27/11/14 Q. I have what I believe is a
Fairbanks-Morse Type Z, Style C, but am puzzled by the radiator on
the water hopper; is it original, or a later addition? The
nameplate reads F-M Z DSPL 52 800 r.p.m. The serial number is
partially obliterated, but I think it reads K592276. Jeff King, PO
Box 142, Rivesville, WV 26588.
A. The radiator equipment is original.
We’ll guess that the number might be 892276, and that would
make it a 1947 model . . . this would fit it into its production
range. Our Notebook lists PPG 43846 Green and DuPont 93-72001 Green
as comparable colors.
27/11/15 Information Needed Q. See 15A, showing
a small Oshkosh engine with a3 ? x4 inch bore and stroke. Does
anyone know the color scheme? The flywheels appear to be dark
maroon. Photo 15B shows a small Wards engine with the gas tank in
the cast iron base. 1 would like to duplicate the kick-start
bracket. Model E2L no. 22702U, Catalog No. 87-5025. Any information
will be appreciated. M. Moyers, 37301 – 28th Avenue S., #31,
Federal Way, WA 98003.
A. Can anyone help out on these questions? We
believe the Oshkosh is dark maroon, but have no further
information.
27/11/16 Unknown Engine Q. Can anyone identify
the engine in the photo? Any information will be appreciated.
Jerome ). Dosch, Box 340, Eagle Butte. SD 57625.
27/11/17 Monitor in England Q. I have a Monitor
pump jack engine, Type VJ. What type spark plug does it use, and
where can I get drawings etc. to fit a pump jack to the engine,
pump rods, etc. Any information will be appreciated. Peter Baldry,
318 Dereham, New Costessey, Norwich, Norfolk NR5 OSD England.
A. Would someone please help our friend in
England?
27/11/18 Beeman Engine Q. See the photo of an
engine from a Beeman tractor. On the flywheel it is embossed,
‘Beeman Tractor Co.’ Minnea polls, Minn. Is there anyone
out there with any of the parts that are missing, and how Jong was
the U-channel in front of the engine? Any information will be
appreciated. Mel Smith, 23941 Strange Creek Dr., Diamond Bar, CA
91765.
27/11/19 Novo Rollr Q. I recently acquired the
Novo Rollr, Model TU, shown in the photo. How old is this engine,
what is the proper oil level, and are there any manuals for it? Any
information will be appreciated. William Rogers, Independence Lane,
Hannacroix, NY 12087.
A. We’re not sure about the single cylinder
model . . . the two-cylinder uses either a bayonet gauge or an
external indicator gauge.
27/11/20 Ford Garden Tractor Q. I recently
acquired a Ford garden tractor with a 5? HP Briggs & Stratton
engine. Engine No. is 143562 302542 50715.
What vintage is this, and is it really a Ford product? Any help
will be appreciated. Bob Rose, 51 Simcoe St., Oyster Bay, NY
11771.
A. Does anyone have this information?
27/11/21 Middletown Machine Co. Q. What was the
smallest engine made by the Middletown Machine Company in their
Woodpecker line? And what connection did they have with Flint &
Walling at Kendallsvilie, Indiana, if any? Tim Momingstar, 11456
Preble Co Ln Rd., Middletown, OH 45042.
A. We have no answer for either question. Can
anyone be of help?
27/11/22 Information Needed Q. See the two
photos. One shows a hay baler made by Turner Mfg. Co., Statesvilie,
NC. It was powered by a 5 HP Fairbanks-Morse Style B engine. Any
information regarding the baler and the engine, photographs of the
original decals, paint colors for the baler, etc. will be greatly
appreciated. John E. Dees Jr., 6532 Dartbrook Dr., Dallas, TX
75240.
A. If anyone can help Mr. Dees, please do
so.
27/11/23 David Bradley Q. Seea photo of two of
my David Bradley garden tractors. I recently purchased a David
Bradley Super Power. It has a Continental Red Seal engine, also a
speed changer and reverse. How can I tell the year of the David
Bradleys, and how long was the Super Power built? Any help will be
appreciated. Marty Jenness, RR 2, Box 92, Cherokee, IA 51012.
A. Does anyone have this information?
Readers Write
27/5/24 Thanks! In May I had a letter with a
question (Buda Motor) and received several replies. I wrote back to
all of them. Thanks to everyone who responded. Howard Houck, 3585
Galway Rd., Ballston Spa, NY 12020-2857.
27/6/26 Road Grader We got several replies on
this one, and the consensus seems to be Austin Mfg. Company,
Harvey, Illinois.
