Flat Twin Mistery

[muschelschubser]

Whats that? "MG" letters stamped on some parts. Estimated 400 cc.

[Mista Vern]

No idea here. Possible someone in the Airheads thread might have a clue, so post it there also?

[davevv]

Just a guess, but Moto Guzzi built some odd stuff many years ago. Would explain the MG.

[Kt-88]

Marusho lilac 500cc?

[Kt-88]

Nope. Changed my mind. Front cover is all wrong.

[Scrivens]

I've gone through all my reference stuff and can't find anything like it for Europe, Japan or England between 1930 and 1960 over about 20 known makers of motorcycle flat twin engines. It looks like a number of European engines - Hoffmann for one - but nothing has heads like that, or the gear selector dial. Judging by the kick start and the very long carb inlet tube, are you sure it is a bike engine? Those carbs would stick way out in the breeze, and a pressed steel kickstart is pretty unusual. One of those two cylinder Euro utility vehicles perhaps? If there are any markings o the carbs or the spark plugs I might be able to narrow it down.

[muschelschubser]

Originally Posted by Scrivens

I If there are any markings o the carbs or the spark plugs I might be able to narrow it down.

Sparks are Isolator from former GDR.

[wmax351]

Maybe a Velocette?

[motu]

The LE was sidevalve.

[Nailhead]

I love threads like these.

[Scrivens]

Originally Posted by muschelschubser

Sparks are Isolator from former GDR.

The style of the castings and engineering and the general finish and colour of the alloy makes me think it is Hungarian, Romanian or Polish of late 40's to mid 50's vintage, but despite an exhaustive search I can't locate anything just like it. There are hints in the engineering of 30's styles, especially the gear indicator section, but I feel it is from the later period. It bears a resemblance to a number of engines from those places and periods, but none of them have the same heads or the style of rounded gearbox with no mounts for an airbox. It looks like it could be a derivative of the early Zundapp small capacity flat twin, but there are too may differences - push rod locations, heads etc, to take that much further. Given the type and location of the carb inlets I still think it is out of a two cylinder car or utility vehicle though most of the Eastern bloc ones used the flat twin 2 stroke engine. If it is from a car etc, it is unusual in having twin carbs as most had a Y manifold with a single carb in the centre of the engine. I've gone through all the Soviet era car twin cylinder engines as well with no luck, so I'm stumped.

Is that a gear lever on the left and what does it have on the end of it? If you can get some full side on pics and a few other close ups from various angles we may be able to get a bit further on.

[Scrivens]

Just a thought - a military vehicle might be a possibility. There were all sorts of small tracked vehicles kicking around at that time. A military or other utility usage is also likely because the engine is unidentifiable. Many of the bikes and cars of the period have been collected or restored so their engines are known via photo or blueprint and can be quickly identified, but this one can't have been used in anything common unless it was of a vehicle type not attractive to restorers. Hope that makes sense.

[muschelschubser]

Guess you are caught, I surely am!

[muschelschubser]

It seems to be a single made Motocycle build in a romanian Jail. http://gespannreise.regina-vetter.ch/?paged=5
there you find a little bit more.

[drhach]

So, more importantly, what do you plan to do with it? You can't just let it sit there.