The 7 HP Economy half base that Karch is using as a base for a
replica of an early screen-cooled engine.
Glenn Karch recently started building this straight-framed cart
to hold the 7 HP half base engine he’s building.
In the last issue it was mentioned that a 7 HP half base engine
had been purchased. It is shown in the first picture. It was
purchased for the purpose of constructing a replica of the early
screen-cooled engine. The original half base engines were
discontinued by 1916. The tag is missing, but there is a 1926
casting date on the head. That and a few other features indicate
that it was likely made in the mid-1920s. Keep in mind that this
will be a replica and not an exact reproduction. The project has
begun.
A genuine Hercules screen-cooled engine picture that was taken
from an early catalog can be seen on page 35 of the January 2000
issue of GEM. So far, only two of these original screen-cooled
engine outfits are known.
The straight-framed cart that is illustrated here in the second
photo has been constructed for the new engine project. It is made
from a modified orchard sprayer running gear, so it and the engine
on it will fit into the bed of a full-sized pickup truck.
As mentioned earlier, the engine was said to have come off a hay
baler. It would be interesting to know what brand of hay baler it
was. The third picture shows it mounted on the cart frame. Note the
‘ears’ on the corners of the base. They are a feature never
seen before. It is obvious, after careful examination, that the
original pattern was modified for this special hay baler-use
casting. As you can see in the photograph, new holes were bored to
provide the normal 9-inch spacing.
As this project continues, a number of parts will need to be
acquired, made or modified. The continuing story of this project
will show up from time to time in the Hercules Engine News until
the project is completed.
Glenn Karch is a noted authority on Hercules engines.
Contact him at: 20601 Old State Rd., Haubstadt, IN 47639, or via
email at: glenn.karch@gte.net.