The Hercules Engine News

By Staff
Published on October 1, 1998
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20601 Old State Road Haubstadt, Indiana 47639

Most of the more common ‘farm engines’ ran on gasoline.
There were some with provisions to run on kerosene. Early Economy
catalogs show that engines were also available to run on natural
and artificial gas. There were also many aftermarket ‘gas’
conversions. The story of this time is about such a conversion.

Shown in the accompanying three pictures is a conversion on
engine number 285,678, a 5 HP model F Hercules engine. The original
fuel mixer has been replaced with one that allows for the use of
gasoline but has provisions for gas use. The hand valve is for
regulating gasoline while the hole at the bottom is for attaching
the gas source.

In order to supply gas at a regulated steady pressure, an
adjustable regulator as shown is used in the supply line.

A unique feature of this setup is the mechanism to prevent
intake valve flutter during the idle strokes of the engine. The
simple Hercules mechanism has been replaced with one that attaches
to the side of the head. It is activated by a bell crank mechanism
that is linked to the side rod.

Whether this set up was commercially produced or is a ‘one
of a kind,’ is unknown.

Typical of the F model engines, this one has been changed. The
normal Webster 2C magneto ignition system has been updated to the
Wico EK system.

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