Engine test stand design
 

I want to build a test stand to fire up rotary engines. I have a basic idea of what I need, just want to make sure I'm not missing anything obvious. I can't see that a running rotary with no load would want to bounce around a lot, but has anyone fired one up out side of a car? do they want to move around much??

I want a stand with a foot print not much larger than an engine with a bellhousing. It will be on large shop wheels for mobility and be complete stand alone. I will make a portion of the stand frame tubular, to hold a couple of gallons of coolant and skip the rad and cooling fan. It'll have an exhaust, oil cooler, starting battery, fuel pump and a small control panel for guages and controls. I plan on using a marine fuel tank for simplicity and safety.

The plan is for the back bracket to flip for either a 12a or 13b to mount up with a couple of header options. I have a few good motors around and I like the idea of a stand to fire them up every now and then. When I start building motors, be good place to fire up the first time.

Someone must have done something similar out there, Any advice???

i've had one running sitting on the concrete floor. just can't rev it real hard or it will roll over on itself. that's the reason for mounting it on a stand. u'll need rad and fan if u plan to run it for any length of time. there's vids on youtube where ppl have had them running on a regular engine stand.

cool, I figured!

I have some10 inch round pipe I plan to weld into a tank for the coolant, should have a couple of gallons of coolant. For a no load run I should be able to disapate a lot of heat without a rad.

I'll post pictures of the stand.

Looking forward to your pictures. If there is a need in the rotary engine community, I will design and build a test stand for sale. Please visit www.zalexindustries.com for our current product for Porsche and VW. I would like to learn more about rotary engines and possible get measurements from someone close by.
Thanks,
Tom Perazzo
Zalex Ind.

Subscribed :)