Trabant

[SteveD]

I just read in Time magazine that the engine of Trabant cars has only 5 moving parts. What are they?

 

[MORELLO]

Impossible.

 

[SteveD]

I guess they were counting pistons etc as 1 component.  As a two-cylinder, two-stroke engine it must be fairly simple.  I suppose that the gearbox doesn't count either.

 

[MORELLO]

2 cylinders connected to 1 crank shaft, at least 4 valves connected to 1 camshaft, you're on 8 already...

[SteveD]

This is what the article said:

 

Trabant fan Graham Goodall is seeking a new home for 40 of the 49 cars he keeps in the grounds of his home in a picturesque village in northern England. Goodall said he fell in love with the East German icon � whose engine has only five moving parts � on a 1987 visit to Berlin, and it would be a "disaster" to split up the collection. But after neighbors labeled the vehicles � which are in various states of disrepair � an "eyesore," a local court ordered them to be removed or destroyed.

 

[rekstout]

I was sceptical at first but it would seem to be true (for earlier models anyway)

 

http://users.netlink.com.au/~andrewl/mct/prod.htm

[booksworth]

No valves, morello, this is a two-stroke. One crankshaft, two conrods and two pistons as steved says.

[keltik]

arent we forgetting all those little bearings? and the throttle cable!
yup trabants are 2 stroke and to quote robbie coltrane (and ive seen him do it "the entire car can be dismantled using 5 spanners (except the battery because those germans are awkward) and the engine can easily be removed in 20 minites by a 20stone artist". Then he sets to work on the timer and at 20 minites the engine is in his arms.