27/6/6 Mall Engine Regarding the Mall engine, I
believe this is actually a Briggs Model B which was rated by Briggs
at only 1 to 2? HP, depending on the speed. Not much for such a big
engine. The highest published r.p.m rating for these was 3200, most
were 2200-2800 r.p.m. Many equipment manufacturers put their name
on Briggs engines till they had problems with Sears, and B & S
put a stop to that practice. (So now Tecumseh builds
‘Craftsman’ brand engine for most Sears machinery).
Which leads me to Item 2, the article on Cunningham in the same
issue. Two beautifully done engines in a nice spread in the
magazine. Again, I believe these engines are Briggs-built for
Cunningham. Since they have 7 cooling fins they are either 6 or 8
cubic inch, hence Model 6 or Model 8, depending on whether they are
2-inch bore or 21/4 inch bore. I believe
there were some 23/8 bore engines in the same
mold and that would be a Model 9. They are very rare I think.
Nonetheless, these are nice engines and the owners must be
rightfully proud. Tom Knowles, 4703 Place One Dr., Garland, TX
75042.
27/6/1 Tire Pump I also have a Stewart tire
pump compressor. This unit was used on the most expensive cars from
1915 to the early 1930s. It was geared to the transmission or drive
shaft with a lever on top of the compressor through the floor
board. The lever would move the gear in and out of mesh with the
drive gear. It had a rubber hose from the coil on the compressor to
any of the four wheels. It was also used on other cars if the hose
was long enough. The hose was stored inside on the floor boards.
Melvin W. Smith, 23941 Strange Creek, Diamond Bar, CA 91765.
Chevrolet Tractor Article You have finally
published something in GEM that I couldn’t resist with a reply.
The brief article about the Chevrolet tractor in the June issue is
something that I just can’t resist.
Unfortunately, I can’t supply any information about the
tractor project itself. However, I’m not surprised to hear that
GM considered selling a tractor again after World War Two. A lot of
companies also considered it. Even though a tractor offered the
potential to make a lot of money, most companies wisely decided
against it. The problems were simply too big.
However, years ago I did hear about the Chevy 216 engine being
installed in a few tractors. It was worthless for heavy pulling,
but worked well for lighter work. I think low fuel consumption was
its biggest attraction. It made an excellent cultivating
tractor.
Those 1946 Chevy trucks had some pretty tough parts. They
probably would have stood up well in a smaller tractor, provided an
adequate final drive was used. The problem of course was that
splash lubrication of the Chevy engine. These engines performed
good, could be very reliable, and had excellent fuel economy. The
problem is that you had to know how to take proper care of them. If
you didn’t, you could destroy one in less than a half hour. If
you did [take good care of them] they could last a long time. Some
people claimed to go over 100,000 miles before a major overhaul. My
experience suggests that 40,000-50,000 miles is a more realistic
figure. That probably would have been 1,000 to 1,200 hours of
tractor use. Don’t misunderstand me. I’ve always liked that
old Chevy engine (I’m still using two of them), but I don’t
think a 216 would have lasted very long in a tractor. The Chevrolet
tractor is one project which mercifully ended quickly.
However, if Chevy had been building the 235 pressure-lube engine
in 1946, it might have been an entirely different story. It’s a
fascinating possibility to consider. If you do receive more
information about the Chevrolet tractor, I hope that you will run
an adequate article about it. John G. Ruff, Rt 2, Box 25, Logan, KS
67646.
A Closing Word
We’re getting a lot of response to the proposed engine tour
to Great Britain in 1993. We’ve had some suggestions of which
shows to attend, along with a lot of other helpful ideas. Within
the next couple of months we hope to get more information together,
and perhaps we can bring the idea to reality. Thanks for all your
letters thus far, and if you are interested in an engine tour to
England, be sure to let us know. There’s no obligation of
course, we just want to get some idea of whether we can make the
idea float at this point. So, if you’re interested, drop a line
to: Tour Survey, Gas Engine Magazine, Box 328, Lancaster, PA
17603.
Due to scheduling conflicts, this copy is closing in late
August, although this issue won’t be in your hands until early
October. So, we run herewith our usual caveat coincidental with
fall and winter shutdown and mothballing procedures. Did you drain
the water out of your engines and tractors? How about the drains on
the water pump, and other places? Did you run a wire up through
those petcocks to make sure they aren’t plugged and have water
trapped behind them? Take a few minutes and make sure. That’s a
lot better than going out to your favorite next spring to find the
head is now a two-piece variety and the cylinder has those long
vertical splits which convert the jacket into a rather heavy, but
fairly serviceable sieve!
Again, our sincere thanks to all those old acquaintances
we’ve met at the shows this year, and to those new
acquaintances we’ve made as well! We always enjoy visiting with
you. With the coming of autumn, be sure to send us your questions,
photos, and articles on your engines and tractors. We’ll be
happy to hear from you.