Connecting two crankshafts

[dustymiller52]

On the V4 JAWA 350cc Racer engine, type 673 of 1968,
4 singular crankshafts were coupled. Does anybody have more details? I know of the URS 500cc inline 4, which worked with 2 twin crankshafts and the Ariel Square Four, which also used 2 twin crankshafts, but coupled differently to the URS.
The JAWA coupling was called (in the sense of) "lined" coupling - whatever this means...
Any information about coupling of fast rotating shafts with often changing torque ratio wellcome.

[Panzergranate]

The JAWA V4 used four independant cranks liked by cogs so that each cyclinder could be run up and even power the bike solely on its own.

JAWA also made a forward facing V2 250cc racer for club racers that used the same arrangement. This was so that the bike, with the removal of the linking cog, was then eligiable for 125cc races as well.

In the late 1980's a Mr. Len Scarratt created an inclined sqaure four 700cc unit by removing the crankshaft and cylinders from one 1970's JAWA 350 Type 634, and fixing it onto the front of another JAWA 350 Type 634 engine. As the Type 634 already put out 38 Pounds per Foot torque @ 3,800 RPM, one can guess what the chopper styled bike and sidecar went like.

For technical manuals, images and other info about JAWA bikes you need to contact the librarian of the JAWA CZ Owner's Club of Great Britain.