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45-571: The Albion Viking VK was a bus chassis manufactured by Albion between 1963 and 1980. The Albion Viking VK41 was launched in 1963 as a front engined replacement for the Albion Victor VT. In 1965, the rear engined Viking VK43 was introduced. Later the VK49, VK55 and VK57 versions were released. Following the closure of Albion's Scotstoun plant in October 1980, production was transferred to Leyland with

90-450: A longitudinal engine orientation (i.e. with the crankshaft in line with the chassis) or a U-engine ( tandem twin ) where the cylinders are arranged longitudinally in the chassis (although the two crankshafts are actually oriented transversely). Compared with V-twin engines and flat-twin engines , straight-twins are more compact, a simpler design and cheaper to produce. Straight-twin engines can be prone to vibration, either because of

135-426: A 180 degree crankshaft and a balance shaft. Since 1993, most Honda straight-twin motorcycle engines use 180 degree crankshafts. Two-stroke engines typically use a 180 degree crankshaft, since this results in two evenly-spaced power strokes per revolution. The fundamental frequency of vibration is twice that of an equivalent single-cylinder engine; however, the amplitude is halved. Two-stroke engines that do not use

180-421: A 180 degree crankshaft include the 1972 Yankee . In an engine with a 270 degree crankshaft, one piston follows three quarters of a rotation behind the other. This results in an uneven firing interval where the second cylinder fires 270 degrees after the first, followed by a gap of 450 degrees until the first cylinder fires again. This is the same pattern as a 90 degree V-twin engine , and both configurations have

225-413: A 270 degree crankshaft can have a similar sound and feel to a V-twin engine with an uneven firing order. Longitudinal engine straight-twin motorcycles are less common; however, examples include the 1930–1938 Dresch Monobloc and the 1949–1956 Sunbeam S7 and S8 . This engine orientation allows for a motorcycle as narrow as a single-cylinder engine, which reduces the aerodynamic drag, especially for

270-484: A 32-horsepower (24 kW) engine, using chain drive to the rear wheels. After the war many of them were converted for use as charabancs . Trucks and buses (single- and double-deckers) were manufactured in the Scotstoun works until 1980 (1972 for complete vehicles). The buses were exported to Asia, East Africa, Australia, India and South Africa. Almost all Albion buses were given names beginning with "V", these models being

315-476: A 360 degree crankshaft. Vibration was less of an issue for smaller engines, such as the 1965 Honda CB92 and 1979 Honda CM185 . Larger engines, such as the 1969 Yamaha XS 650 and 1972 Yamaha TX750 , often used balance shafts to reduce the vibration. The later 1978–1984 Honda CB250N/CB400N engines also used a 360 degree crankshaft, as does the 1989 Yamaha XTZ750 Super Ténéré . The 2008 BMW F series parallel-twin motorcycles also use 360 degree crankshafts, with

360-551: A balance shaft is often used to compensate for this. The secondary balance of a 270 degree engine is perfect; however, the configuration does result in an unbalanced rocking couple. The first production 270 degree straight-twin motorcycle engines were fitted to the 1996 Yamaha TRX850 and Yamaha TDM . Later examples include the 2009 Triumph Thunderbird , 2010 Norton Commando 961 , 2012 Honda NC700 series , 2014 Yamaha MT-07 , 2016 Triumph Thruxton 1200 and 2018 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 & Continental GT . This architecture

405-442: A balance shaft to reduce the vibration. A 180 degree straight-twin engine has a secondary imbalance (similar to an inline-four engine); however, the lower reciprocating mass means that this often does not require treatment. A 180° crankshaft engine suffers fewer pumping losses than a 360° twin, because displacement of the crankcase is relatively unchanged as the pistons move. In the 1960s, Japanese motorcycle manufacturers favoured

450-430: A common crank pin for both connecting rods . Most vintage British straight-twin motorcycle engines (such as Triumph, BSA, Norton and Royal Enfield) had two main bearings . Beginning in the late 1950s, most Honda straight-twin engines had four main bearings. Subsequent straight-twin engines had four or occasionally three main bearings. The world's first production motorcycle, the 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller used

495-422: A crankshaft angle of 360 degrees, since the two pistons are in the same direction (i.e. parallel to each other). "Vertical-twin" was used to describe engines with a crankshaft angle of 180 degrees, which causes the pistons to travel in opposite directions. The terms "straight-twin" and "inline-twin" were used more generically for any crankshaft angle. For motorcycles, "inline-twin" has sometimes referred to either

