run backwards for use in a twin engine boat so that the propellers would rotate in opposite directions. It sounded bogus to me since it would be much easier to accomplish that via the transmission.
Re: Last week's CarTalk puzzler answer. Bogus or not?
It was very common for GM 350 cu in motors to be LH counterclockwise (used in all single motor vessels) or RH clockwise. Differences included cams, piston offset position, some seals, firing order, starter, and not much else. This was a few decades ago when I owned them, and I am not certain what is common now. Haven't heard the term LH or RH recently, so I guess the practice faded away.
Re: Last week's CarTalk puzzler answer. Bogus or not?
Still Common in Aus.
I think Pentas used the tranny since day dot, but mercs used RH & LH engines for ages and still very common in the repower market. Haven't checked lately but I think you can still buy them new for repower purposes. I imagine the practice was changed with the newer legs. (Maybe the Bravos?)
Still common with some marine diesels, as I think they need even less modification.
Considering the mass and torque involved, it actually makes sense.
Don will correct me I am sure, but I was always told that the MC drive and the original Alpha Ones couldn't be run in reverse for long periods, hence the reverse rotation engines. However, Alpha One Gen 2s and Bravos can, and are, run backwards with no problems. That's why reverse engines are no longer installed new in the US. Yeah, you can still get them for repowers.
Still Common in Aus.
I think Pentas used the tranny since day dot, but mercs used RH & LH engines for ages and still very common in the repower market. Haven't checked lately but I think you can still buy them new for repower purposes. I imagine the practice was changed with the newer legs. (Maybe the Bravos?)
Still common with some marine diesels, as I think they need even less modification.
Considering the mass and torque involved, it actually makes sense.
Of course they are common in the re-power market. There were a lot of those boats with RH engines built over the years, and those old engines fail for many reasons. When people have to replace a failed engine they use the same rotation engine as came out so they don't have to change the transmission as well.
