The proper way to scatter an engine

I didn't think it would break where it did by force or individual component failure. I've seen some nitro motors explode but never like that.

I know little about nitrous. Would it support combustion in an oxygen-lean environment like a crankcase?

Nitrous provides the oxygen. oil, propane or diesel make up the second leg, then all you need is ignition.
 
OK Easy enough. Nitrous decomposes in an exothermic reaction. At 1300 degrees it separates into nitrogen and oxygen. That's why it's safe and stable to use and transport. If you sprayed your couch with it and tossed a match on it, the match would smolder out. Do the same with oxygen and...

So in an engine, it takes the combustion process to release the molecular bond and free the oxygen molecule to catalyze the reaction (combustion).

I suppose it could have been a contributor in this case.
 
I thought Nitromethane was effectively a monopropellant. So if the dude's running a high percentage of pop in the fuel, I wouldn't think he'd need much oxygen to cut that block in half. I've seen some crazy carnage on bonneville cars that run weird old junk motors (original cast stuff) in order to get records in strange classes... Wonder if that tractor block wasn't up to the combo of cylender pressure and fuel...
 
My neibhor ran a diesel super stock tractor for a handfull of years before throwing in the towel. $ wasnt the object, it was dollars vs. satisfaction. Imagine going to Sterling at least twice per season needing a brand new motor from the ground up. Now factor in half a dozzen more trips to Sterling for checkups between new motors. All for a ten seccond trip down the trac on Friday night at the county fair, maybe 10 runs per season if your lucky. Less than two full minutes and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent....hmmmm.
 
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