Astoundingly, Two Separate Companies Tried Rotary-engined Chainsaws

There person only been a fistful of rotary engine-powered cars, and astir of them commencement pinch "Mazda." While fascinating and not without their benefits, rotary engines are beautiful inefficient, don't make a ton of torque, struggle pinch reliability issues, and are difficult to make emissions-compliant. So they died disconnected beautiful overmuch correct aft Mazda killed nan RX-8. However, cars haven't been nan only machines to usage rotary power, arsenic nan "Wankel" motor has been utilized successful each sorts of stuff. A 118-year-old French spinner was utilized successful planes, and meanwhile, Sachs Dolmar from Germany and Yanmar from Japan moreover utilized them to powerfulness chainsaws. 

These 2 abstracted companies from different parts of nan world experimented pinch rotary-powered chainsaws successful nan 1970s. Dolmar made nan KMS-4 Wankel, which debuted successful 1975, and Yanmar reportedly made aggregate models, though nan RH 350 S is nan 1 you're astir apt to spot accusation connected retired successful nan wild. Judging by their deficiency of beingness today, though, they weren't precisely nan astir celebrated items to statesman with. However, enthusiasts admit these vintage oddballs and are consenting to salary top-dollar for them now, arsenic immoderate are sold for almost $1,000. Some owners of these old-school saws usage them, for illustration nan big of nan mweba1 YouTube channel, and immoderate support them arsenic collector's items. 

Wankel rotary motor chainsaws activity fundamentally for illustration immoderate different chainsaw. They person an engine, a flywheel, a cooling fan, and a carburetor that each activity successful tandem to move nan chain. The quality is that, alternatively of a emblematic piston engine, they usage Wankel rotary engines. 

Just for illustration nan Wankel rotary engines utilized successful cars, such arsenic nan Mazda RX-7 and RX-8, a Wankel chainsaw motor has a triangular rotor that spins wrong of an oval housing. Since a triangle doesn't fresh neatly into an oval, location are gaps connected each 3 sides of that rotor, which efficaciously enactment arsenic combustion chambers. As nan rotor spins, those gaps move past intake ports, allowing substance and aerial to enter. That spinning mobility past compresses that fuel/air substance and pushes it toward nan spark plug wherever it ignites. That ignition keeps nan rotor spinning and nan process repeating.

One of nan cool things astir Wankel chainsaws is that, dissimilar accepted piston engines, they don't person to person reciprocating mobility into rotational motion. Since nan engine's ignition already spins nan rotor, its mobility spins nan crankshaft that's connected to nan clutch. After that, it useful conscionable for illustration a normal chainsaw. The clutch engages erstwhile you rev nan engine, turning nan cogwheel and spinning nan chain. Compared to regular chainsaws, rotary-powered versions can rev smoother and moreover make a cool sound. So it's easy to spot why enthusiasts and collectors mightiness want 1 of these vintage saws to either ain arsenic a novelty aliases usage successful their rotation of different chainsaws. However, according to nan Taryl Fixes All YouTube channel, nan Sachs Dolmar offering is simply a spot heavier than a comparable accepted saw. 

No 1 denies nan coolness of a Wankel engine. They're different successful their operation, seldom seen, and person immoderate beautiful large advantages complete piston engines, specified arsenic higher revs and awesome power. However, location are immoderate inherent disadvantages, too, for illustration burning a batch of lipid and failing lipid seals. So, contempt their quirky coolness, rotary engines ne'er caught connected for chainsaws. 

Literature connected nan KMS-4 Wankel is scarce, but it doesn't look to person lasted overmuch longer than nan '70s. Wankel-powered Yanmar models are moreover much difficult to find charismatic accusation on, though there's talk of aggregate models beyond nan RH 350 S, specified arsenic nan RH 57. There are besides forums for illustration Arborist Site filled pinch those looking for much accusation and discussions connected these chainsaws, truthful they mightiness beryllium a bully spot to look if you want to get your hands connected 1 for yourself.

It's nary astonishment that some brands stopped making Wankel chainsaws, and it besides shouldn't travel arsenic a daze that nary 1 other moreover bothered, either. The benefits of Wankel engines conscionable ne'er seemed to outweigh nan drawbacks. Sure, they're smooth-running chainsaws and make a cool noise, but they're hot, pain oil, and aren't typically arsenic reliable arsenic alternatives. Besides, chainsaws aren't capacity cars, wherever you tin unrecorded pinch definite drawbacks successful nan sanction of fun-loving character. Still, they're cool pieces of mechanical history that tin make awesome collector's items.