cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
17068
The family that plays together, stays together (even when the engine doesn't)
This is a Citroen 2CV engine. But not as Andre Citroen intended it to be!
As you can see, front and center there are a few broken bits. Namely the camshaft gear.
As my friends Axel and Uschi were dismantling this engine in my garage, they were constantly emitting long, complicated German words with great forcefulness.
I feared that their vacation was in jeopardy, as they had broken down in the blazing desert and I had to go out and retrieve them. There is a pulblication called the Citroen Rescue Book that we relied upon, before internet and mobile phones. It was essential to find someone who had ability and willingness to help when you crapped out in a wilderness.
When I asked for a translation of what they were saying, Axel pointed at the camshaft and asked "How would you describe this *&
(^$*@$# part in English?"
(^$*@$# part in English?"To which I could only reply one word "Souvenir"
That has become the word that we use to remember this stressful incident.
That has become the word that we use to remember this stressful incident.
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A few years later on the other side of the world - say 1993 in Finland - Axel and I competed against one another in the World Championship 2CV Engine Rebuilding Speed Contest against a dozen teams. My French partner and I came in second, unbelievably, as we couldn't communicate in words. There was a pair of Germans who were slower, but extremely funny and had the rest of us laughing the whole time. They are circled in red below at this semi-final match.
A few years later on the other side of the world - say 1993 in Finland - Axel and I competed against one another in the World Championship 2CV Engine Rebuilding Speed Contest against a dozen teams. My French partner and I came in second, unbelievably, as we couldn't communicate in words. There was a pair of Germans who were slower, but extremely funny and had the rest of us laughing the whole time. They are circled in red below at this semi-final match.
I'm surprised this semi-annual event doesn't ever get global TV coverage ...
In the finals, we suffered a few pinched fingers but our engine turned over as it should 14 minutes after we started with a pile of bits on a big table
============
Anyway, I was certain Axel could get the engine reassembled - although as it turned out he bought used one and we installed it - elapsed time only about 3-4 days from the initial breakdown.
The camshaft wasn't the only injured part of the first engine!
Something had bounced around inside the cylinder for quite a while, damaging the barrel, head, valves and piston.
Anyway, I suppose the moral of this unanticipated GTG is that you never know when misfortune will bring a friend for the rest of your life, or a person who makes some long-distance calls and disappears.
The camshaft wasn't the only injured part of the first engine!
Something had bounced around inside the cylinder for quite a while, damaging the barrel, head, valves and piston.
Anyway, I suppose the moral of this unanticipated GTG is that you never know when misfortune will bring a friend for the rest of your life, or a person who makes some long-distance calls and disappears.
===================
This is one of the funny German guys I met in Finland. I knew he was crazy when I met him again at a 24-hour 2CV race (that was my first clue). We ended up becoming friends, visiting each others' homes,
and a few years later I was officiating at his wedding, on the other side of the world, on the slope of Mt Olympus.
And 25 years later, the other German guy at the engine contest who is now an orthopedic surgeon in the British Virgin Islands, came to San Diego to advise my wife on recovery from her Achilles' tendon injury -- and to drive a Lotus.
You just never know.
You just never know.
Cheers,
Cazalea
More posts:
The family that plays together, stays together (even when the engine doesn't)
This is a Citroen 2CV engine. But not as Andre Citroen intended it to be! As you can see, front and center there are a few broken bits. Namely the camshaft gear. As my friends Axel and Uschi were dismantling this engine in my garage, they were constantly ...
Exactly what I was thinking
except when your watch breaks you still cry, but you don't have to be towed home . That's why I have so many watches now and so few cars ... Mike
Great story ! a rebuilding contest for a 2 horse engine, luckely only 2 cylinders to repair ;-) . And it leads to friendship as well - those are the best stories.
Far more sophisticated than our local custom of blowing up milk barrels ...... and it only leaves you with deaf ears.. ...
Great post Mike!
Life is beautiful and unpredictable. In the end, it is great how we meet people under the most unbelievable circumstances and we end being brothers for life. Thanks for sharing! René P.S. is the citröen engine more simple than a motorcycle’s one?
The engine is simple, but the speed comes from knowing which of the parts go in only one way
There's no substitute for having done the job yourself a few times and having a good memory for what goes where. The competition was judged on having no parts left, and doing the whole job with only hand tools. We didn't have to put on the piston rings an...
Wow! Thanks again Mike!
It looks very interest. I hope one day I can get into vintage motorcycle restoration and the Citröen engine looks very much like a BMW boxer engine. Only for the pleasure of driving something you built with your own hands. Please, keep more of these post ...
I will do another thread on restoring an old 2CV but in the meantime,
Just found this photo for you - Pistons that have seen better days! ...
Wow!
What happened to the one in the middle? What’s the displacement of those 4 stroke engines? Thanks again for sharing Mike. René
602 cc or 36 cubic inches
The piston ring broke and parts of it came up through the slot in the side (shown above) and then they bounced around in the chamber for a few thousands or millions of revolutions. Rings are very hard brittle steel - they are very dangerous when they brea...
I really appreciate your willingness to share your passion for mechanics!
Seriously big thanks! Those are really small engines. There are modern motorcycle engines that double or triple the displacement! And that is really amazing because those cars were put into really hard work under heavy loads. What is the trick to squeeze ...
Yes, via Christmas cards & so forth
Of course, not all relationships over 1000's of miles can be sustained indefinitely
What an amazing story...
First you were in a engine rebuilding competition? Who could even conceive of such a strange competition?
