Sparta Economy Engine News

By Staff
Published on July 1, 1997
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The Governor.
The Governor.

20601 Old State Road Haubstadt, Indiana 47639

About mid-1912 and near the 25,000 serial number mark, new model
4, 6,8 and 10 HP engines were introduced. They were the model CX.
They had a lot of characteristics that would be used extensively in
the Hercules line of engines to be introduced in early 1914. Please
note that the 2 HP size was not redesigned but remained as the
model CA.

New features of these larger size CX model Economy engines
included a new design water cooled head, a spring loaded intake
valve latch, a new design side rod, a new blade type igniter trip
and eventually an Elkhart low tension magneto. The accompanying
pictures illustrate these features.

On the new head, the intake and exhaust positions have been
reversed from previous models with the intake toward the igniter
side and the exhaust toward the off side.

How Economy Gasoline Engines Are Governed

THE GOVERNOR ON AN ECONOMY GASOLINE ENGINE IS VERY SIMPLE, of
the hit and miss fly ball type, as we have found this type to be
more sensitive than any other. The fly ball governor has been in
use on steam engines ever since they were first made and there is
no doubt but what they control the speed of a steam engine very
satisfactorily. The Economy governor is made along the same lines
and works in the same way. When the engine runs beyond its regular
speed, the governor balls widen their circuit, causing the lever on
the governor to catch the rod that runs along the side of the
engine. This holds the exhaust valve open, shuts off the gasoline
and stops the spark. This not only controls the speed of the
engine, but saves gasoline and the batteries.

The Ignition

For the ignition of Economy Gasoline Engines we furnish a
Stand-By Multiple Battery with spark coil. A switch is provided and
the outfit is wired complete all ready to attach to the make and
break igniter on the engine. The movable electrode on the igniter
is operated by the hardened steel trip. This brings the points
together on the inside of the engine so that when the trip slips
off the contact is broken and the spark occurs, igniting the charge
inside the cylinder. This hardened steel trip can be adjusted so as
to keep the spark in the right position to give the best
results.

These new design model CX engines had the serial number tag
located on the front of the water hopper. For the first time a
decal was put on the igniter side of the water hopper.

Specifications for these engines are shown in the chart on the
next page.

Since last report, 18 more Sparta Economy engines have been made
known along with three more Waterloo Economy’s. The Spartas now
total about  360 that I am aware of.

The Elkhart magneto was an option on the 4 and 6 HP and standard
on the 8 and 10 HP. The Elkhart magneto text in the catalog states,
‘Start the engine right from the magneto – no batteries, no
coil, no switch, only one wire. All you have to do is fill the tank
with gasoline, open the gasoline valve, turn over the flywheels and
away she goes’. The guy that wrote that probably never had
to  start one of the things. Most of my engines do not have
that cooperative attitude.

HP

Bore

Stroke

RPM

Flywheel diameter

Actual weight

Crankshaft diameter

Price

4

4. 5′

9′

400

26′

65016

1. 75′

$ 74.45

6

5.5

10

375

30

1000

2. 00

110.95

8

6. 5

12

350

36

1585

2.25

157.95

10

7.5

13

300

42

2175

2. 50

231.50

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