MAW (auxiliary engine)

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MAW
A chicken fright in Magdeburg, 1990.
A chicken fright in Magdeburg, 1990.
MAW add-on engine
Manufacturer: VEB measuring devices and fittings factory "Karl Marx" (MAW)
Construction time: 1954–1964 (for bicycles up to 1959)
Number of pieces: around 170,000
Previous model: -
Successor: -
Technical specifications
Displacement : 49.5 cc
Performance : 0.7-1.0 kW
Gearbox : without circuit
Drive : 1-cylinder two- stroke petrol engine, chain
Empty weight : 7.4 kg, from 1957 around 6 kg
Top speed : 35 km / h
Tank capacity : 2.3 l
Fuel consumption : 1.5-1.3 l / 100 km
MAW engine from 1959

The MAW auxiliary motor is a small two-stroke engine , the 1954 in VEB M essgeräte- and A rmaturen w ork "Karl Marx" was produced. In 1960 the plant was combined with the former Polte plants to form the VEB Magdeburger Armaturenwerke "Karl Marx" . The auxiliary engines were best known as an add-on engine for bicycles. These vehicles were called chicken fright , hoe warmer or simply Maff . The engine was mounted next to the rear axle. According to papers, the MAW chicken fright reaches 35 km / h and, according to current law, is a bicycle with an auxiliary motor over 25 km / h, i.e. a small motorcycle .

history

The manufacture of add-on motors for bicycles began comparatively late in the GDR and spread to the west in the early 1950s. Back then, motorcycles or even cars were prohibitively expensive, and so the add-on engine served as a kind of makeshift. Most of the bicycles were not able to withstand the stresses and strains of motoring. With the appearance of the first mopeds in 1953, the era of auxiliary bicycle motors was over in the West - but not so in the GDR. It was not until 1954 that two types of auxiliary engines were mass-produced. In addition to Steppke's auxiliary engine , from September this was the MAW, which bears a striking resemblance to the auxiliary engine built by AMO Motoren GmbH Berlin-Schöneberg from 1950 to 1953 . By November 1955 alone, 50,000 engines had been sold. However, the SR 1 moped , which was produced from 1955, quickly stalled sales by Maff - despite some further developments: In 1955, for example, the output was increased from 1.0 to 1.3 HP and the consumption at a speed of 25 km / h by 0 .2 l reduced to 1.3 l / 100 km. In a second stage of improvement from 1957, the weight of the motor was reduced to 6 kg and the attachment for the bicycle was made more gentle. Among other things, the exhaust was shortened, the cylinder and cylinder head made smaller, the decompression valve for switching off the engine removed and the housing wall thinned. At the same time, the selling price was reduced from 471 marks to 285 marks. Even that did not help much - given the attractive Simson mopeds, there was hardly any interest in the auxiliary motor for bicycles. In addition, on March 1, 1956, motorcycles and mopeds were generally required to have a driver's license and insurance, which should not have made chicken fright more attractive.

From 1958 Alfred Hammer offered bicycles with a MAW motor mounted in front of the bottom bracket. 1959 the sale of the Maffs was finally stopped. The production of the engine continued as a boat engine , for lawn mowers and wheelchairs until 1964.

Driving characteristics

Compared to other bicycles with an auxiliary motor , the Maff was above average, especially since the revision in 1955. The minimum speed was around 15 km / h. At 25 km / h, the motor climbed up to 14% incline without pedaling (when using a 26 ″ bicycle). The officially stated maximum speed of 35 km / h was significantly exceeded, depending on the gear ratio, it was 40 to 50 km / h. The fuel consumption was comparatively low, it was 1.52 l / 100 km during a demanding test drive on the Brocken . The bicycles of that time with an attached Maff were usually classic touring bicycles with a stable frame and straight fork ends. As a rule, these bicycles were only equipped with coaster and piston brakes and without suspension . A few accessories were available for the motorized bicycle. Including reinforced spokes and a headlight with an integrated speedometer. The NKJ 12 carburetor, which was kept very simple, required a different operation than usual due to its design - after flooding the swab, the throttle grip must be fully opened to start. The light coil delivered too high a voltage above about 30 km / h driving speed, so that the light bulbs burned out when driving fast. Parabolic deformation of the nozzle needle was recommended for a better response to low speeds.

The engine, which was built around 170,000 times, still has a small fan base today, who preserves and maintains old stock and organizes regular trips.

Legal

In the GDR , bicycles with an auxiliary motor were initially treated as bicycles, in 1956 they were incorporated into the newly created group of "bicycles with auxiliary motors", which allowed a maximum speed of 40 km / h. According to the unification agreement , bicycles with an auxiliary motor are also recognized as such in the Federal Republic of Germany within the meaning of the previous GDR regulations. The corresponding § 18 in the StVZO was deleted in 2007, but the exception rule was incorporated into the Driving License Ordinance (FeV). In practice, this now means that a Maff is a bicycle with an auxiliary motor, which, however km due to its official top speed of 35 / h as a moped and not as a moped applies.

There is currently a legal contradiction in terms of commissioning. According to the Vehicle Registration Ordinance (FZV) Section 4, an operating permit is required for commissioning. A general operating permit (ABE) was never issued for the MAWs . As a result, it would be necessary to obtain an individual permit to operate a MAW in order to put it into operation. This contradicts section 76 point 8 of the FeV, which clarifies that bicycles with an auxiliary motor are also considered bicycles with an auxiliary motor in the Federal Republic of Germany according to the ordinances of the GDR. In the GDR era, bicycles with auxiliary engines did not need an ABE. The problem also affects all other vehicles classified as bicycles with auxiliary engines in the GDR , for example the Simson SL1 .

The lack of clarity exists not least because there are no known court rulings on this question. Obtaining an individual permit for commissioning can avoid these legal problems.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Small motor vehicles are mass consumer goods. In: Motor vehicle technology 6/1954, p. 162.
  2. ↑ a b Review of the 1954 technical fair. In: Motor vehicle technology 11/1954, p. 339.
  3. ↑ MAW bicycle add-on motors have proven themselves. In: Motor Vehicle Technology 3/1956, pp. 109–110.
  4. ↑ MAW bicycle add-on motors have proven themselves. In: Motor Vehicle Technology 3/1956, pp. 109–110.
  5. ↑ KFT 5/1957 p. 197.
  6. ↑ Important provisions for moped drivers. In: Motor vehicle technology 1/1956, p. 35.
  7. ↑ Automotive technology 2/1958.
  8. ↑ KFT 5/1957 p. 197.
  9. ↑ With the MAW bicycle motor on the Brocken. In: Motor vehicle technology issue 9/1955, p. 327.
  10. ↑ MAW bicycle add-on motors have proven themselves. In: Motor Vehicle Technology 3/1956, pp. 109–110.
  11. ↑ MAW add-on bike engine. In: Motor Vehicle Technology 6/1957, pp. 222–223.
  12. ↑ StVZO of the GDR 1956, § 85
  13. ↑ Unification Agreement Annex I Chapter XI B III Annex I Chapter XI Subject B - Road Traffic Section III 2. Paragraph 22.
  14. ↑ Ordinance on the admission of persons to road traffic, § 78, point 8.