it's not nonsense.
makes perfect sense ....... a true boxer does  not share rods on the same
journal like V engines do.
Our waterboxer 4 cylinder vanagon engines are true boxers that way.
If there were journals with two rods on them, sharing one crank journal,
which would be a crank with only two 'throws' on it.
it would be a flat , or 180 degree,  V-4.

it's natural to assume it just means opposing cylinders in one plane.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Grebneff" <goose1047@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 18, 2009 2:22 PM
Subject: Re: Friday engine conversions

On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 9:46 AM, pdooley <psdooley@verizon.net> wrote:
> There is apparently a rigid boxer definition in which the connecting rods
> cannot share crank journals.
> Most "V" engines share crank journals and are therefore not internally
> balanced.
> True boxers have separate journals and therefore paired pistons travel in
> opposite directions and balance forces.
>
> I just learned this myself. I thought any 180 degree motor was a boxer.

Sounds like nonsense.

I guess then it's really a 180-degree split-inline.

--
Regards
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
Fossil preparator
Mollusc, Toyota & VW van fanatic