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540-483: A purpose-built double-deck chassis until 1931. In 1923, the first dedicated bus chassis was announced, derived from the one used on the 25 long cwt (2,800 lb; 1,300 kg) truck but with better springing. Bodies seating from 12 to 23 passengers were available. A lower-frame chassis, the Model 26, with 30 to 60 hp (22 to 45 kW) engine and wheelbases from 135 to 192 inches (3,400 to 4,900 mm) joined

585-487: A rustic-looking dogcart made of varnished wood, powered by a flat-twin 8 hp engine with gear-change by "Patent Combination Clutches" and solid tyres . In 1903 Albion introduced a 3115 cc 16 hp vertical-twin , followed in 1906 by a 24 hp four. One of the specialities the company offered was solid-tyred shooting-brakes . The last private Albions were powered by a 15 hp monobloc four of 2492 cc. Passenger car production ceased in 1915 but in 1920

630-406: A similar 'pulsing' exhaust sound as a result. The pistons in a 270 degree straight-twin engine are never both stationary at the same time (as per a 90 degree V-twin engine), thereby reducing the net momentum exchange between the crank and pistons during a full rotation. An imperfect primary balance is created in a 270 degree straight-twin engine, due to a combination of free force and rocking couple;

675-505: A straight-twin engine. The cylinders lay flat and forward-facing, with the pistons connected directly to the rear wheel using a locomotive-style connecting rod. In 1903, the Werner Motocyclette became the second production motorcycle model, using a straight-twin engine with vertical cylinders. The Werner engine uses cast-iron cylinders with integral heads, side valves and has a displacement of 500 cc. The 1938 Triumph Speed Twin

720-410: A third "vestigial" connecting rod (acting as a counterbalance) and a rev limit of 9,000 rpm to reduce vibrations. In 2009 Fiat launched Multiair inline twin car engines that use 360 degree crankshaft which relied on balance shafts to reduce the vibrations. In an engine with a 180 degree crankshaft, one piston rises as the other falls. In a four-stroke engine, the firing interval is uneven, with

765-415: Is as per a single-cylinder engine of equivalent reciprocating mass. Early engines attempted to reduce vibration through counterweights on the crankshaft; however, later methods also included balance shafts and a separate weighted connecting rod. Compared with a single-cylinder engine, the more frequent firing interval (360 degrees compared with 720 degrees) results in smoother running characteristics, despite

810-405: Is proving popular among manufacturers, which are upgrading models that were previously equipped with other engine types, such as the 2016 Honda Africa Twin (formerly a V-twin ), 2023 Honda Hornet (formerly an inline-4 ) or 2023 V-Strom 800 (the older design being equipped with a V-twin ). Each cylinder in a straight-twin engine has a separate crank pin , unlike V-twin engines which can use

855-491: The 2001 Yamaha TMAX and the 2001 Honda Silver Wing . Straight-twin engines are also used in motocross sidecar racing. Many large British motorcycles from 1945 to the 1960s used a straight-twin transverse engine (i.e. oriented with the crankshaft perpendicular to the frame), such as the Triumph Bonneville and Norton Commando . This layout is well suited to air-cooling, since both cylinders receive equal airflow and

900-611: The 2008 Tata Nano . As of January 2024, petrol straight-twin engines used in production cars currently just include the Fiat TwinAir engine (used in various models from Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo). The Piaggio Porter made use of a diesel straight-twin engine until 2020. Straight-twin engines have been often used as inboard motors , outboard motors and jet pump motors. In the early 20th century, gaff-rigged British fishing boats such as Morecambe Bay Prawners Lancashire Nobbys would sometimes retrofit an inboard engine, such as

945-644: The American manufacturer Indian . In 1949, the AJS E-90 Porcupine won the 500  1949 Grand Prix World Championship , becoming the first and only straight-twin motorcycle to win the championship. This engine is one of few four-stroke straight-twins to use cylinders oriented horizontally rather than vertically. Since the 2000s, BMW and several Japanese manufacturers have continued to produce straight-twin engines, mostly for middleweight models. Several large scooters have also used straight-twin engines, such as

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990-629: The British Leyland plant at Bathgate , however component manufacturing continued. British Leyland became Rover Group between 1986 and 1997 the component manufacturing plant became part of Leyland DAF , the newly formed British arm of the Anglo-Dutch company DAF NV , formed by the merger of Rover Group's Leyland Trucks division and the Dutch DAF Trucks company. Following the collapse of DAF in 1993, Leyland DAF went into receivership, and

1035-636: The Chieftain, Clydesdale and Reiver trucks and of the Viking bus models continued. In 1969, the company took over the neighbouring Coventry Ordnance Works on South Street, which it used for truck component manufacture. British Leyland eliminated the Albion name in 1972 with the products continuing to be built at the same factory under the Leyland brand. In 1980, vehicle production at the former Albion factory ceased, moving to

