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My 1905ish Olds hit & miss engine


JDerstine

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In Nov 2016, I purchased an Olds Gasoline Engine Works hit and miss engine. ( yes, THAT Olds -- same guy who later made Oldsmobile cars ). The engine belonged to my late neighbor and my friend Roger ( his son ) gave me a great deal on this very rare engine.

 

I made a head gasket out of asbestos sheet ( cut wet after soaking in water ) and made new water jacket gaskets. It has most all original parts except for the spark plug, wiring and the buzz coil box. It had been stored indoors since the 1970s and probably was run last in the 1940s.

 

I ran it for the first time today out at Rough and Tumble Historical Association where I have in on display so more folks can see it run. www.roughandtumble.org

 

I hooked up the cooling tank today and although I had some leaks, it ran great.

 

We ran it for about a hour and I'm ecstatic to say it ran quite well.
Still have to take care of the leaks but it was sweet music to my ears.
Jeff
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Cool stuff. Can you explain to a dummy what is what on that engine. It does have an interesting rhythm.

 

I wouldn't call you a dummy as this engine is over 112 years old. There have been countless improvements to internal combustion engines.

 

This engine uses a battery and a buzz coil for arcing the spark plug. Speed control is regulated by the governor ( inside the non wall side or close side in the videos ). The "carb" is actually a tube with a needle valve and is called a "mixer". It's very basic and simple.

 

To start the engine, I remove a pin on the inside of the far side flywheel and use the handle to pump some fuel into the mixer. The handle goes back down, the pin is replaced and the eccentric pumps fuel when it's running. I open the needle on the mixer one half turn.

 

I turn the switch on the original battery box on the shelf to power the buzz coil. On the close side of the engine where the rod goes towards the head, I hold the mechanism up so the intake valve does NOT close and using the handle in the flywheel, turn in a counterclock rotation. Once I get it spinning, I release the trip and it "should start" . ( it's a new to me engine, I still have to learn the tricks to easy starting ).

 

And it starts. This is a "hit and miss" engine so it only takes a fuel charge when the RPM drops. As the engine slows down, the governor moves closer to the crankshaft. This allows the trip to contact the rod underneath which closes the intake valve ( on the top of the engine ) allowing the engine to take a fuel charge. It also trips the contact block underneath the water jacket for the cylinder which powers the buzz coil to provide a spark.

 

Now the engine gets a powerstroke and RPM increases. This causes the governor weight to swing out and the engine coasts until RPM drops again. That makes the pop and coast rhythm you hear. If it were underload working, it would hit more often to stay in the RPM range.

 

 

Here's a video of a 1-1/2 hp 1913 Associated Busy Boy that I own. It shows the working of the governor and how it hits ( fires) to bring the RPM back up.

 

 

 

 

If you want more pictures or a better explanation, just say so.

Jeff

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I wouldn't call you a dummy as this engine is over 112 years old. There have been countless improvements to internal combustion engines.

 

This engine uses a battery and a buzz coil for arcing the spark plug. Speed control is regulated by the governor ( inside the non wall side or close side in the videos ). The "carb" is actually a tube with a needle valve and is called a "mixer". It's very basic and simple.

 

To start the engine, I remove a pin on the inside of the far side flywheel and use the handle to pump some fuel into the mixer. The handle goes back down, the pin is replaced and the eccentric pumps fuel when it's running. I open the needle on the mixer one half turn.

 

I turn the switch on the original battery box on the shelf to power the buzz coil. On the close side of the engine where the rod goes towards the head, I hold the mechanism up so the intake valve does NOT close and using the handle in the flywheel, turn in a counterclock rotation. Once I get it spinning, I release the trip and it "should start" . ( it's a new to me engine, I still have to learn the tricks to easy starting ).

 

And it starts. This is a "hit and miss" engine so it only takes a fuel charge when the RPM drops. As the engine slows down, the governor moves closer to the crankshaft. This allows the trip to contact the rod underneath which closes the intake valve ( on the top of the engine ) allowing the engine to take a fuel charge. It also trips the contact block underneath the water jacket for the cylinder which powers the buzz coil to provide a spark.

 

Now the engine gets a powerstroke and RPM increases. This causes the governor weight to swing out and the engine coasts until RPM drops again. That makes the pop and coast rhythm you hear. If it were underload working, it would hit more often to stay in the RPM range.

 

 

Here's a video of a 1-1/2 hp 1913 Associated Busy Boy that I own. It shows the working of the governor and how it hits ( fires) to bring the RPM back up.

 

 

 

 

If you want more pictures or a better explanation, just say so.

Jeff

Pretty ingenious engineering for it's time.

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as the horses are low numbers.. the torque value is enough to turn a saw blade.

 

Not sure what these little ones did.. maybe big pumps?

 

I remember seeing a waterfall driven conglomeration. belts everywhere.

this took its place.

 

Short lived.

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Music to my ears as well! Thanks for posting, JD! :thumbs:

 

Taking something that's been sitting for many years, and making it run never gets old. Best feeling in the world. :cheers:

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  • 2 weeks later...

Went back out to Rough & Tumble today with the repaired water cooling tank. I also took off the head nuts one at a time and put marine grease on the head and threads then retightened the nuts. No more leaks.

 

I made a paper gasket for the mixer ( carb ) and that reduced the leaking fuel but didn't stop it. Some older engine have leaky mixers and I guess I have one of them.

 

I also wiped down the engine with some Pennsylvania Crude Oil. Not only does it protect the paint, it also brings out some of the original shine. The engine has the original paint with striping and I think it looks great. More applications will bring more shine.

 

Also today was the first time I got the engine started by myself. This was the fourth time it's been run and I'm finally starting to figure out what it likes to get going.

 

The video ends with a view of the Willock Building out at Rough and Tumble where the engine is on display. www.roughandtumble.org

 

 

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