Flywheel Forum

By Staff
Published on February 1, 2004
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39/2/2A: Oval hopper Ideal.
39/2/2A: Oval hopper Ideal.
3 / 6
39/2/2B: Oval hopper Ideal.
39/2/2B: Oval hopper Ideal.
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39/2/1: Air-cooled New Way as shown in 1915 New Way catalog D16.
39/2/1: Air-cooled New Way as shown in 1915 New Way catalog D16.
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39/2/6A: Unidentified engine appears to be a Waukesha Model M.
39/2/6A: Unidentified engine appears to be a Waukesha Model M.
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39/2/6B: Right side of unidentified engine. The magneto bolted to the landing on the aluminum crankcase behind the water pump.
39/2/6B: Right side of unidentified engine. The magneto bolted to the landing on the aluminum crankcase behind the water pump.

39/2/1: New Way Engine Q: I recently purchased
a 6 HP double-flywheel New Way engine, Model D, Type D #668. This
engine is an upright, air-cooled engine with a fan driven off one
of the flywheels. I haven’t found any information or literature
on this engine. Any help would be much appreciated. Herman
Pankratz, E. 926 Open Gate Lane, Harrison, ID 83833; (208) 667-9198
(evenings).

A: New Way Motor Co., Lansing, Mich., built a
surprising variety of air-cooled engines, ranging from vertical
singles to horizontal twins. Your Model D, Type D doesn’t show
up in any of our reference material, but we’re hoping a reader
can fill you, and the rest of us, in on the details of your
engine.

39/2/2: Oval Hopper Ideal Q: I have an Ideal
oval hopper engine with a 5-inch bore and 5-inch stroke. The
identification tag was badly damaged before restoration, so I have
little to go on. I would like to know if it is a Type C,
approximate horsepower and year made.

The hopper casting has ‘4 M 4’ in raised cast characters
just underneath the cylinder oiler. I originally thought this might
be a model number or bore and stroke. What do these markings
represent? Further, the exhaust side of the hopper casting has two
places where the numbers ‘5’ over ’16’ are indented
into the casting. Could this be the month and year it was cast?
Clifford Taber, 85 Bokum Road, Deep River, CT 06417;
thomas_c_taber@sbc global.net

A: We’re pretty sure your engine left the
shops of the Ideal Motor Co. (or the Original Gas Engine Co., as it
was renamed after 1912), Lansing Mich., as a Type M. The Type C
with a standard, cylindrical hopper, was built from about 1911 to
perhaps 1915, and we’re guessing the Type M was manufactured in
the same time period.

Paul Frasier wrote an article about his oval hopper Ideal
(GEM, August 1997, page 12), but that engine was
identified as a 3 HP. The only oval hopper Ideal engine we’ve
seen also carried a 3 HP rating.

Finally, in American Gasoline Engines Since 1872,
author C.H. Wendel says the 3 HP Type C had a bore and stroke of
4-1/2 inches by 5 inches. If anyone knows more, please contact
Clifford and also drop us a line here at GEM.

39/2/3: Sprout-Waldron Tag Q: I recently bought
a box of old engine parts, and in the box I found a cast metal tag
maybe 2-by-3 inches in size that reads ‘Sprout-Waldron, Since
1866, Muncy, Pa.’ There appears to be a gear with a cable sling
on it. Does anyone know what this company manufactured? Please
reply to GEM so all may share the answer. Frank Kuehl, 724
Congress St., Neenah, WI 54956.

A: Sprout-Waldron & Co., Muncy, Pa.,
started as a manufacturer of flour-milling machinery in the late
1800s. The company was active at least until the mid-1950s.

39/2/4: Viking Garden Tractor, IHC Famous Q:
I’d like to know the colors for a Viking garden tractor. One
was made in 1937 and the other in 1939. The first tractor’s
name-plate says serial no. 37CF440. I don’t have the other
serial number, but I do know it starts with the number 39.

I’d also like to know the year, paint color and number for
an 8 HP International Harvester Famous. The nameplate reads: Famous
Hopper Cooled Engine-Manufactured By International Harvester Co.
Chicago, USA-Patents Pending-NO AF180 E-Speed 300-HP 8.

I’ve had it for 30 years and finally got it running in 2003.
I’d guess the engine hadn’t run in 50 or so years. Any help
would be greatly appreciated. Charles Hargreaves, 2910 Maple Road,
Manistee, MI 49660.

A: We don’t have any information on colors
for Viking garden tractors, but we can tell you your IHC was made
in 1912. As for color, in some measure that’s open to
interpretation. Wendel’s Notebook lists no fewer than
seven shades of red for IHC engines.

39/2/5: Magneto Timing Q: I have a question
that I can’t seem to get an answer to. I have a 3 HP 1916
Fairbank-MorseType Z, serial no. 170217, throttle-governed, igniter
engine with a low-tension magneto. What position should the rotor
in the magneto be in when the ignitor trips in relation to the
magnets in the magneto?

What I am looking for is the rotor position that gives the
highest voltage and best spark during cranking. Lawrence Shakal;
lshakal@veloctis.net

A: Here’s what our resident magneto expert
had to say on the subject:

The inductor of a low-tension magneto comes in line with the
poll pieces of the field twice in each 360 degree rotation. This
can be felt as a slight ‘tight’ spot in the rotation and
the inductor will tend to remain in this position. Maximum voltage
occurs as the inductor passes through this position and breaks the
lines of magnetic flux.

To time a low-tension engine, set the engine at the point just
before the igniter trips and set the magneto at the tight point
that identifies the point of maximum output. This way, any further
rotation will at the same time trip the igniter and move the
inductor of the magneto through the point of maximum output.

This will work on any engine using an igniter and a low-tension
magneto.

39/2/6: Unidentified Engine Q: I need help
identifying this engine. It’s a four-cylinder headless, and the
letter ‘W’ on the motor mount is the only marking I can
find. It came out of a frame with a large brass friction drive
controlled by a small speed-change gearbox. It also has an aluminum
crankcase. Does anyone recognize this engine? Jerry Kirsch, 5114 S.
Highway 41, Boswell, IN 47921; (765) 869-5493.

A: Except for the timing gear case, your engine
looks identical to a Waukesha Model M of the type manufactured
about 1916. The Model M had a bore and stroke of 4-1/2 inches by
6-3/4 inches and put out about 20 HP depending on application and
operating speed. These rugged engines powered tractors and trucks,
and were also used in a variety of industrial applications.

Flywheel Forum is a place for readers to ask questions and share
information on their equipment. If you have a question about your
engine or tractor, please send it along to Gas Engine Magazine,
1503 S.W. 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609-1265.

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