1080-899: The Lister or the Kelvin E2 3.0 litre petrol-paraffin engine. From the 1950s, manufacturers of outboard motors had settled on the use of the basic inline engine design, cylinders stacked on top of each other with the crankshaft driving the propeller shaft . The Suzuki 15 outbound motor was introduced in 1989. Other uses include tractors (such as various John Deere models until 1960), snowmobiles , personal watercrafts , and all-terrain vehicles . Design variations include two-stroke, four-stroke, petrol, diesel, air-cooling , water-cooling , natural aspiration and turbocharging . Ultralight aircraft , single seat gyro-copters and small homebuilt aircraft have also used straight-twin engines, often using engines originally designed for snowmobiles such as

1125-594: The Victor, Valiant, Viking, Valkyrie, and Venturer. Albion also made the Claymore with a 4-speed gearbox . The Reiver was a six-wheeler. The Chieftain had a six-speed gearbox, sixth being an overdrive gear, with a worm and wheel rear axle. The earliest buses were built on the A10 truck chassis with two being delivered to West Bromwich in 1914. Newcastle upon Tyne also took double-deckers at around that time, but Albion did not produce

1170-856: The chassis relaunched as the Leyland Super Viking . Production ceased in 1984. Although some were sold in the United Kingdom, notably to the Scottish Bus Group , the majority were sold overseas including to Barbados and Kowloon Motor Bus in Hong Kong, Fok Lei (now Transmac) in Macau, and SBS in Singapore. The Albion Viking was bought in numbers in Australia. In the 1960s, it was popular with operators of Safari Tours. Albion Motors Albion Motors

1215-458: The chassis was launched in 1937, with the engine and gearbox mounted together, rather than being joined by a separate drive shaft. Albion's own range of diesel engines was also made available. After World War II, the range was progressively modernised and underfloor-engined models were introduced, with two prototypes in 1951, and production models from 1955 with the Nimbus. With the Leyland take over,

1260-474: The company announced that estate cars were available again based on a small bus chassis, it is not known if any were actually made. Although the manufacture of motor cars was the main industry in the first ten years of its existence, it was decided in 1909 to concentrate on the production of commercial vehicles. During World War I , the company built a large quantity of 3-ton trucks for the War Office , powered by

1305-561: The company was founded in 1899 by Thomas Blackwood Murray and Norman Osborne Fulton (both of whom had previously been involved in Arrol-Johnston ). Murray's father, John Lamb Murray mortgaged the Heavyside estate in Biggar, South Lanarkshire , to provide the initial capital. They were joined a couple of years later by John F Henderson who provided additional capital. The factory was originally on

1350-419: The exhaust can exit in the well-cooled location at the front of each cylinder. The transverse-engine straight-twin design has been largely replaced by V-twin engines ; however, the straight-twin design has the advantage of easier packaging of ancillaries (such as the air-filter, carburettor and ignition components), which also improves access to ancillaries for maintenance/repairs. A straight-twin engine using

1395-682: The first floor of a building in Finnieston Street, Glasgow and had only seven employees. In 1903 the company moved to new premises in Scotstoun . In April 1931, the Albion Motor Car Company Ltd was renamed Albion Motors Ltd with its vehicles featuring the sunrise badge. In 1951, Albion was purchased by Leyland Motors , which then became part of the British Leyland Motor Corporation in 1968. Production of

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1440-409: The irregular firing interval present in 180° crank engines or the large uncountered reciprocating mass in 360° crank engines. Inline-twins also suffer further from torsional torque reactions and vibration. The most common crankshaft configurations for straight-twin engines are 360 degrees, 180 degrees and 270 degrees. In an engine with a 360 degree crankshaft, both pistons move up and down at

1485-417: The most common being 360 degrees, 180 degrees and 270 degrees. The straight-twin layout is also referred to as "parallel-twin", "vertical-twin" and "inline-twin". Some of these terms originally had specific meanings relating to the crankshaft angle or engine orientation; however, they are often also used interchangeably. In the United Kingdom, the term "parallel-twin" is traditionally used for engines with

1530-607: The purpose of motorcycle racing. However, the main disadvantage for air-cooled engines is that the rear cylinder runs hotter than the front cylinder. Although two-cylinder engines are quite uncommon in cars, the straight-twin layout has been used for several automobile engines over time. The first known straight-twin engine was a variant of the Daimler Motors' Phoenix engine introduced in 1895; these engines were used in Panhard cars that year. Another early straight-twin engined car

