In the early 1960s, following Felix Wankel’s 1954 design, Fichtel & Sachs became a major licensee of the rotary engine technology. Unlike automakers focusing on car engines, Sachs aimed for small-scale applications: stationary motors, chainsaws, lawnmowers, and personal watercraft.
Today, the Sachs Wankel exists in the niche world of collectors. The "manual" is now a highly sought-after, rare document. Enthusiasts who work on these engines still face the same challenges described decades ago: sourcing apex seals, managing oil-gas mixtures, and finding that elusive perfect ignition timing. Sachs Wankel Manual
The story of the is a tale of postwar innovation, the pursuit of mechanical simplicity, and the harsh realities of high-RPM engineering. It is a saga covering small, powerful rotary engines—most notably the KM37 and KM48 —which Fichtel & Sachs brought to market in the 1960s and 70s as a compact alternative to conventional piston engines. In the early 1960s, following Felix Wankel’s 1954
