Teardown video: Honda F1 V10 (RA100E)

[Hohn]

I found this video mesmerizing. For one, the complete absence of any power tools was remarkable. For another, the basic engine design is remarkable-- super short stroke as one might expect, but the cylinder head layout and and valvetrain design is pretty neat.


Engine geeks, enjoy!

 

[4WD]

I found this video mesmerizing. For one, the complete absence of any power tools was remarkable. For another, the basic engine design is remarkable-- super short stroke as one might expect, but the cylinder head layout and and valvetrain design is pretty neat.


Engine geeks, enjoy!

But, but, my Corolla is more reliable

 

[Hohn]

But, but, my Corolla is more reliable

Well, "reliable" is a sliding scale. It's relatively reliable for a race engine, enough to win 6 of 16 races in 1990 and give Ayrton Senna his 4th consecutive driver's championship. And surprisingly reliable for an engine making over 700hp from just 3.5L at ~13,000 rpm.

 

[Hohn]

Also, I learned that this video isn't just an F1 engine, but it's the last V10 engine Senna ever raced.

https://silodrome.com/last-honda-v10-ayrton-senna-raced/

 

[cptbarkey]

Thanks for sharing.

This particular shot is art. No chains, no belts.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Well, "reliable" is a sliding scale. It's relatively reliable for a race engine, enough to win 6 of 16 races in 1990 and give Ayrton Senna his 4th consecutive driver's championship. And surprisingly reliable for an engine making over 700hp from just 3.5L at ~13,000 rpm.

You should check your facts on Senna.

 

[Hohn]

You should check your facts on Senna.

You are right.

 

[Vercingetorix]

You are right, it was not consecutive.

And only 3.

 

[KrisZ]

That was the era when an engine had to survive one race. If my memory serves me right, the top teams didn’t use the same engine twice.
This likely is a spare or a practice engine.

 

[rstcso]

For one, the complete absence of any power tools was remarkable.

They probably were so highly experienced they could tell during disassembly whether the bolts were torqued correctly or not.

They weren't afraid to use a hammer!

 

[gman2304]

My old Suzuki DL1000 engine was gear driven. I always liked the gear whine at idle.

 

[KrisZ]

They probably were so highly experienced they could tell during disassembly whether the bolts were torqued correctly or not.

They weren't afraid to use a hammer!

It was a show case video, there was no need for power tools.

But in the pits, when they have a limited time to work on these things, they use power tools whenever they can.

 

[KrisZ]

My old Suzuki DL1000 engine was gear driven. I always liked the gear whine at idle.

Yup, but it’s no “art”. It’s just a design choice.

 

[4WD]

Well, "reliable" is a sliding scale. It's relatively reliable for a race engine, enough to win 6 of 16 races in 1990 and give Ayrton Senna his 4th consecutive driver's championship. And surprisingly reliable for an engine making over 700hp from just 3.5L at ~13,000 rpm.

You don’t do sarcasm - got it …

 

[IndyIan]

It was a show case video, there was no need for power tools.

But in the pits, when they have a limited time to work on these things, they use power tools whenever they can.

I wonder how deep they would go in the pits at a race weekend? I'd guess not into the oily bits, just plugs, injectors, etc? Stuff that was faster than swapping a whole new engine in.
I wonder if a customer team was even allowed to open them up ever? Maybe just Honda's own techs at the track, or at a shop in England or Japan.
The engine doesn't look too complicated, but I'm sure any of the engine suppliers would've loved to take the oppositions engine apart to see what they are doing, as this era was the start of the higher and higher revving V10 engines.

I wonder what the block is make off? Doesn't quite look like aluminum with the finish on it? Or maybe the block is forged aluminum?

 

[Hohn]

You don’t do sarcasm - got it …

I'm pretty sure my surname translates as "scornful sarcasm" in German.

 

[loneryder]

Could have done it in half the time with a power driver.