OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => Tech Talk => Topic started by: 090 on November 25, 2009, 06:41:49 am

Title: Inlet manifold length
Post by: 090 on November 25, 2009, 06:41:49 am
Can someone please give me a laymen's version of inlet manifold length formula's . The twin pipe manifold is quite long and I feel it would be better to shorten it up , but how far? I would prefer a mid range bike to a top end (power) bike.
Cheers.
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: paul on November 25, 2009, 07:20:54 am
long +plenty low down
short +mid to high 
i was told
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: Lozza on November 25, 2009, 07:38:28 am
there is no laymen's version
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: Bamford#69 on November 25, 2009, 10:31:17 am
Hi,
Iv'e got a short one, and I know your one is longer,(standard) dont shorten yours until you borrow my one , try it  for yourself,
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: 090 on November 25, 2009, 05:51:49 pm
Thanks guys. I will keep it close to standard then.
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: norm17 on November 26, 2009, 08:15:15 am
whilst I agree with Mr. Lozza that there is no real "simple" formula that is effective it is suggested that 90/rpm(in 1000s) can be used for a four stroke inlet manifold length (result in inches). Likewise other sources state 84000/rpm for the same calculation.
This "length" is from the intake valve head thru to the end of the carb.
This then needs to be balanced against port/tract diameter, divergent angle of the tract, which pulse you are using etc. which all leads back to Lozza's statement that there is no easy formula. Suck it and see appears to be the most effective method.
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: Lozza on November 26, 2009, 08:22:55 am
nobody ever calls me 'mister' ;D  You could try making a 'trombone' section manifold and test would be my advice   
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: pancho on November 27, 2009, 10:20:10 pm
on a 4  stroke for maximum negative pressure at the inlet valve opening time the entire inlet tract length from valve seat to end of bellmouth is 14 inches for 4000 rpm. if you want to work it out for different rpm, the pressure wave is considered to travell at approx. 1100 feet per second depending on temperature. This of course does not mean maximum torque will be achieved at that rpm because of lots of other factors. Exhaust pipe length for 4000 rpm is at or near 48 inches [regardless of whether a megaphone is fitted.] Please excuse my non metric brain, as i tend to make weired conversions on occasions, cheers wally.        If you're working on one of those strange 2-cycle machines, i'd be mystified!
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: Lozza on November 27, 2009, 10:35:12 pm
Why wouldn't positive pressure in the inlet as the valve opened be far more desirable ??? Resonance in the tract will fluctuate between +ve and -ve
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: pancho on November 27, 2009, 10:38:37 pm
yeah your right lozza must be time i put my old brain to bed cheers wally.
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: lukeb1961 on November 27, 2009, 10:41:33 pm
nobody ever calls me 'mister' ;D  You could try making a 'trombone' section manifold and test would be my advice   
Emeritus Professor Sir Lawrence of Newcastle?  ;D
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: Lozza on November 27, 2009, 10:49:17 pm
Wally ,that sounds like  a formula from Phil Irving Tuning for Speed?

I got a long way to go before I get the Doctorate Luke, unless I download one off the net ;D
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: TT5 Matt on November 28, 2009, 12:12:38 am
make serveral manifolds of various lenths and see what suits your riding style
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: sudman on November 28, 2009, 08:21:51 am
I have done a lot of real world testing on a dyno jet dyno with single 4 strokes & the intake length is very much over all including the air cleaner boot, so all we tune now is between the carb & the air cleaner with the same effect as changing the manifold length.
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: Tim754 on November 28, 2009, 01:55:06 pm
And toss all those above if you supercharge your machine ;)
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: pancho on December 06, 2009, 05:19:34 pm
Yes lozza it probably did come from old 'slide rule'. i used those principles on a BMW 500cc R50 that i built up for road racing in the sixties, in an sffort to get some torque in the lower rev range. unfortunately due to other mods the max power came in just before heads came off valves at 8000 rpm plus! It was a verry expensive excersize in futility. By the way, any-one who knows Terry Law from down around Carlton way ask him how fast it went down conrod straight! cheers wally.
Title: Re: Inlet manifold length
Post by: Lozza on December 06, 2009, 07:11:33 pm
They all go fastest just before they explode Wally....................................... ;D