1575-502: The range in 1925. All the early vehicles had been normal control, with the engine in front of the driver but in 1927 the first forward control with the engine alongside the driver was announced as the Viking allowing 32 seats to be fitted. Diesel engines, initially from Gardner , were available from 1933. The first double-deck design was the Venturer of 1932, with up to 51 seats. The CX version of

1620-822: The range was cut back. The last Albion double-decker was the 1961 Lowlander , which was marketed in England as a Leyland, and the last design of all was the Viking , re-using an old name. During World War II, Albion Motors manufactured Enfield No 2 Mk I* revolvers to aid the war effort. By 1945, 24,000 Enfield No 2 Mk I* revolvers were produced by Albion (and subsequently, Coventry Gauge & Tool Co.) Vertical-twin Straight-twin engines are primarily used in motorcycles; other uses include automobiles, marine vessels, snowmobiles, jet skis , all-terrain vehicles, tractors and ultralight aircraft. Various different crankshaft configurations have been used for straight-twin engines, with

1665-450: The same time. However, the firing interval is offset between cylinders, with one of the cylinders firing during the first crankshaft rotation and then the other cylinder in the following rotation. This set up results an even 360 degree firing interval unlike other crank configurations in inline twin engines. The 360 degree engines can use a single ignition system for both cylinders, using a wasted spark system. The imperfect primary balance

1710-435: The second cylinder firing 180 degrees after the first, followed by a gap of 540 degrees until the first cylinder fires again. The uneven firing interval causes vibrations and results in a 'lumpy' power delivery. A 180° engine also requires a separate ignition system for each cylinder. Perfect primary balance is possible with a 180 degree straight-twin engine; however, the design creates a rocking couple which requires use of

1755-439: The similar dynamic imbalance. From the 1930s, most British four-stroke straight-twin motorcycle engines used a 360 degree crankshaft, since this avoided the uneven intake pulsing of other configurations, thus preventing the need for twin carburettors. In the 1960s, even though Japanese motorcycles mostly switched to 180 degree crankshafts for engines sized from 250 to 500 cc, various smaller and larger engines continued to use

1800-413: The truck components business in Scotstoun was subject to a management buyout and transferred to a newly created company called Albion Automotive . In 1998, Albion Automotive was acquired by American Axle & Manufacturing Company of Detroit . The new company manufactures axles, driveline systems, chassis systems, crankshafts and chassis components. In 1900 the company built its first motor car,

1845-408: The use of 180 degree crankshafts, since the increased smoothness allowed higher rpm and thus higher power outputs. For example, the 1966 Honda CB450 180 degree crankshaft engine has a similar power output to contemporary British 360 degree crankshaft engines, despite having a smaller displacement of 450 cc compared with 650 cc. Both the 1973 Yamaha TX500 and the 1977 Suzuki GS400 had

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1890-516: Was a Scottish automobile and commercial vehicle manufacturer. Founded in 1899, Albion Motors was purchased by Leyland Motors in 1951. Vehicles continued to be manufactured under the Albion brand until 1972, after which they continued to be produced, but were sold under the Leyland brand. Vehicle production at the former Albion factory in the Scotstoun area of Glasgow, Scotland, continued until 1980. Originally known as Albion Motor Car Company Ltd ,

1935-489: Was a successful straight-twin motorcycle which also led to straight-twin engines becoming more widely used by other brands. The engine was designed by Edward Turner and Val Page , and was initially used in the 1933 Triumph 6/1 sidecar hauler (which won the International Six Days Trial silver medal and the 1933 Maudes Trophy ). During the development of the engine, it was found that a 360 degree crank angle

1980-564: Was better suited to the use of a single carburettor than a 180 degree crank angle. Following the trend created by the Triumph Speed Twin, the most common design used by British motorcycle manufacturers until the mid-1970s was a four-stroke straight-twin engine with a 360 degree crankshaft. The manufacturers producing these motorcycles included BSA , Norton , Triumph , Ariel , Matchless and AJS . Straight-twin engines were also produced by Italian and German manufacturers, along with

2025-427: Was the 1898 Decauville Voiturelle , which used a pair of cylinders taken from a de Dion model mounted fore and aft and positioned below the seat. Straight-twin engines have been used in various small cars, such as the 1957 Fiat 500 , 1958 Subaru 360 , 1958 NSU Prinz , 1962 Mitsubishi Minica , 1967 Honda N360 , 1970 Honda Z600 , 1972 Fiat 126 , 1988 VAZ Oka , 1988 Dacia Lăstun , 1980 Daihatsu Cuore , and

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