Hardy/Phil - The thing is, though, that the engine isn't trying to maintain a constant speed. It's trying to accelerate, and it succeeds. Hmm, now that I think about it, though, that might not matter.
So you're likening the tightening of the grip (or the heavy-ificating of the string) to the increased multiplication of drag by the gearbox? I guess that's true, but how does it affect the engine other than resulting in a different amount of crankshaft acceleration? The engine is still ingesting the same amount of air and fuel per unit time, and producing the same torque, right?
Matt - Hehe, well, we have to be able to define "load" somehow... And the only definition that I've heard of in common use is manifold pressure.
I might be trying to teach with the Socratic method except that I don't actually know the answer for sure myself

. I do think I'm right, but I do hope my questions will lead to either confirmation or refutation.
So are we saying that the multiplicative inverse of crankshaft acceleration can be used as a load measure? Would that mean infinite load when you're idling? That seems backwards.
"Just reading vrg3's convoluted, information-packed posts made me feel better all over again." -- subyluvr2212