My Dancing Engine

By Staff
Published on October 1, 1992
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R.R. I, Box 38, Danville, Iowa 52623

When I first purchased this engine in Illinois, it didn’t
look like much; however, it was not stuck. After getting it in
running condition, I took it to Mt. Pleasant to Old Threshers. I
started it up and let it run. In about 10 minutes, it started to
dance and then quit! After starting it again, it ran about five
minutes and started to dance again and then quit.

When I got it back home, I took it apart, checked it over, and
couldn’t find anything wrong. I put it partially back together.
After doing this about three different times, I discovered one
governor weight was missing. After sending for a replacement, it
still danced. Then I went to talk to Mr. Dale Nau (everyone in
southeast Iowa knows Dale).

After looking at the governor, Dale suggested I change the
flywheel. However, being a little stubborn, I thought the problem
had to be in the governor, as it would run awhile before it would
start to dance. Since I had another engine the same size, I took
all the parts of the governor from the running engine and put them
in the dancing engine, started it up, and it still danced.

Then I took Mr. Nau’s advice and changed the flywheels and
it ran perfectly.

I had the flywheel balanced and the holes are 1′ diameter by
1?’, 1′, 1?’, and ?’ deep, plus a dimple.

I am wondering if anyone else has had a flywheel out of
balance.

This took about three years of my spare time.

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