Quote:
Originally Posted by NoBozo
I think most people aren't aware that some diesels can be stopped ...Then restarted ..rotating in the opposite direction. (Running Backwards)
Explanation: Try this: Say the engine normally turns clockwise when driving the boat through the water. When reverse propeller thrust is required...the engine is STOPPED....then the engine is RE-Started ...rotating in the opposite direction. This can't be done with a GAS engine.
The "Pilot" (Captain) of the vessel in question, needs to have his timing correct when docking....and be Confident the engine will restart in the rotation he requires....at the instant he requires it to happen. 
As stated above..the OLD engines had no transmissions.
LARGE Marine diesels generally run at ONE set RPM...ALL the time. The RPM is VERY low compared to any Gas engine. The Large Enterprise Diesels ran at 360 RPM..ALL the time and made Large Horsepower.
Unlike a BIG diesel..A gas engine will normally NOT run at less than 600 RPM. It will stall. At 600 RPM a gas engine is idling, and will be making essentially NO Horsepower NB |
Not to nitpick but almost every modern snowmobile engine with electronic reverse runs backwards when the button is pushed.