Pedro
Old is not necessarily basic, simple or unsophisticated.
Pyramids, Colosseum, concept of democracy, the works of Archimedes, Socrates, Shakespeare, Galileo, Newton and da Vinci spring to mind.
I think the first 4 valve per cylinder twin cam st up was first used about 1912. Quite a few years before Toyota discovered the O2 advantage.
From old and probably unreliable memories, The Mercedes desmo I believe used a system where they used inertia in the valves to overcome the gap due to running clearance on the cam, then used cylinder pressure to keep the valve seated despite the clearance. I also believe that some use a light spring to hol the valve on the seat, especially at idle and cranking rpm for starting.
Regards
Pat
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