Cyclone Power Technologies, Inc. (fka CYPW)

[BuddyWhazhizname]

Hey Tom,

That's the key right there -- having a database of experience with a particular bearing material, running under a particular load and speed and with a particular lubricant at a particular temperature. They've got none of that.

And metal bearings with oil lubrication behave in known, predictable ways. You can confidently extrapolate results from 800 to 5000 hours. Plastic and hot water? I wouldn't bet the farm on any predictions.

My bet is the rings are the primary problem. Plastic is a very good thermal insulator. If the ring is riding on a film of water it is probably fine. But if the water film is missing from a tiny spot on the cylinder wall, the plastic will be rubbing against the metal. This spot will have a much greater friction coefficient, which will generate frictional heat, which will soften the surface of the plastic ring, which will create more friction, etc., etc.

Once there are some plastic molecules stuck to the cylinder wall, they will grab more plastic every time a ring goes by. Goodnight rings.

I wonder what their ISO9000/Six Sigma consultant is publicly going to say about predicted engine life...